The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-27
SEEING 4 SMUGGLER.

SEEING 4 SNUGGLER.
The life Of n preventive officer is not al
/ ways one of pleasurable excitement, as the
/ following story, obtained from an officer Of
( the Dominion preventive force, will testify:
1 Ours is not always bed of roses-began
the officer in question, in relating his
story-and any one who joins the force
under the impression that it is will be
sorely disappointed before he has put in
six months service, especially along the
coast of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
! had a rather exciting experience of it a
little time since with 4 notorious gang Of
smuggiers on the east coast Of Nova Scotia.
( l had been made aware of the fact that a
small schooner of about sixty tons had left
for the French island of St Pierre Migne-
Ion, one Of those French islands lying off
the south coast of Newfoundland, noted
rendezvous for smugglers, and knowing
the character Of the captain and crew,
there was little room left for doubling
that they meant business, and would re-
turn with good supply of French wines
was also pretty well satisfied of the point
ut which they would attempt to effect a
landing, and accordingly lay waiting the
arrival of the suspected craft.
knew | had a pretty good job cut out
for me, but determined TO go into it single
handed | had lain in ambush about
twenty-four hours, when at midnight l
heard a boat pulling toward the shore
from vessel which soon came in sight
and dropped anchor about one hundred
yards from the wharf, under the cover of
which | had concealed myself. The boats
crew, four in number, landed, and after
satisfying themselves that the coast was
clear. and leaving one Of their number on
shore to recOnnoiter, returned TO the YES
sci to commence landing their contraband
cargo.
The time had now arrived for me to
commence operations, which | must ad-
miC in view of the great odds against me,
] did not do without some doubt as to my
personal safety. | was well armed, how
ever, and had been ia some pretty tough
places before, ami did not feel disposed to
show the white feather just now, probably
stimulated to the effort by the knowledge
that the prize before me would be valu-
able one if | secured it.
As l left my hiding place 20 take boat
| had observed tied to q stake on the shore
about 100 feet from ne, with Il view to
reaching the craft before any portion of
the cargo could possibly be landed, no
ticed a burly looking sailor approach and
get into her and start for the schooner. |
hailed him and asked him to take me off
10 the vessel. To this he paid 10 attention
until | drew my revolver, under the cover
of which he returned and took me in. |
saw that, if possible, be would upset the
boat and dump me into the Atlantic
which l determined, if possible, TO prevent.
He began to pull for the vessel, and laying
all his strength On one Of the oars sue
ceeded, as he had at Iirst intended, in
breaking it. | seized the other, and at the
same time dealt him a blow which laid
him fiat in the bottom of the boat, and
then padded for all / was worth for the
schooner.
1t being dark the crew supposed l was
one OF their own gang who had been left
on shore, and did not oppose my boarding
the vessel When they saw the trap they
had fallen into, however, there was gen
eial uproar. and had it not been for the
il Interference of the captain | would GER
talnly have been thrown overheard.
| looked about the vessel and found that
preparations had already been made to
Land the cargo before daylight. The boat
had been loaded down to the gunwale and
was about to start for shore when / stepped
on deck.
Well" asked the captain, what do
you propose doing?"
I, Il, =. Il
under seizure, and that nothing should be
landed until | had received my insUruc-
tions from Ottawa.
Here | was, alone on board a piratical
vessel, with six about as tough looking
cut throats as one will meet within days
journey through the slums OF any large
city, and twenty miles from the nearest
point from which could hope 10 obtain
any assistance, as ! was right in the heart
of one of the worst smuggling districts on
the Atlantic coast.
Nv ell, said thecap,ain, 'as the schooner
Is now IN your possession, suppose You
will have 10 objection TO our pullin. her
into the wharf and making her easyl' 10
which l assented.
The casks and cases which had been
slowed in the boat were again placed on
deck, and a line was run to the shore by
which the vessel Was warped alongside the
wharf and made fast. The captain and
crew then jumped ashore and lefr me in
full possession without saying word.
They had not been gone twenty minutes
when il suddenly dawned upon me that
the captain had not taken the seizure Of
his vessel 50 quietly for nothing. There
was something up, and if All attempt was
to be made to recap-uTe the craft along
side the wharf was not the place for me TO
attempt TO defend my prize. according
" cut the stern and bow lines by which
she was held. and allowed her 70 drop off
into the stream. When about fifty yards
from the shore l let 70 the anchor, and
awaited Developments
BY this time it was daylight and look
ing toward the shore I saw gang OF about
a dozen men. one OF whom carried q shot
gun, coming down toward the wharf,
where they lad expected 10 board her with
out any difficulty. ! lhaj forgotten 70 men .
ton that when first stepped on the vessels
deck I had shown my badge. and at the f.
same time my revolver. which | said | /
would use upon the first man who attempt
ed 70 disturb the cargo or laid a hand upon
me Il was quite evident that there were f.
no firearms aboard the vessel at the time,
or matters mlsLs not have gone a. smoothly I.
with me. The only way the vesse. could .
now be boarded was from a boat. and this T.
gave IRE sl opportunity Of holding the f.
fort. which woulC uot have had had the 4
schooner been TED Up alongside OF the .
wharf
Naea the snuC-lers au3 ,teir pals bad .
cached tde sEha-f they sSt up sIoat, cali f.