The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-29
THE ORIENTAL GUM.
Northern Pacific Trainmen
Bring it From Victoria.
inseesor Ryrnes Catches . Manipulaser
work-Three Hundred and Ten
Cana Seized in Portland.

PORTLAND, May sg.--Cusfoms authorities
last night made seizure of $40 five-sAei
cans Of opium. The drug was found in \
Chinese wash house on Second street. and
Was taken 20 the customhouse. Last night
Inspectors Byrnes and Rosa were walking
along Second street when they saw man
drive up in q buggy in front o; sam Sing &
Co. store The man carried three we'll
filled sacks into the Chinese store. and soon
drove away. After the man drove away
the inspectors. who had been watching all
the movements. went into the store and in
short tine located the three sacks. which
were found TO contain opium. After taking
charge of the drug the inspectors skipped
out TO arrest the man who had left the
opium ct the Chinese store.
In the course of two hours they met the
man on the street and arrested him. He
gave the name OF John Mays, and it is
learned that for some time past he has
been q brakeman on the Northern Pacific
Railroad between here and Tacoma Mays
At first denied that be had been engaged in
smuggling. but subsequently confessed that
he knew where the drug came from. He
stated that it was purchased . few days
ago in Victoria. and brought TO Tacoma.
!
freight train and brought to this city. Yes
terday afternoon. when the train was near
this city, the drug was thrown of by one
OF the opium ring aboard the train. A boat
was in waiting and the Opium was brought
TO this city and landed az North Portland
dock. From there it was conveyed 10 the
store in the buggy.
Customs officials claim they have positive
proof that other Northern Pacific Railroad
employees are implicated. as well as num-
Der OF Chinese and white men in this city
About 10 O'Clock this morning Inspectors
Byrnes and Ross met the smuggser hurry
ing down second street AMI arrested him.
What am / wanted for p he asked.
Smuggling opium
well, returned the man, I'm not a
Jesse James; Ill surrender"
At the county jail he gave his nameNs
John Mayes and said he was Northern
Pacific brakeman. He confessed that the
opium was brought from Victoria. When
the train was mile below town the opium
was thrown into the water and brought To-
the city in boat Though the opium
was consigned to the Sam Hing Company,
it was intended for the Fong Sooh Eong
Company.
After the opium was left at Sings store
Mayes notified the Fong company OF the
delivery, and DIR. Lee Him. head OF the
firm, went to Sings to see about IL. When
he heard that the opium bad been taken
away he went 70 the store. He was after
ward summoned 10 an Alder street wash-
house, where he met Mayes and two other
men, supposed to be a Northern Pacific
conductor and brakeman. They demanded
81 .9l2 for the opium. but Hing would not
pay. They would not believe that the
opium had been seized. and insisted that
Him or his men had stolen IL.
They checked and beat him. and
finally compelled him to get into the car
rage That was the last seen of him. At
midnight Mayes went 10 Him's store with
note signed by Him. but addressed to
Noone. 1t read: ''You must pay the
money. Ny life Is in danger" The men
at the store would not honor the note.
John Mayes, the man under arrest,
feigns ignorance of the smuggled opium.
He says he is acquainted with the two men
who have the Chinaman in hiding,
and that they are very tough
people He said that If the Chinese
would pay him the $2.9i2 he would bring
the missing Chinaman back uninjured.
The money would have to be paid quick
ly. however. or the Chinaman
woald be killed by his two accompiices,
who also threaten his own life should he
ever divulge their hiding place. Lee Him's
friends offer q reward of $Oafor his return.
Detectives are searching the city for him.