The record-union., 1891-10-19
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oS.

opeclal 10 the hECORD-UNION.
CHICAGO, Oct. 1S.-The Times has a
special dispatch from Washington, d. c.,
which says startling disclosures are
promised in regard to the smuggling of
opium into the country from the British
possessions. 1t declares that, after six
months investigation, the officers of the
Secret Service have made ponderous
report to the Treasury Department..
showing the existence of an opium-smug-
CLING ring, which includes many promi-
nent men and United States Government
officials, and that in extent it has not
been equaled since the famous whisky
ring of 1876. AT least two United States
Senators and five Congressman are I'M
plicated
There are ten opium manufactures in
Victoria, B. c., running night and day,
making up crude opium into state
necessary for smoking purposes. These
factories are owned by rich Chinese mer-
chants, and return enormous profits to
their owners annually. There are also
opium factories in Nanaimo, Vancouver,
New Westminster and other towns in
British Columbia, all engaged in prepar-
ing opium for the American market.
There is still another feature in the
case. Every ship from China landing at
Victoria or Vancouver brings an average
OF 300 Cinnamon, and they pay the Cana
dian Government $50 each for the priv
lIege OF landing. Over 80 per cent of
these find their way into the United States
through the Puget Sound district. The
State OF Washington presents some 200
miles OF shore line upon Puget Sound
and the Straits of Juan de Fuca indented
with bays, coves and inlets, and furnish
splendid anchorage and hiding-places for
smugglers. The numerous islands in the
northern part of the sound make an al
most continuous land highway between
the British island of Vancouver, upon
which is situated Victoria, and the main
land Of Washington. The islands are
separated by narrow, winding straits,
through which the water flows fifty faith
oms deep, and upon the islands are small
farms, settlements and lumber camps
that furnish aid and concealment to the
smugglers. When not under cultivation
the islands are densely wooded, and upon
the hills are constant lookouts, whose
signal-lightS, when a cargo is to be smug-
gled. flash from headland TO headland.
The mainland of Washington is COW
cred with heavy pine forests, where
numerous and easily travelled trails ex-
ist. The smugglers have also many safe
places of rendezvous west of Port Town
send, along the Straits of Juan de Fuca,
on the peninsula, in the small towns and
the numerous safe landing places In
the pine belt of the peninsula are the huts
of many Cinnamon who are engaged in
cutting timber, so it will be seen that
the opportunities for smuggling are
many and safe. The smuggled opium is
easily spirited away and the smuggIed
Cinnamon mix with their countrymen
and the newcomers cannot be distin-
guished from the old ones.
Victoria is the headquarters of the
smugglers and is the point Of their de-
parture for the American shore The
people favor the traffic and will aid the
smugglerS. An instance is mentioned
where the preparations for sending load
of Chinese over the American soil were
made SO openly that the Canadian Col
lector of Customs was compelled to take
notice of it and warned the schooner's
captain that he would seize the vessel if
she made a false clearance.
COMING OVER THE MEXICAN BORDER.
NEW ORLEANS, Oct is. "A Times
Democrat San Antonio, Tex, special
says: The influx of Cinnamon into Texas
by way of the Mexican border continues.
Not day passes that one or two are not
arrested by the Deputy Marshal. Some
are aware they are breaking the law.
while others have been deceived by
Mexican emigration agents and think they
have perfect right to enter the United
States. 1t is this latter class which are
caught. The others are very successful
in eluding the officers. During the past
week fifteen have been arrested on the
Texas side of the Rio Grande. The num-
ber which escaped the deputies can not
be estimated. All jailed will be sent to
China via San Francisco.