Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-02-13
SEEING A SMUGGLER.

SEEING A SMUGGLER.
The life of 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:
Ours is not always u 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.
I had a rather exciting experience Of it a
| little time since with notorious gang of
smugglers on the east coast of Nova Scotia.
I 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, a 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 a good supply of French wines
and liquors to smuggle in along the coast.
I was also pretty well satisfied of the point
at which they would attempt to effect a
landing, and accordingly lay waiting the
arrival of the suspected craft.
knew l had a pretty good job cut out
for me, but determined to go into it single
handed. I had lain in ambush about
twenty-fou hours, when at midnight
heard boat pulling toward the shore
from a 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 l must adj
nit, in view Of the great odds against me-
did not do without some doubt as to my
personal safety. I was well armed, how
ever, and had been in some pretty tough
places before, and 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 a valu-
able one if / secured it.
AS left my hiding place to take boat
had observed tied to stake on the shore
about 100 feet from me, with view to
reaching the craft before any portion of
the cargo could possibly be landed, no.
ticed burly looking sailor approach and
get into her and start for the schooner.
hailed him and asked him to take me off
to the vessel. To this he paid no attention
until 1 drew my revolver, under the cover
of which he returned and took NE in. Il
saw that, if possible, he would upset the
boat and dump me into the Atlantic,
which 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 first intended, in
breaking it. / seized the other, and at the
same time dealt him blow which laid
him fiat in the bottom of the boat, and
then padded for all was worth for the
schooner.
It being dark the crew supposed 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
eral uproar, and had it not been for the
interference of the captain I would GER
tainly 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 doingS"
I informed him that the vessel was now
under seizure, and that nothing should be
landed until I had received my instruc-
lions from Ottawa.
Here was, alone on board a piratical
vessel, with six about as tough looking
cut threats as one will meet within days
Journey through the slums of any large
city, and twenty miles from the nearest
point from which l could hope to obtain
any assistance, as I was right in the heart
of one of the worst smuggling districts on
the Atlantic coast.
"Weu," said the captain, Gas the schooner
is now in your possession, suppose you
will have no objection to our pulling her
into the wharf and making her easy?" To
which assented.
The casks and cases which had been
slowed in the boat were again placed on
deck, and 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 left me in
full possession without saying word.
They had not been gone twenty minutes
when it suddenly dawned upon me that
the captain had not taken the seizure of
his vessel so quietly for nothing. There
was something up, and if an attempt was
to be made to recapture the craft along
side the wharf was not the place for me to
attempt to defend my prize. l according
ly cut the stern and bow lines by which
she was held, and allowed her to drop off
into the stream. When about fifty yards
from the shore I let 60 the anchor, and
awaited developments.
By this time it was daylight and look
ing toward the shore saw a gang OF about
dozen men, one of whom carried shot
gun, coming down toward the wharf,
where they had expected to board her with
out any difficulty. HAD forgotten to men
ton that when first stepped on the vessels
deck had shown my badge, and at the
same time my revolver, which ! said l
would use upon the first man who attempt
ed to disturb the cargo or laid hand upon
me- 1t was quite evident that there were
no firearms aboard the vessel at the time,
or matters might not have gone as smoothly
with me. The only way the vessel could
now be boarded was from boat, and this
gave me an opportunity Of holding the
fort, which would not have had had the
schooner been tied up alongside of the
wharf.
When the smugglers snd their pals had
reached the wharf they set up a shout. call
Ing upon ne to come ashore in the boat
which lay alongside the vessel, to which ],
of course, paid no attention. The boat in
which had made my trip to the schooner
lay on the shore, and in few minutes |
saw that an attempt was going to be made
to board the vessel in the stream. The
boat was boarded and showed off toward
the schooner. ! stood by to prevent a
landing on the deck being effected, and as
the first man placed his hands On the rails
to jump on board drew my revolver and
cooked it in his face, threatening to shoot
if he did not drop back into his boat
Looking up suddenly | saw a cut throat
looking ruffian drawing bead on me with
shotgun from the stern of the boat
while dozen pirates called to him to
shoot, and I think the command would
have been carried out had not one of the
crew knocked the gun out of his hand into
the water, remarking at the same time
that 1--WE will all be hanged if you shoot
him."
I can tell you ! felt little easier when