The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-09
LIFE ON THE BORDER.
Where Nobody Pays Attention
to the Mckinley Bill.
ILLICIT TRAFFIC AT NIGHT.
Visit to the Barker Cabin, Rendezvous
for smugglers-Heavy Importations
Over Imaginary Boundary Line.

SuxAs, Aug. Especial Correspond
ence. attorney ]. K. Chambers and the
PosT-IgTELLreEScEg correspondent this
evening paid visit to the old Barker
cabin, which, of late, has attracted much
attention. owing to its connection with the
Terry opium smuggling case, where the
two men with the large box were seen by
Harrison. Although the writer has passed
it many times during the past few months
he gave it only casual glance, and knew
little about it. Others even more familiar
with the locality are no better posted. 1t
was found to be a two-story log cabin of
hewed logs without single window or
door. This seemed strange, and naturally
led TO search for an entrance, which,
after some difficulty, was found to be an
underground passage or hole in the ground
under the bed or lower log of the building.
The cabin stands back from the road, and
on two sides is closely bordered by tam
gled jungle of box, berry and young fir
trees. A path passes around the house on
these two sides, which is imperceptible
from the road, to follow which we
were forced to stoop and sometimes crawl
on our hands and knees, pushing the tall
ferns and rose brush from our faces with
our hands. On entering the building,
which has no floor, we found good evil
dences of its previous occupation for some
purpose. A few short boards laid in one
corner, an oil cloth and a few scattered
articles were the only effects used by the
occupants. The marks of feet OH the
ground showed considerable use. As there
was no mortar between the logs, and a
light from within could be seen, the con-
clusion arrived at was that it had been
used mostly as place of storage, being
convenient to the road and sufficient
distance from town to avoid the eye of the
officers. The cabin is located on the old
Western Union telegraph road, about half
mile west of the sawmill on the Sumas
river.
During call on Mr.. Henry Barker, the
proprietor of that part of Sumas known as
Baskerville, it was learned that the cabin
was built by him in 1876. He is an old
settler, having lived here for the past
twenty-four years. Mr. Barker said that
previous to the building of this cabin he
had lived in another cabin near the site of
this one, which was burned by incendiar-
les while he was away. Much smuggling
road, and he had taken an active part in
giving information. The cabin was built
solid, the windows and doors to be sawed
out later on, but it was finally left in its
present condition. Mr.. Barker said the
telegraph company maintained horse
trail along their line for the use
of their line repairers. Along this
route much contraband goods were
packed, many persons making that
their entire business. One particular man,
whose name he had forgotten, was very
successful for about five years, making
considerable money, but was caught at
last. Barker says that many Of the snug
glers from time to time stopped over night
with him, and he knew they were such,
but they always cached their pack before
coming to the house. THIS part of the
line and the country to the south being
the only level ground, a natural pass be-
tween Barker's hill and the foothills, with
travelled trail, made it convenient high
way-in fact, the only easy overland route.
Though nothing like the amount of
opium In years past is carried through, yet
the business is carried on today and with
little chance for capture. The routes are
divided into stations, and different man
handles the dope" at each new station
arrived at. Some of the pioneer ranchers
are interested in the business, and those
who are not smile blandly.
1t is surprising with what complaisance
the general public at a border town looks
upon smuggling. They do not regard the
act as breaking the laws, but simply an
evasion of the payment of duty, which
they have legal right to do so long as
they are successful. A smuggler is as
good as any one so long as he isn't caught.
Prominent men have been pointed out to
your correspondent as having furnished
capital for this illicit business. No posi-
tive proof can however be furnished.
A new trail has lately come to notice.
and il is thought by some of the residents
along the route that it is being used quite
extensively. 1t crosses the boundary line
fIom the Sumas prairie, near Sumas lake,
to Lake Pekosie, or Silver lake. as it has
been lately named. thence through the
north valley, where the jungle is the
thickest, TO the north fork of the Nook
sack and down to the forks at the Seattle.
Lake Shore Eastern railway.
Outside of the opium business consider
able trouble is made the officers by the
settlers themselves. The bulk of the prai-
RE land lies on the Canadian side of the
line. The ranchers find it much easier to
put up wild hay on the prairie to growing
and cutting tame hay among stumps and
act accordingly. When winter comes thew
draw the hay across the line piece meal
and thus obtain large supplies from Cana
dian soil.
Another noticeable thing is the amount
of trading done between the two towns.
Huntingdon and Sumas, after nightfau
The people seem to have penchant for
evening barter. The groceries for the next
day are laid in from one town, while the
.ideboard is being replenished with
'Three-Star Hennessy" from the other.
While the stomach of the American IS be-
ing warmed with British Columbia rye.
the thirst of the Canadian is being
quenched with Milwaukee lager. Nc
Kinley and tariff is the order of
the day but Blaine and reciprocity
is the motto of the night. The line which
is marked by the iron obelisk on the
brow of Barker's hill and the swath of
felled timber through the valley and over
the foothills and mountains by proxin-
itv of residence loses its effect as bar
rier. So thoroughly in unison are the
feelings of the inhabitants on each side of
the boundary that the Canadian collector
of customs, Mr. B. r. Mcdonald, rooms
ar the Oakland in Sumas, while the Ameri-