The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-29
HALCYON TIMES FOR sMUGGLERs.
Splendid System and Gigantic Profits OF
an Opium Syndicate.

an Opium Syndicate.
VICTORIA, May Especial 1.-The smuggling
schooner Halcyon is still in Victoria harbo-,
where she is loading general merchandise. Her
cargo will be discharged on the Japanese coast,
and no duty will be paid on it, for the Halcyon
smuggles both ways. When the yacht cleared
from Hongkong her papers gave her permission
to land at Victoria, b. G. They specified the
fact that she had no right to land at any other
port. Her owners say she did not either When
information as to how part of her cargo hap
pened to be dumped on the Hawaiian coast is
asked for, the reply is made that vessel can
be outside the harbor and send what she con-
tains ashore in small boats. A reporter sent to
Victoria to run down the facts in the smuggler's
movements reports as follows:
The Halcyon is said to have three joint own
ers. Two OF them, James w. Whaley and L.
Greenwald, are known. The third of the trio
always remains in the background Whalley is
big, handsome and debonaire, and Greenwald is
small, slight and unassuming. Whalley is
high roller and money spender. hail fellow
we'll met, an entertaining story teller and a
rounder. Greenwald is also popular, but re-
mains In the background. Whalley commands
and Greenwald executes. Both of them have
been experimenting the Halcyon's move
ments ever since she left San Fran
cisco for the Orient, q year and a half
ago. The pair parted at Hongkong after
last year. Greenwald was in Honolulu when
her advent was making opium drop from $4,000
to $4,000. He saw her safely out of reach of the
Hawaiian authorities, and then took steamer
Tor San Francisco, coming from that city to Vic
toria, where he has been for a month. Whalley
arrived there yesterday on the Umatila. Green.
wald is known to almost every one in Victoria,
and his connection with the Halcyon is hinted
at openly. He does not deny ownership in her,
but does not confess it. When tho reporter put
the question to him plainly he smiled. Said her
print anything you like. II you know anything
give 1t to the world. Let's go aud take drink .
Ee did not deny that the Halcyon had loaded
opium in the Orient In fact, he even admitted
il was taken on with the express purpose of
smuggling, and that large part of it had been
landed in Hawaii without dollar of duty hav-
ing been paid on it.
The reporter asked If some of it had not been
landed on Puget sound. The answer was a
smile. Some 6,000 pounds of the stuff was
landed. There is no doubt about this 1t was
taken off in small boats while the schooner was
lying in Barclay sound. The smugglers are kept
thoroughly posted regarding official movements
on this side. They had men here while the col
lector of this district was ordering the wolcott
TO run the Halcyon down. The latter vessel
almost run into the cutter one night last week
"We were In British waters" said Greenwald.
sand If she had molested us you would have
heard something drop"
AS soon as United States Consul Myers heard
that the Halcyon was in Victoria he went to
Collector Milne and demanded that she be
seized. "The schooner has not violated
any OF our laws, and am power
less to act said Milne; "besides which
have no official knowledge of her whereabouts -
The Halcyon had not then entered any English
harbor. "The vessel cannot be seized, even in
American waters, remarked Greeuwald
hGx n x~fs.
ever caught us at it? No one ever has and il
is doubtful If any one ever will, because the
work OF the gang is so smooth that detection is
almost impossible.
Everything Is done on the cooperative pian.
Not one OF the smuggler's gang gets sny regular
wages, all of them being interested financfallv in
the venture. Even if assistance from outsiders is
needed in landing the stuff they are Maid in
opium for their trouble, thus making them
partners in the smuggling and vioIators of the
law. Should either Whalley or Greenwald ever
be arrested nothing could ever be nroven
against them, because their orders are given
through a dozen or two of lieurensnts The
Halcyon carries captain, mate and five hands
In two days the reporter spent the best mart of
fourteen hours with Greenwald In tbs, time
he gave instructions to and received renorts
from a dozen men. He would be sipnaIed o,,
the street and excuse himself and transsc, his
business and return. He always goes ahesd IN
a cruise. spends his money freely, and is pre-
pared at moments notice to put up bail in any
amount in case it should be needed by any OF
his lieutenants.
II customs officials were to search the Chinese
wash houses of Port Townsend Seattle or
Tacoma In the next five days they would be sur
prised at the large amount of unstaprned opium
that would be turned up. The reporter asked
Greenwald how much he was going to make ont
of the present venture. ''Maybe S60OOO." said
he, land maybe only a small part of that. I'll
drop you line before we leave here and give
the exact figures"