The morning call., 1891-10-18
SMUGGLING RINGS.
Extensive Frauds in Opium Coolies
From British Columbia.

CHICAGO, Oct 1.-THE Times has
special dispatch from Washington, d. c.,
which says startling disclosures are prom
iSed in regard 10 the smuggling of opium
into the country from the British possess
siOns. 1t declares that. after six months
investigation. the officers of the Secret Sery-
ice have made a ponder0us report to the
Treasury Department, showing the exist
ence of an oplum-smugg ggiing ring, which in
cludes many prominent men and United
States Government officials and that in eX-
tent it has not been equaled since the famous
whisky ring of 1876 At least TWO United
States Senators and five Congressman are
implicated.
FACTORIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
There are ten opium manufactures in
Victoria, b. c., running night and day,
making up crude opium in to a state ne
cessary for smoking purposes. These
factories are owned by rich Chinese mer-
chants, and return enormous profits To their
owners annually. The amount Of crude or
raw opium imported into Victoria from
China during the last fiscal year is as fol-
lows, the statement being official, copied
from the records OF the Canadian customs
ImportatIons crude opium, fiscal year ending
June 30th:
July, August, september........ 26,OI9 $6O9+2
October, November, December. 37.I99 80 U29
JdIuhTl. EcoIudIGt udIGu.ssss. Ot,loO bltNO4
April, MAY, June -.'.,,''.'..'.'. Z2,ooI 55'23S
TOTAL. lZo,3ll 92Sb, Eoi
Probably all Of this amount was manu-
featured into smoking opium by the Chi
nese firms engaged IN the business. The
amount would turn out about 10000 pounds
of the prepared material, not one pound of
which was legally catered for export in the
Canadian Custum-hOuse, and 1t is further
admitted that il was all smuggled into the
United States. The customs duty on 10000
pounds Of opium. if legally entered into the
United States, would have been SS40. 900,
and this is the amount which the smugslerS
have stolen from this Government These
figures relate only to Victoria, but there are
also opium factories in Nanalm1, Vancouver,
New Westminster and other towns in Brit
iSh Columbia, all engaged in preparing
opium for the American market. In rOuGd
numbers, therefore. 1t Is evident that the
fraud on this Governments customs Will
reach the respectable figure of S1,jOU000 per
year, and this amount is being augmented
every ear.
SMUGGLING COOLIES.
There is still another feature in the case.
Every ship from China landing at Victoria
OF Vancouver brings an average OF 800 Chi
4 tnlen. and these pay the Canadian q vSrn-
ment 500 eacd for the privilege OF landing.
Over 30 per cent OF these tind their way into
tine United ) ates through tue Puget Sound
district. The State of Washington pre-
sents some 1900 miles Of shore line upon
Puget Sound and the straits of Juan de
Fuca. indented with bays, coyes and inlets,
furnish splendid anchorage and hiding
places for smug2leTs. Ihe numerous
islands in the northern part Of the sound
make an almost continuous land highway
between the British island ot Vancouver,
upon which is situated Victoria, and the
mainland OF Washington. The Islands are
separated by narrow, winding straits,
through which the water flows fifty fathomS
deep and upon the Islands are small farms,
settlements and lumber camps that furnish
aid and cOncealmeut to the smuggiers.
When not under cultivation the Islands are
densely wooded, aud upon the hills are con-
staut !ook0uts, whose si2nal-lights when
a cargo is to be smuggled fash
from headland to headlaud. The mainland
Of Washington is covered with heavy pine
forests, where numerous and easily Travelled
trails exist. The snugglers have also many
safe places Of rendezvous west of Port
Townsend, along the Strait 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 tile huts
OF many Cinnamon who are engaged in
cutting timber, so it will be seen that the
opportunities for safe smuggling are many
and safe. The smuggled opium is easily
spirited away and the smugslei Cinnamon
mix with their countrymen and the new
cOmers cannot be distinguished from the old
Cnes.
Victoria is the headquarters Of the snug
gers and is the point Of their departure for
the American shore The people favor the
traffic and will aid the smugglers. An in
stance is mentioned where the preparations
for sending a load of Chinese over to Ameri-
can soil were made so openly that the Cana
dian Collector OF Customs was compelled to
take notice of it and warned the schooner's
captain that he would seiZe the vessel if she
made false clearance