The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-06
THE SMUGGLING OF OPIUM.
QUEER TArs OF SENDING TIE DHU9
OYER THE BORDER.
The business IL 80 Probable that Nen1
Ch,nces Are Risked-Sinpis Netheas
that Are Overlooked Sometimes.

| Ch,nces Are RIsked-Sinpls Hetheas
| that Are Overlooked sometimes.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 5.-As long as the profits
| OF smuGglers arc big their business will
| flourish. Notwithstanding such IN occasional
capture rs that Of the exporter OF illicit opium
| in New York the other day. The customs do
tective service. controlled from Wnshing ton.
cannot possibly keep under guard the enttre
frontiers and coasts OF so vast country as the
United States. 1t Is only now and then thaA
they can strike a blow ut the traflo BY exercis.
ing not merely vigilance. but devices OF the ut
most ingenuity.
About two months ago three revenue IN.
spectors In Puget Sound dressed themselves
as fishermen and started out aftor herring
with an equipment ~ nets. Their purpose
was assisted unexpectedly by tremendous
storm that capsized their boat and cast them
on the shore Of San Juan Island. They were
taken care OF by the resident fisher folk and
they lived with them for some time, partAktng
OF their occupations and amusements. Incl
dentally they discovered that the hospitable
inhabitants were engaged in smuggling opium
and liquor from Canada, the whiskey being
sold to the workmen in the great lime fscto-
rics there As result eleven persons have
been arrested.
Not long ago n novel and very interesting
method Of smuggling opium, was discovered
by officers OF tho revenue marine in Puget
Sound. Largo sticks OF timber were sawn
in two lengthwlse and followed out, the
halves being afterward fastened together with
wooden pins 80 that no one would have sup.
posed that the big logs were filled with con-
traband material. The scheme was found out
by the chance OF coming across some OF the
empty logs floating about on the water. Two
or three good-sized logs will hold many thou
sands Of dollars worth OF opium.
The flremen and stokers on board Of the
trans-Paciflc steamships do great deal OF
smuggling. because they have so many con-
venient hiding places They hide opium In
the coal. and hollow iron masts frequently
afford places Of concealment for cans Of
opium. AS do also the pumps OF vessels In
port there are various ways OF getting the
opium ashore. favorite method Is to drop
the cans overheard. with sinkers attached to
them SO as to keep them from drifting far.
and floats Of cork or wood to mark them. Then
small boats pick them up. ..t.,i.
Some OF the most remarkable Incidents
which have como under the observation Of the
revenue marine have to do with the smaR.
Cling Of Chinese into the United States. Cor
tnin instances came to tho knowledge OF tho
Government not very long ago where the crews
OF Vessels actually killed and threw overheard
many unfortunate Chinese passengers when
in danger OF capture. in order TO destroy all
evidence against themselves. Some most ex-
traordinary eXpedients are resorted to. TN
one occasion several Chinnmsn wore hidden
under the boilers Of STEAMSHIP bound from
Vancouver. They literally roasted. and their
cries OF agony attracted the attention Of tho
inspectors Mt Port Townsend They were
dragged out and some OF them died from their
burns. Another time Chinanan climbed Into
he, t., Il, ko, .kxr l., hnA s.s.k
room to hold on, secreting himself before the
vessel started from Vancouver. Every revslu.
ton OF the wheel dolukcd him with icy wnter.
and he was taken out more dead thun alive.
Profitable smuggling from the British possess
sions is of wool. Small vessels and boats fetch
it over from New Brunswick. and the sam.
method OF bringing it here is practiscd on the
northwest coast. Since tariff Of $50 head
was placed on horses and $40 on cattle con-
them across tie ri" Gran ie rom Mexico By
lordins tho shallow stream ut night. new
Ms Ir e law mas
Of - pound on wrapper tobncco and - cents
u pound on filler ,tobacco the. surreptittous
oi 'ii'Isr: and s., i thr.ush cheap 4 great
quantity in that WY was cnptared
that pay: well to get tham in free.
Most Of the "um into this coaa-
capital and the ind 1strv Of bandreds 81 mem
e ,s The 81
dSty Tree tnr bsns 81 Hsas
Found. The stun can s' 30 conveuienty ship:
ped to any place along the line aud conveyed
over the border whenever II is desired. Where
Hight It is ' shippea ACROSS '' IN every py.i I'M.
nG!nable disguise. There L. aim ost no limit
the traffic. On one occasion two men were ar.
rested and twenty cans found In their posses:
at ssia
order to get RID Of evia enoe against ii! parties
concerned. their confederates used bribery
blocks made, to 1T them. FortInateiy the
arrcsie, vii" sopiessed that he had bsea o..
M sryf acrfss the Hn
from the customs officers when possible.
s whs he ne PseY S on sGsf 0hes
sn,Pis3n as to Its contents , had eyer occurred
MED That 10 owned i or knew s anything about
more thsn Sloo5SS worth e Big own soeoans
manni actursd at Victoria. where 'iSS.66
pounds q tho crude article is annually trans.
pared product. It co%es chiefly from RSr key.
being Inferior In quality to that imported f.2m
tnlna anu arrives IN tno shape OF DallS. AIy0r
the ssGd pods raply disSe0r hirciGsIntsy
gathered by cutting open the. pods At the
when it has exaded. i Is collected on 1esyss
md ~ i dried Z, in !a%ps; Finally It f made Into
covered with POPPY petals, agshitinated with
e" p he Sne bs Ss
parked in chests for export. AZ viotoria Tie
md the materials boiled 10 a thin paste With
water The paste. With some cold water ADDED.
which ii Is filtered Through bamboo fibre paper.
rhr, resulting brown liquid is concentrated by
boiling down until II resembles molasses In
consistency After hcing kcptfo few months
I II ready Tor smoking. and is put up In cans
or market.
Tho extent to which tho smoking OF opium
prevails in the Unitet States ~ not generally
'ealizcd. Statistical Indignation is to the Of
SS, t, smoke key the " Irun WIe at I"mst
re 2nnm eaters, .9nsuming i In other forms.
reduced at Victoria alone nearly al! is sold
md usel In tn. United States, and to the
n N IN ust M n ha nd