The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-12-17
QUEER PASSENGERS.
A Sea Capain's Story of a Family
of Smugglers.

my navy NoiiN llllllS
when they succeed in smuggling
dutiable goods through the custom
house. If they escape detection,
they congratulate themselves or
their cleverness in outwitting the
government officials; but when they
are not successful and are exposed,
the case assumes a different aspect
The position OF the smuggling
traveller is indeed ore of the most
awkward imaginable.
| have been witness OF many
amusing scenes that have occurred
on the White Star ships and at their
landing place. One OF these left a
lasting impression on my memory,
owing, perhaps, to the extraordin-
airy conduct of all the members of
an entire family during the voyage
from Liverpool to New York.
In the early p:rt of September,
1870, stood at the gangway on the
main deck OF the Baltic, of which l
was then in command, at Liverpool,
watching the passengers come on
board from the tender. The ship
was anchored in the river, about
three quarters OF a mile from the
landing stage.
| Among The last to leave the tender
was family which consisted of
father, mother and four daughters.
The father was all old man-short,
stout and thick set His wife was
round, plump, very red in the face,
and painted with the exertion she
was making.
The daughters, on the contrary,
were long, lank. and thin, in face
and figure.
The whole appearance of the
group was so poor, and their dress
so shabby and worn, that as they
went aft among the saloon passen-
gers it seemed as if a mistake had
been made, and that their proper
place was in the steerage. Many OF
the migrants were clad far more
neatly.
On the passage, two or three days
later, happening to 60 aft one morn
ing, | as ain remarked this curious
family. They were sitting entirely
apart from the other passengers, on
the long wooden seat that ran along
the side of the railing. Steamer
chairs we're a luxury in which,
evidently, they had not indulged.
The father, mother and four
daughters-the daughters resembled
a flight of steps of even gradations-
sat solemnly side by side, without
uttering a word, and appearing as
if they were assembled at funeral.
The ship was full of passengers,
who were mostly Americans, return
ing from their summer outing. They
had not much to occupy their atten-
ton, and soon all who were we'll
enough to enjoy any little novelty or
excitement were attracted toward
this strange and very eccentric family
| group.
eLhey responded so briefly and
coldly to Kind jqaliEiss jiDafaiEiss made by
them by several of the adiss m.
even the most inqulsitive were obliged
to give up trying to solve the prob.
lem which they seemed to suggest
They were soon left entirely to them
selves.
Not one member of the family was
ever seen alone, either on deck or
in the saloon. fone of the partv
rose up 10 wax, all formed in
solemn processi1. Silently and
sadly they prqenaded up and
down the DECK ntil, at signal
from the iather OF other, all stop
ped ana resumed tir seats.
One of the ladiesho sat ,t
table aSkeu hie WIZ thought of
'hese peop'e' "alad no time up
to that moment TO Tx about them
at all, and told her sq5ut addoI
that, if the weather cenued f,o ! S
should cast an eye on n oooo.
ally, and tell her what, r
arrived at. t
The weather prove, ,vor,,1o e
and | began to be somet ;nto. ii
: ested in the family. Cer1,, tho; Il
Mosen'en. WHY wy ocular.
Whether they were cause -; W
Z idity, eccentriclty Or des, l. b,
ie' quite oe
decide. lie
y As the end of the pas, - ur
preached, unmistakable r. six
anxiety anu NERVOUSNESS BILE dls
in the faces of all the mem oe ce;
the family. One afternooo ma
before dinner, near the whee,, :
the old man suddenly began 4 est
versation with a gentleman san
). stood near. l happened to owe /
: the talk. 200
The weather was the first ton
~ but soon the subject drifted to httI
nearest the old mans heart. Dos
began to make inquiries about er
:. custom house inspection. n,
,s Are the officers very rigid in thA;
examination? he asked. He "
told that they were. l.
What amount is allowed du,
y free? he inquired, and his questiG
was answered courteously.
' Forty eight hours later we ha
: arrived at Sandy Hook, and wer
fast approaching quarantine whe
something called me from the bridg
as us and | went on deck.
d: There, standing by the railing
N n looking off toward Staten Islanc