The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-27
OPIUM BY THE TON
A Large Cargo Landed on
the North Coast.
1T WILL SOON REACH HERE.
What the Little Steamer Louis Olsen
Has Been Doing Since She
Left Victoria.
1T WILL SOON REACH HERE.

ern coast.
Information has been received to the
effect that the smuggling craft Louis Olsen,
which has taken the place of the yacht
Halcyoa in the Illicit traffic, succeeded in
landing her cargo on the Mendoeino coast
during the storm last Monday night
There il was delivered to The men who
are intrusted with the work of safely snug
Cling it into San Francisco in the Innocent
looking packages of country produce.
Some days ago it was learned by the
United States officials that the Louis Olsen
had left Victoria with a suspicious cargo,
and revenue cutter was sent out from the
sound to overhaul her. but the swift little
steam schooner had dropped completely out
of sight The customs authorities here
were notified that San Francisco was her
probable destination and were instructed to
keep a sharp watch for her. Trey have
cOnscientiously followed out their instruc-
tons, but the smugglers have kept out of
the way and, it Is believed, safely landed
their cargo. valued at about $4,000.
Charles Hansen, one of the crew Of the
smugglers' craft. was in maudlin
condition in kearny-street saloon Sunday
night. He was well supplied with cash and
spent it like a millionaire. He boosted
freely of his exploits as smugger. and of
the uniform success of the men with whom
he was associated. and stated that one of the
largest cargoes of contraband opium ever
shipped from Victoria would be la the city
within few days. He made the following
statement regarding the movements of the
vessel:
when we left Victoria we cleared for
Astoria with half a cargo of canned salmon.
But it was not all salmon. In the middle of
every case were cans of opium. 1t was not
in regular opium caus. but nut up in pound
salmon tins and labeled like Fraser River
salmon. These were put in the very center.
OF each can so that dozens OF cans might be
taken from the cases and opened and 9TH
Ing but salmon be.iOund in them.
This was all landed on Tillamook Bay
on the western coast of Oregon. We knew
we could not take 1t into Astoria, for they
understand the SALMON packing scheme
there. At Tlliamook we took on a cargo OF
produce and with it about 500 pounds of
opium in 5-tael tins.
I'VE ran Into the Columbia River at
night. but instead of entering Immediately
at Astoria took advantage of the darkness
and landed our opium at Youngs Bay
This is little inlet Immediately back of
the town and only about mile distant
There it was sold to q Chinese merchant,
town. His men came near getting caught
at IL, too. They took the stuff in small
boats around the peninsula to the business
part of town. AS the whole place is built
Oh piles they can at high water row up d.
rectly beneath the houses in Chinatown,
There they sink the opium, and when a
favorable opportunity offers pull it out Of
the mud by the rope tied 10 it and draw il
up into the stores.
while the Chinese were landing this
cargo in the usual way they were observed
by young sailor named Richardson. He
Informed the customs authorities and was
placed on watch for the Chinese the next
night, with instructions TO arrest them and
take them TO the Custom-house. No officer
was with him, however.
Tine next night Richardson caught one
of the Chinese just as he raised the
opium out of the mud, but was promptly
Knocked down by another one armed with a
club. Richardson tried to get I'D, but was
knocked insensible and stabbed in the
breast.
The Chinese disappeared with the opium,
but II the customs officers there had gone
about it in the right way they would have
made big seizure.
"As il was, they ransacked the whole of
Chinatown ana did not find more than
ten pounds of unstamped opium.
when we succeeded in landing the drug
at Astoria without our vessel even being
seen we steamed out of the harbor the same
night, returned to TilIamook and took on
our salmon again.
I'VE left at night and Rugged the coast all
the way down, as we feared a cutter would
be CD the lockout for US.
Friday night it was very stormy. and
we were uncomfortably close to the rocky
coast of MendOcino. We put out our lights
and all hands were put at work sorting out
the opium.
eve packed all of it, amounting to almost
ton, Into separate cases and held il in
readiness to land.
Little River, you know, is about two
miles south OF Mendocino City and is a
small shipping point for ties. shakes and
lumber. The entrance to the harbor Is mar
row, rocky and tortuous, but once inside il
is one OF the safest on the coast
Small coastlng steamers and schooners
often put in there to escape storm. and
they are as sheltered there as in San Fran
cisco Bay, so when we ran in at 10 o'clock
at night and tied up under the pretext that
We did not want to lie at Greenwood during
the storm il excited no comment
Before morning we landed all of our
salmon-labeled opium. 1t was loaded upon
a heavy tie wagon and hauled off into ths
redwoods. IL will all be here in due time.
You know 1t is only fifty miles across the
mountains, on good easy roads, to the San
Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, and
Ii will be no trouble at all 10 get 1t freighted
in here.
in the redwoods ii is perfectly safe for
any length OF time. | don't know how IL
will appear when it is landed here, but ii
might easily be packed in cordwoOd, rail-
road ties. tan-bark. bales OF wool or hops,
butter. apple or egg boxes-in fact in hun.
dreds Of ways. and the customs officers will
have plenty Of work to do watching it.
The stuff might 0t cross the mountains
at all. 1t might come as l did-down the
coast BY stage TO Cazedero and into the city
by the North Pacific Coast road"
Hansen also stated that the steamer Louis
Olsen had been smuggling in small way
Tor long time, but it was only recently
that her owners bad branched out in the
business. The steamer is of about eighty
tons burden and was formerly owned by
Louis Olsen, small merchant at TiIla-
nook, Or.
She made frequent trips between Port
land and Tillamook and was ostensiblv
engaged lib legitimate eoasting trade. The
customs authorities at Portland and Astoria
paid little attention to the movements of
the vessel. as not the slightest suspicion
was entertained concerning her true char
acter until she was recently caught entering
Victoria without papers.
Hansen's statement Of the recent exploits
OF the vessePs owners is corroborated In a
measure by last weeks dispatches from As
torla, which briefly stated that young
sailor named George Richardson had been
severely stabbed and beaten by Chinese
smuggiers while resisting arrest. Notwith-
standing the fact that Hansen's tongue was
well loosened he would have nothing TO saw
concerning the ownership of the vessel or
the promoters OF the Illicit enterprise. He
was confident, however. that the customs
officers were notyigilant or cunning enough
to intercept the opium or to capture the
smngglers.
The customs officers here have been on
the alert Tor news concerning the Olsen's
movements and are watching the vessel
closely, as we'll as every possible avenue by
WHICH her con1raband cargo might reach