The morning call., 1892-12-29
MAGINNIS DID 1T.
He Seized Six Hundred
Pounds of Opium.
The Largest Seizure for Years rIade
by a Vigilant Inspector
Yesterday.

One OF the most important opium seizures
for several years was made on the steam-
ship Oceanic at the Pacific Mail dock
yesterday. Twelve hundred tins OF Hong
Kong opium, weighing 600 pounds and worth
from $4,000 to $4,000. were discovered by
Inspector K. T. Maginnis and promptly con-
hscated.
Ever since the arrival Of the Oceanic from
China on Sunday Inspector Maginnis has
kept up an indefatigable search for snug
gled opium, the presence OF which he
strongly suspected without knowing just
why. He knew that the Oceanic touched
Chinese ports, and he acted on the theory
that any vessel doing SO was likely 10 have
opium aboard.
In this the inspector " as not mistaken. as
the result showed.
After searching almost every other part of
| the steamer Inspector MaGinns turned his
attention TO the hold, in which was large
cargo of rice in sacks. If there was any
opium aboard il was in the skin" of the
ship under The rice-bags. But how TO get
al il? That was the question.
Early yesterday morning Maginnis called
several laboTers to his assistance, ana by
their combined efforts the bags of rice,
| numbering about zoo, were shifted about.
AS each stack was removed the flooring
was scanned for telltale cracks or openings
showing that the floor had been tampered
with.
The hours passed away and the end OF
the rice-b bags was at hand without any signs
of opium being discovered Believing in
| the old adage that perseverance, insures
success, Inspector Maglnnis kent on with
| the work OF shifting the bags. Shortly
after 2 O'clock, when he was well nigh
ready to abandon his laborous task, he dis
| covered loose board. He raised il eau
tiOusly, and there, sure enough, were
slowed away as snugly as could be can
hfa9, hn EvaA
containing opium.
Il thought I'd find it at last" said he to
| his astonished assistants.
After giving instructions that the find
| should not be inteIfered with until his re-
| turn, Mr.. Maginnis went to the oflire of the
| steamship company and telephoned the
| news of his discovery TO Paris kiburn, the
| Surveyor of the Port. Deputy Surveyor
Farney Gaskill instructed him 10 remove
the opium at once, and in the meantime he
| dispatched several inspectors and wagon
| TO the scene of the seizure.
The removal Of the 100 cans from their
| hiding place occupied three inspectors more
than one hour The cans were neatly
packed away, and had evidently been
shipped at Hong Kong, but by whom no one
| half pound OF opium. which has market
| value of $50 pound. The duty on. the lot
seized amounts to over 5000.
Surveyor kilburn was elated over the dis
COFciHs NliCu sOOu DtCdlut tIb Lalk
| the water front and Custom-house. lnspec-
tor Maginnis was warmly commended By
his superior officer for the part he had taken
| in the discovery. and but for his persistency
in continuing what appeared to be a hope
less search the opium would not have been
discovered
The ownership of the opium is question
that bothers Surveyor Kllburn just now.
No one on board Of the steamer knows any
thing about it. or If he does he is taxing
pains to conceal the fast. The opium was
not included in the shipping list, and is
therefore cOntTaband.
One OF the inspectors states that he has
observed for several DAYS past number of
well-dressed Chinese, who haunted the Pa
cifc Mail dock as II with a purpose in view.
II is likely that they knew of the presence of
the opium aboard and were awaiting an op-
portunily TO assist In smuggling il ashore
some night by means of boats. Owing to
the limited number Of customs inspecto RS
about the dock this opportunity might have
presented itself at any time.
The opium has been removed to the Gus
tom-house, where 1t will remain pending the
arrival of claimants, in default of which II
will be condemned and sold by tn Federal
authorities for unpaid duty.