Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-11-26
QUEER PASSENGERS.
A Sea Captains Story of a Fam
lily Of Smugglera

hy OF Smugglo-a-
Many Passengers returning from
England or the continent to the Coited
states appear to imagine that they
have done brilliant thing when they
succeed in smuggling dutiablc goods
through the custonhousc. If they
escape detection, they congratulate
themselves on their clcverness in out
whiting the government officials; but
when they are not successful. and are
exposed, the case assumes n different
aspect
The position of the smuggling trav-
elcr is indeed one of the most awkward
Imaginable.
have been a witness of many anus
ing scenes that have occurred on the
White star Ships and ut their landing
place. One of these left n lasting i'm
preston on my memory, owing, per-
haps, to the extraordinary conduct Of
all the members of an entire family
during the voyage from Liverpool to
New York.
In the early part of September, 1877,
/ stood at the gangwny on the r'H'
deck of the Baltic, uf which ! was then
In command, ut Liverpool, watching
the passengers come on board from the
llt snip " siS dhNilcA VI ih AiN
river, about threc-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 An old mau-short, stout
and thick set HIS wife was round,
plump, very rcd in the face, and painted
with the cXertion she was making.
The daughters, on the contrary, were
long, lank, and thin, both in face and
figure.
The whole appearance of the group
was so poor, and their dress SO shabby
and worn, that rs they went aft among
the saloon passengers il seemed as IL a
mistake had been made, and that their
proper place was in the steerage. Many
of the immigrants were clad far more
neatly.
On the passage, two or three days
later, happening to go aft one morning,
] again remarked this curious family.
They were sitting entirely apart from
the other passengers, on the long
wooden scat that ran along the side Of
the railing. Steamer chairs were q
luxury in which, evidently, they had
not indulgcd.
The father. mother and four daugh
Of steps of even gradations-ss'
solemnly side by side, without utterinf
a word, and appearing as if they were
assembled at funeral
The ship was full of passengers, whc
were mostly Americans, returning
from their summer outing They hac
not much TO occupy their attention
and soon all who were well enough tt
enjoy any little novelty or cXcitemen
were attracted toward this strange ant
very eccentric family group.
They responded SO briefly and coldl!
20 kind inquiries made of them 10y sew
cral of the ladies that even the mos
ipouisitive were obliged to give up try
ing 10 solve the problem which they
seemed TO suggest. They were sool
left entirely To themselves
Not one member of the family wa
za-ever seen alone, either on deck OF IL
tbe saloon. If one of the party rose NJ
20 walk. all formed in solemn proces
sion. silently and sadly they prom
enaded ND and down the deck, until, a
a signal from the father or mother, al
stopred and resumed their seats
one Of the ladies who sat at my tabl
asked me what I thought of these pee
- had had no time up to that mo
r0ent TO tnlIk duOuN NaANAA az 80 -
4o,d her so; but ! added that II th
weather continued fine, ] should cas-
an eve on them occasionally, and tel
her what conclusion / arrived at
The weather proved favorable, and
beqan 20 lie somewhat interested in th
family. Certainly their movement
were very peculiar Whether the
vv,re caused by tinidity, eccentrlclt
or a desire to be let severely alone
could not quite decide.
As the end of the passage approached
unmistalxatle signs of anxiety an
nervousness were visible in the face
- All the members Of the family. On
afternoon just before dinner, near N
wbec Ihouse. the old man suddenly o
can a conversation with n gentiema
rvbo stood near. happened TO Owe
hear the talk. =,
The weather was the frst topic; b'
soon tho subject drifted 70 that neare
tbe old mans heart He began to mas
inquiries about the custom house
spection- 49,