The morning call., 1892-11-03
OPIUM AS PLAYING CARDS.
A Big Seizure of Cases From
Portland.
PHELPS STRAIGHT TIP.
No Smugglsr Touched-The Contraband Drug
Found on Board the Steamer Oregon.
Suspicious Railway Marks.

Five cases. manifested as playing cards.
were seized by CustoDl-house officers on
BOARD the steamship Oregon yesterday
morning.
When opened the cases contained 1910
TINS OF opium valued at sic, 400, the duties
on which would have amounted to $3.50.
The Oregon arrived from Portland on
Tuesday afternoon. Acting upon previous
information received by Collector Phelps
that the contraband opium formed part of
the cargo the Oregon swarmed with revenue
offieers as soon as she crossed the bar.
The authorities had a straight tip that
considerable portion of opium was on the
steamer and all they had to do was to quietly
locate the drug and lie in wait for the
claimants.
The smugglers at this end of the line had
no trouble to avoid arrest. The seizure was
made long before they had a chance to call
Tor the goods. Alarmed in time by the long
and diiigent search of the Oregon ali Tues
day afternoon and night they simply re-
FUSED TO emerge from their hiding places.
Al the Custom-house yesterday the talk
was abont the clever aud brilliant seizure
py the officials, but not a word was whis-
pered about the ignominious failure to cap
lure live smuggler.
AS seizure it is the most valuable made
In long time. There Is $1,000 for the In
formers after the forfeiture proceedings
are completed. This is the maximum sum
allowed an informer, though his informa-
tlon might lead 10 the seizure of opium TO
tie value of 100000.
This particular seizure has some interest
Ing aspects. The marks on the cases afford
unlimited data for conjecture, surmise and
speculation on the part of the detective
mlnd as to the movements OF the freight
before II reached this port.
tad with In nrdo
~C. u. A. d Co., Lackawanna Fast Freight
Line, Wisconsin Central Northern Pacific"
Inese marks create the impression that the
cases have travelled from New York TO Port
land: IL is surmised that the opium came
originally from Vietoria, b. c., and was
shipped East and then West again,
finally being transferred at Portland to the
oregon for ultimate delivery in San Fran
| cisco.
The manifest shows that the five cases
were shipped at Portland, Or, by w. B.
Allen to &. Il. Ashcroft Il Co. of this city,
Ihese names are all supposed to be fictf-
uous, and there is also reasonable ground
lot believing that the railway marks are a
clever device Of the smugglers to mislead
the omcers as to the true course of travel
The hrst news received here was en-
bodied 10 dispatch received by the Col
lector from Portland two days ago. II was
as follows:
2. G. Phelps, Collector of the Port Of San
marked Ashcroft. S. F." They ali contain
opium.
Upon this elew Varney Gaskill, the
Deputy. Surveyor. sent Customs Inspec-
tors w. A. Sprague, W. j. Shepman
and L. A. Holmes to board the Ore
gon on her arrival. Special Inspector
Noyes and PattisOD, Of the Collectors Office,
Joined. The vessel was searched from stem
TO stern. but no case marked Ashcroft"
was found. Yesterday morning the search
was resumed, when Sprague aud Shepman
concluded to open the cases marked
&c. L. A. & Co." Within them they found
the cans of opium secured in neat packages
put up in the same manner that playing
cards are packed
Three of the cases contained 500 five-tael
cans each, one 3SS cans and another $40
cans, in all 1910 five-tael cans, or nearly half
ton OF the drug.
The consignment was at once removed to
the Appraisers building and placed in a
steel tank.
The opium is labeled Tai iuen. close
imitation OF the famous Lai Yuen Hong
Kong brand.
Collector Phelps said that thus far this
year 100000 had been collected as duty on
opium imported into San Francisco. THAT
shows the extent of the legitimate traffic"
And be added, 'San Francisco is sleeping
on volcano"