The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-21

white people, any ground to suspect that
they are trying to practice a fraud. They
have taught the sailor men Of the white
race the shrewdest tricks practiced on In
Gle Sans tax gathcrcrs and are never
caught in one device without being ready
with another one equally us hard to detect.
Before the influx of Chinese laborers was
stopped, says the San Francisco Chronicle,
q Mopgol, looking as il all his years were
acquainted with only poverty and toll,
would sometimes try to sneak ashore with
a dirty old blouse stuffed full Of fine silk
handkerchiefs scnrfs or indian neck
shawls. The Chinese garment for cold
wentheris o quilted blouse or tunic, with q
heavy filling Of cotton. Silk handkerchiefs
being light and fine, a single blouse would
sometimes contain a valuable Invoice.
Sometimes q demure Chinese maiden
would step ashore with the thick soles Of
her shoes stuffed with silk. A whole covey
arrived ome years ago with their shoes
stuffed in this fashion. An inquisitive in
spector had his attention attracted to the
extraordinary thickness Of the soles, and
made an investigation, which resulted in a
valuable seizure.
To a man the Chinese crews on the steam
ers plying between San Francisco and Mex
leo, South America and the orient are
smugglers. They hide their c%ontraband
goods in the oldest places imaginable, and
get them ashore past the eyes OF the Gus
toms officers in ways that almost bafle de-
lection.
They have brought opium skillfully
stuffed in bananas still hanging to the
stalk and in oranges One day, about six
years ago, q Chinese dressed as 4 cook
walked leisurely down the gangplank Of a
Pacific Mail steamer with a basket on his
arm containing several loaves of bread.
He shutiled right by a custom house officer
and would have got away all right, but on
the wharf came into collision with a drunk
en- sailor. The sailor, who was to blame,
gave the Chinese O violent shove, sending
him sprawliLG Il scattering his bread
loaves. A policeman interfered and no.
ticed that one of the loaves had broken
open. He started to examine, and the
Chinese started to run. Every loaf was
filled with opium.
Chinese nave been detected with boxes OF
the drug deity bound up in their cues or
tied under, their arms. Every bit of bag.
gage and every article they take ashore is a
hiding place.
Beams on ship and table legs have been
followed out as receptacles for c~ontraband
opium. False bottoms are put in cubby
holes and pantry drawers. Hiding places
are sought in coal bunkers and under The
engines and boilers. The methods Of Sc
erection are SO varied and ingenious that fire
Quently the officers are unable to find SNUG
gled opium, even after they have definite
information that it is board a vessel. Only
recently the officers failed to find a lot, al
though they knew positively that it was or
board. However, keeping the closest watct
on everything that left the ship, they finally
intercepted tho opium AS it was being taker
ashore.
Several years ago the officials were in
formed that q hole had been followed on
under the stern Of one Of the China steam
ers as a receptacle for smuggled opium
When the steamer arrived, they made
search and found = hole large enough TO con
tain between $1,000 and 1000 worth Of tn
drug, but it was empty. 1t had beendumpet
out into the bay off Fort Point, with float4
attached. A considerable portion of it wal
picked up. A regular business was 70,
awhile maintained by throwing the opium
overheard, with floats attached to long lines
for confederates to pick up and take ashore
in boats, but the officers became cognisan'
of it and broke it up.
Once a box containing the bones Of a deat
Chinan,an WAS placed on a eanler at Vic
toria to be brought here for shipment tt
China. An accident caused it to be closel,
examined, when a large quantity Of opium
was found concealed under the bones. Larg
quantities Of opium lave been struggled il
barrels of salt fish and in lumber.