The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-25
HATTIE HASTINGS GONE.


the Dupe of smugglers.
Posr ANGELES, Sept. Especial. f.
Hattie Hastings. who was arrested by In
spector Learnard for smuggling opium
few weeks ago, and about whom there has
been 50 much written, may never be tried.
She is daughter of James Hastings, OF
this city, and this has been their home for
the past three or four years. Formerly
they resided In Mendoza, ILL.,. from which
place they removed TO Kansas, coming
from thence here. In early days Mr.. Hast
ings was weil-to do. and has ever been
highly esteemed. He was elected mayor
OF the city of Mendoza for four successive
terms. During the incumbency of that
Office, as the head o. the city, he delivered
the address of welcome TO Gen. u. s.
Grant upon his return trip from around
the world. when he paid that city a visit.
However, misfortunes have reduced the
family until now, at the age of - years,
and in enfeebled health, he is almost PEN
niiess. Hattie's younger sister, Florence.
died a few months ago from consumption.
and brother has been given up to die by
his physicians. He is in Colorado.
In this city Hattie was always much
though. of socially and was regarded as q
very bright young woman. She has very
independent nature. and readily looked
about for something TO do TO assist her
parents. This was not easy 10 find. Al
though Miss Hattie had reserve lot"
which she was holding. and her father
also had one. the money to pay for which
she gave as an excuse for becoming
smuggler, yet 1t is believed here that she
had been engaged in the illicit traffic for
some time. However, she was tempted to
enter the business by friends. it is alleged,
and in this city universal sympathy Is
with the fair smugg.er.
IL is well known to the customs officials
that Port Angeles contains quite an inter
esting smuggling ring. Situated as this
city is it is comparatively easy for SNUG
glers to bring their opium or Cinnamon
across the Straits. landing in the night.
then proceeding to an established rendez-
yous from which, in q day or so, in ordi-
nary trunks or boxes, the stuff is shipped
from this place TO an agent at Portland,
Seattle or some other point. and from
which rendezvous the struggled China
men proceed in an unost entatious manner
out into the open world. when il becomes
hard matter to prove the smuggied
celestial not entitled to remain on the soil
Of Uncle Sam.
The arrest of Hattie Hastings was hun
Cling piece Of work. She was simply small
member-the least offending-of larger
ring which owns boats, even a steam
launch, and which has been almost openly
operating for some time. One of the men,
bers Is always at Seattle, where he holds
himself out as a gambler, insurance agent
or in some other guise, while another is
always in Victoria keeping an eagle eye
on how matters are progressing, while
still another has headquarters at Port
Townsend, 80 the story goes. One of
them is said TO have openly landed cargo
of opium here just day or so preceding
the arrest of Miss Hastings. OF this clique
Miss Hastings alone wa: arrested.
1t has been given out that Miss Hastings
is in the hop fields earning money. but
such Is not the case. Miss Hattie has
skipped" not for her own good, but for
the good of the gang" 1t Is quite true
that she was much ''cut up over her ar
rest and felt Inundated, but she has dis
posed Of her reserve lot here and none of
her friends for an instant maintain that
she is in the hop fields. Her parents re-
iuse to say where she Is, but admit that
she Is not there.
Everybody sympathizes with the girl.
All realize the hard struggle she made for
money for the support of herself and
family. and no one believes she would be
punished severely should she stand trial;
but in her misfortune she has unauestion-
ably listed TO the advice OF her associates
in smuggling. who felt that their own
safety demanded she leave the country.
which advice she has arrantad uhar
cooler heads should have been her conn
al