The morning call., 1893-09-09


tempt would be made to get the opium
off in the daytime, but the watch was kept
up for appearance sake.
The ROmulus in the meantime had tied
up at the old pier in Oakland instead of
proceeding to Port Costa as heretofore.
She lay with her stern toward the bay at
the extreme end of the mole and WedDes-
day morning began discharging her cargo
of coal. That night the inspectors kept an
other watch on board. but as was expected
nothing suspicious was noticed. The usual
lo0kOutS for the Government did duty on
Thursday and as night fell all was yet CON-
mOnplace.
But on Thursday afternoon the captain
of the ROmuluS applied for his papers, thus
indicating that the steamer would put to
sea either late at night or early in the
morning If the smuggling was to be done
II would have TO be accomplished during
the coming hours of darkness was the
opinion Of the treasury agents, so the in
spectors on watch were notified to carry
out the plan agreed upon. In accordance
with this Inspector Sprague, soon after ap-
pearing for his nightly vigil, left the
steamer. giving it out that he had been
summoned to San Francisco, and Inspector
Casey was left alone
From the remarks made by the latter
official the crew OF the ROmuus be-
came convinced that their vessel was no
longer under suspicion, and they enjoyed
the evening with the remaining Govern
ment agent. 1t was the duty of the latter
TO appear uncODcerned and a tTifte sleepy.
So Mr.. Casey yawned to order and as
sumed an iDdolent attitude on the
fo'caste. He did not walk to the stern.
but contented himself with an impTovised
bunk at the bow. There was no opium
going over the forward part of that boat
during the night, but as TO the stern Mr..
Casey could not see that section of the
boat because of the deck houses. and
L,r al. 20 IL
investigate. He acted his part to perfec-
tiOn. and at midnight, when all was still
on the bay. he was apparently doing.
There was another pair of sharp eyes
watching the stern OF the Romulus, how
ever. A small pier branches out from the
old Oakland mole and ensconced IN an old
coal-bin on this structure was Inspector
Sprague, who did not go to San Francisco.
For seven hours he stood in the nncom-
Portable position and watched the Romu-
lus. 1t was just O'Clock yesterday morn
ing when he thought be saw a black OBJ
ject being slowly lowered over the counter
of the steamer. The next moment the
slide Of bullseye lantern held by some
body on deck was drawn and flash of
light released. This was repeated five
times and soon InsDector Sprague's ears
caught the SOUND Of oars. The sense OF
sight was again gratified, for little boat
stole up rounding from the pier under the
stern OF the Romulus. Two men were in
the craft and they roWed directly under
meath the black object hanging from the
vessels side Then this object was low
cred. the little craft was pushed off and
allowed TO drift with the tide. For few
moments it tioated until it was about half
way between the steamer and the small
pier. Then suddenly a voice rang out:
"Come ashore, or / VIII put a bullet
through you'll"
At the same time Inspector Sprague's
revolver sounded, two shots being fired
over the little craft. One of the men
jumped into the water and swan toward
the Romulus. At the bow of the steamer
be heard Mr.. Casey's voice. which warned
him to 90 ashore and yield or be perfor-
ated with lead. At the same time the lat
ter Inspector fred over the head of the
swimmer to more thoroughly impress his
meaning. But the man was like duck IN
the water and dived to escape the shots.