The morning call., 1893-04-24
OPIUM IN TRUNKS.
A Canadian Official on
Smuggling.
Detective MacfarIane CorroborateS
Frederick Apps Stories of
Corruption.

Frederick Arp, recently employed in the
Canadian revenue service, who visited this
city last week prior 10 Il trip to Mexico,
gave some interesting facts regarding the
recent investigations of opium smuggling
in the Northwest.
Although Mr.. Arp was in no way EN-
ployed on the case Of the Haytian Republic,
which caused INSPECTOR Noyes so much
trouble. be is prepared to say that the
$4,000 worth OF opium which the steamer
is supposed to have had for the ring at
Tacoma and Portland was successfully
brought into this country while the trial Of
the vessel was going on.
"Some of the goods" said the gentleman.
were on the wharf at Victoria, and lay
there for nearly three weeks.
They were packed IN ordinary dry-g0ods
boxes, while in one instance a trunk con-
tanned some hundred or more boxes.
The opium ID the trunk was imported
stuff packed in cans nearly double the size
OF an ordinary hye-tael tin.
There was man detailed 10 90 to Port
laGd to oversee the handling Of the drug
there. but Moves was around at all hours
of the day and night. LOtan and other
officials were suspected ana b-Oficers
we're on the alert for any crooked looking
transfers. 50 he returned to Ictoria, took
the stuff from :he wharf away in an express
wagon aud packed it ali into trunks.
what became Of it after that l c uld not
say definitely, but l suspect great deal Of
it went to Detroit over the Canadian Pa
ciic.
There were a lot of people in on the
deal; one man keeps a saloon in Tacoma
and another IS on CoTdoYa street, Van
couver. in business.
The old Van BraemeT crowd was sus-
pected Of backing the Hayiian Republic
scheme, hut this is not SO. Van Braemer,
il IN the business ata!l. is interested simply
as small fTy'-that is, at present.
you can say one thing through your pa
Der, however. Brakemen of the Northern
Pacific Railroad carried nearly S10.OO worth
OF the drug TO Portland piecemeai in their
little satche!s which trainmen usually carry.
OF course it was slow work, but ten or
fifteen boxes trip counts uD at the end of
a few weeks.
For the ediicatiOn of your customs Off
GERS l will say that case Of merchandise
was at Victoria marked John c. Polling
ton, Chicago, H. which had opium in It.
! did not watch il, but il undoubtedly went
to the border on the Canadian line. whence
1t will be smuggled in
Regarding the Hayti8n Republics Chi
nese l cannot make any posi- tive statements,
so viii remain quiet on that subject. but so
far as Chinese steering is concerned l can
not for the life OF me see why your people
cannot at least put partial stop to proceed
ings.
During January there were about 1900
Chinese in British Columbia, all of whom,
with the exception Of $50, were for the
United States.
Here IS translation of circular of in
formation sent out to agents Of the ring
originals can be procured in Victoria and
Vancouver without much trouble:
An agent will meet you at the Canadian
Pacific dock. lie will tell you what is
necessary pnrch baf0ra E
the mountains.
80 During the winter months very heavy
clothing should be secured, as many hard
ships may be encountered in the deep SHOWS
OF The mountains
=" In approaching and passing over the
United States borders the only caution
necessary to heed is to follow infinitely the
directions given by the Interpreter"
Mr.. Arp thought this was great Joke OH
the, Northern custom-house officials, and
we'll lie may.
Detective j. W. Macfarlane. who is well
posted on smuggling matters, having studied
the situation when in the employ of the
Alaska Commercial Company of this city.
verified Nh. ARDS statements regarding the
railroad employees of the Northern Pacific.
Not week ago." said Mr.. Macfarlane,
one. OF these. railway people came to me
saying that he had resigned, as he had
made $1,000 in less than six months.
He explained that he had brought the
carrying it In his valse.
4 asked him why he did not stay with il
II ne was making so much money. He re-
piled that the customs officers were getting
too fly, but all that would blow over in a
month or two
About this Chinese smuggling" said Mr..
Macfarlane, take Reed for Instance; there
was man who never Travelled a week I'M
der the same name.
1t is said that he knew more about the
Olympic range of mountains than anv other
man IN the country. These mountains were
practically uneXplored up to a few years
petition to find out something about the
unknown range.
Reed once hid party OF Chinese in the
OIymplan chain 50 perfectly that no officer
Of the law could ever find trace of them.
In my opinion that last shipment Of
opium which YOU speak about was sent to
Detroit or Chicago.
II would not be bit surprised il
Redwood City did occasionally receive a
consignment, being auproachable by
slOughs. You know those fellows sent stuff
to just such uElooked-fur places as that"
Mr. Arp, in concluding his interview, said
that the customs service in the Northwest
was rotten 20 the core.
Il say this as an entirely disinterested
partv," he added.
From high officials down to the most
mental emplOye Of The United States
Government, British Coumbia's officers
could point out persons in league with the
smugglers' rings. and all can say in friend
ship 10 your Government in regard to the
recent investigation is TO let the good work
60 on, and fraud will as surely come to the
top 40 cork floats to the surface of waleI."