The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
TRICKS OF CHINESE sMUGGLHRs.
Tho Attention of Arful Mongoians
Directed to Silks and Opium.

The Attention OF Arttul mongollans
Directed to Silks and Opium.
The customs officers OF San Francisco
have to deal with some Of the most artful
smugglers In the world. The Chinese are
race OF smugglers, and there is not a
people on earth more fertile in expedients
TO evade the revenue laws They have
taught the sailor men OF the white race
the shrewdest tricks practiced on Uncle
Sans tax gatherers. and are never caught
I'm one device without being ready with
another one equally hard 10 detect. Be-
fore the influx OF Chinese laborers was
stopped it would sometimes occur that a
Mongo looking as If all his years were
acquainted with only poverty and tell,
would innocently try to sneak ashore with
dirty old blouse stuffed full OF fine silk
handkerchiefs, scarfs or Indian neck
shawls. The Chinese garment for cold
weather Is a quilted blouse or tunic, with
a heavy filling OF cotton.
SILK handkerchiefs being light and fine,
a single blouse would sometimes contain
a valuable invoice. A demure Chinese
maiden would sometimes step ashore
with the thick soles Of her shoes stuffed
with silk. A whole coyey arrived some
years ago with their shoes stuffed in
this fashion. An inquisitye inspector had
his attention attracted to the eXtraordi-
nary thickness of their soles, and made an
Investigation which resulted IN a valuable
seizure. To a man, according % the
Chronicle. the Chinese crews on TIE
steamers plying between San Francisco
and Mexico, South America and the orr
ent are smugglers. They hide their con-
traband goods In the oldest places Inn
aginable and get them ashore past the
eyes of the customs officers in ways that
almost battle detection.
They have brought opium skillfully
stuffed in bananas still hanging TO the
stalk and In oranges. One day, about six
years ago, a Chinese dressed as COOK
walked leisurely down the gang-plank OF
a Pacific mail steamer with basket on
his arm containing several loayes OF
bread. He shufled right by a custom
house officer and would have got away all
right, but on the wharf came into col
lision with a drunken sailor. The sailor
who was 10 blame, gave the Chinese Vlo-
lent shove, sending him spraying and
scattering his bread loayes. A policeman
interfered and noticed that one OF the
loayes had broken open. He started to
examine and the Chinese started 10 run.
Every loaf was filled with opium. Chinese
have been detected with boxes or the
drug deity bound up IN their queues or
tied under their arms. Every bit of bag
gage and every article they take ashore
is a hiding place.
Beams on ship and tables legs have been
followed out as receptacles for contra
band opium. False bottoms are put in
cubby holes and pantry drawers. ND
ing-places are sought In coal bunKers
and under the engines and boilers SeVe-
raj years ago the officials were lhiornieu
that a hole had been followed out under
the stern OF one OF the China steamers
as a receptacle for smuggled opium. When
the steamer arrived they made search
and found a hole large enough 10 coildl"
between 1900 and $4,000 worth OF the urus,
but 1t was empty. IL nad Deeh uuilI ~
out into the bay on Fort fOiht WIN
floats attached. A conslderaDle POI eio"
of Il was picked up. regular business
was for while maintalned py thIo"Ins
the opium overheard with hoats at'aGh
ed 20 long lines for confedeEates " pi0A
I'D and take ashore In boats.
once a box containing the pohes Vi
daad chinese was placed on a steamer at
Victoria TO be brought 10 san francisco
for shipment TO China. An accident caus-
ed II TO be closely examined, when
large quantity OF opium was found con-
cealed under the bones. Large quanu-
ties OF opium have been smuggled In
barrels of salt fish and In lumber.
cigars come here from Mexico or Ma
niIIa In cases OF sea biscuit or sacks or
sugar. They creep past the customs In
snectors In many innocent DISCUSSES, but
ctoar smuggling Is more dangerous and
diffit nit than opium smuggling. ana Is less
lucrative.