The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-20
A SMUGGLING TALE REVEALED.
How . Gang Took Chinese and Opium
Across the Border.
The Profits Of the Pool Amounted 70
o18.75o. Which Jake Has Cached
Unearthed BY Detective, He Prom
ises to ssDfvy."

nese and opium smuggling rings of the
Northwest, and describing the capture in
this city of one Jacob Kincardo, who had
levanted from British Columbia with
nearly 5000 in cash, spoils obtained in
illegitimate traffic by himself. John A.
Farwell, Henry Ackerson and Thomas
Spillman, his partners. Kincardo. who
does not believe in honor among thieves,
did not bring the plunder here with him,
but left the most OF it buried safely some
where in the wilds of British Columbia.
On January q Farwell, Ackerson, Spill
man and jacob Kincardo entered into a
verbal agreement at Victoria, B. c., to
jointly undertake the task of bringing
three separate parties Of contraband Chi
nese into the United States. The total
number of Chinese which the combine
ton decided to handle was $50. A camp
was established in the mountains near .
small station near the Canadian border
called Agassiz. Spillman was put In
charge of the rendezvous, while the bal
ance Of the party. who were thoroughly
familiar with all the trails and
passes of the surrounding noun.
tains, were selected to do the ''steer-
Ing" The first consignment of
coolies in charge of Spillman. numbering
about fifty, were steered to the camp in
bands of ten. Much suffering was experi-
enced by the Mongols. as little or no food
could be secured on the route and the
trails and roads were blocked with snow
and ice. After several weeks of hard work,
by means unknown to every one
but the contrabandists themselves,
landed on United States soil, some
going to New York, the majority to Chi
cago and good many travelling south to
San Francisco. From these Chinese is
supposed to have been collected the sum
of IS, $50. or $25 head, to which was added
0000, the proceeds of opium operations.
The smugglers then decided to move to
Victoria or Port Townsend where they
could invest in small sailing vessels and
engage in opium smuggling on q large
scale.
On February IL. or the day previous to
the time when the. smugglers had agreed
to return with their Doodle to Victoria
kincardo. Who had all of his plans ar
ranged previously. disappeared. taking the
profits of the two months work of the
combination along with him.
He subsequently made his way to Cali
fornia. Private detectives were placed on
his track and he was traced to this city.
where he was accosted last Wednesday by
ID. &. Parkinson, an agent in the employ
OF late partner. By threatening Kim
cardo with the disclosure of certain trans
actions in the East he was induced to re-
turn North with Parkinson. He first made
out and signed the following statement:
Before making any statement concerning this
case, wish 1t distinctly understood that have
nothing to say concerning our business or how
we made our money. On the night of February
II last removed $lS, $50 in United States gold.
which was secreted under the floor of our cabin
in British Columbia place occupied by my
partners, John Farweli, Henry Ackerman and
Thomas Spillman aud myself. Though re-
moved the money as mentioned. I believe it to
be rightfully due me, as hold notes against all
Of these men in amounts which more than
cover the sum OF the hidden coin. l herewith
agree to return two-thirds of the money through
d. &. Parkinson to the parties mentioned. pro-
vided shall be exempt from arrest and prose.
cution and receive from them new notes for the
money due me By them. secured in proper form
1.-THE last part OF this clause was subsequently
stricken outl The money is buried I'm British
Columbia in . place where l believe II
W uS oUsoiuleAy saics ouu VIII 10 prOuNceu Wnen
a satisfactory agreement is entered into be-
tween all the parties concerned.
The reference to exemption from ar
rest" does not refer to the theft of the
money in question or to the smuggling
operations, but some other misdeed of
kincardo, which is the secret lever by
which they have been able to move him to
SO readily yield. No information could be
obtained regarding Kincardo's past life.
except that he was from Toronto.