The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-02-24
THE SMUGGLER.

In 1884. when was yet youngster
before the mast, took trip to Tam
pico in little trading schooner called
The Ella. commanded by a jolly skipper
rom Florida, one Nat Martin, dark
tkinned Spanish creole, who, ''for
hort, was always called by his friends
Nig." The schooner generally carried
t her dry goods and provisions on her
ner's account, but l always had an
that she ..tonned" more than her
Ulster made her responsible for.
1--WE were only nine days on our run
-, IN New York out to the mouth of
| ampico river, and about noon on the
NTH day we stretched in over the bar
! 18th leading wind that would easily
.ava carried us with flowing sheet up
= t. } town. which was nearly twelve
L. above: but. for reasons best known
J h. nself. the captain anchored as soon
W we passed the fort and rounded Point
'rampico. Just above and out of the teeth
Of it's guns.
The revenue boat from the guarda
costa came ON board before our sails
were furled. and the custom house Off
GERS overhauled our papers and manifest.
They seemed little suspicious, and one
of the officers was left on board to
watch us. while the rest went on board
their own craft. which lay nearly half a
mile farther down the river. under the
guns of the fort.
AS soon as dinner was ready the cap
tain invited the revenue officer down in
the cabin to dine with him, and as they
went below the former winked his large.
laughing blue eyes at the mate. and !
knew well there was fun in the wind.
J As soon as the captain and Mexican
had got below, the mate slipped into the
bmal boat and sculled ashore. In the
meantime, could tell by the lively
voices in the cabin that the officer. and
c$ptain were getting along very well To-
Ebkher. and once in awhile the tinkle Of
sneeting glasses and a jolly song spoke
IF 5 esprit potential" that was playing
Upon the hearts and senses Of both par
ties,
q AZ last. little after dark. with 4 real
havana in each Of their mouths. they
seme on deck. the skipper and thu
catcher. Both were decidedly and
&uivocally drunk. if one might judge
from their walk and conversation: but !
c6nld see at single glance that the cap
tain was shamming, although the ''spir-
,itual reality" was visible in the Mexi-
! AN. He seemed, however, to retain
me notions of his duty and to know
that, as night was over us, if we intended
to smuggle it was necessary for him to
keep his eyes open. So he seated him.
self on the taffrail with an air of drunken
dignity, and as he hummed Spanish
barcaarolle, kept watch over the move
ments of the crew about the deck, glanc-
ing now and then up and down the still
river. -:-,
As the night advanced saw that Cap
. tain Martin began to look uneasy and
Sanxious. although he pretended to be
even more drunk than his guest and
"*py.
: At last. when it was near midnight.
the Mexican became less frequent in his
snatches of song, and the liquor browse"
seemed to be coming over him.
Captain Martin now lay down beside
the Mexican and pretended to fall into
sound sleep, attesting the same by a long,
loud and regular snoring. This threw
the Mexican completely off his guard.
and Wrapping his watch coat closer
around him he followed suit. and then
the twain seemed to be trying which
could snore the loudest
When the Senior Mexicana had got
fairly under Roadway the captain arose
lightly from the deck. and passing for
!, ward took the lantern from the pinnacle
and held it for a minute over the bows.
Presently saw several dark objects
coming out from under the shadow OF
the land, and in few moments more
six large native canoes were alongside
OF us.
In the first one that boarded Us was
the mate and a merchant, whom well
knew to belong to one of the first houses
in Tampico. The boat came noiselessly
alongside and their crew crept stealthily
on board. Without sound the matches
were raised and package after package
Of rich dry goods was passed up from
he hold and over the side into the boats
- the tawny, half naked rascals.
The boats were nearly all loaded
when l, who had been placed to keep
watch over the sleeping revenue officer,
saw him open his eyes, and before l
could move or speak he saw and COM
pretended all that was going on. Spring
ing to his feet he shontad.
''Guarda costa-contrabandis
One bound from where he stood by
the main hatchway to the taffrail and
our captain was by the side of the officer
with his brawny hands encircling the
windpipe from which proceeded so much
noise.
The Mexican tried to draw his sword,