The morning call., 1894-05-15
DUPED CHINESE.
Working a Sharp Game
at Victoria.
Everything Went Well With Bill
Hamilton Until an Accident Cost
Him His Job.

"The facts that have come out in the
Emerald case put me in mind of some
thing that occurred on the sound several
years ago in relation to smuggling Chinese
over the border" said Frank B0ggs. a
recent arrival from Victoria. yesterday.
"There was an EngIishman in Victoria,
he continu ued, ''named Lester, who owned
a steam launch. and as he had considerable
means and believed in enjoying himself
the greater part of his time was spent IN
cruising along the coast, through the
Straits OF Juan de Fuca and along the
picturesque northern shore.
often, though, he would leave for trips
through the wild woods in the interior.
and In company with genial companions
spend weeks in hunting moose, deer and
other big game. While he was away his
domicie and possessions generally were
under the control of his steward, or. as he
really was, his man of all work, Bill Ham
iltOu. by name.
"Unfortunatey Bill was one of that kind
of people, who, no matter what their
circumstances are, cannot refrain from
turning an honest penny, or even dis hon
est one (as 1t was in Bills case), whenever
they can.
ut was we'll known that Chinese were
being smuggled over the border in droves
and that there was always a plentiful
supply of the heathens on hand in Victoria
waiting an opportunity to cross into
United States territory.
"Bill Hamilton knew all about the gangs
of Chinese who wanted 10 cross the straits,
and he knew. also, that they were willing
to pay from So 10 $40 apiece to be carried
over the seven miles of water to the United
States shore.
He pondered over the matter and
concluded that he might as we'll make
some money out of the Mongolians by
means OF his masters launch whenever lis
owner was away.
whatever smuggling of Chinese is done
across the strs It's occurs when the heavy
fog drifts in from the ocean and makes it
pretty sure thing that United States vessels
which cruise about the straits will not de-
tect hem. Hamilton knew we'll all the
inS and outs of coolle smuggling, but he
lacked the nerve 10 enter into the busi-
ness in earnest.
His scheme was on another plan.
Whenever Lester was away Hamilton got
the launch ready and would soon round
up party of coolies who wanted trans
pOrtation across the straits. He collected
So or SO apiece from them, according to
their means. and crowded them on the
launch.
Having got his human cargo engaged,
Hamilton would await heavy fog, and,
then, hustling the MOngolians aboard. he
would steam out into the heavy fog.
He would take care. though, not to
cross the boundary line in the straits, and
Of course the coolies knew nothing of their
surroundings. After steaming about for
an hour Hamilton would land his cargo on
an unfreauented part of the British Co
lumbian shore. He would have them hus-
tied ashore, and they. understanding the
necessity for getting inland and out of the
district where customs officials ranged,
lost no time in obeying he order to 'scoot.'
1t is needless to say that they would wan
der around until they learned that they
had been duped.
in this way Hamilton cleared up from
500 to $50 every foggy day or night
when his master was away. One day
though he missed his bearings and in the
fog ran upon reef and stove in the side
of the launch. Luckily it was near land
and the coolies swan or tioated ashore
somehow and Hamilton followed to get
assistance to save the launch. 1t sank,
however, and when Lester came back lie
fired Hamilton and that settled his career
as q smuggler of Chinese"