The Bessemer indicator., 1894-10-20
MUSIC HATH CHARMS.
1T sooThgs sAvAeEs AND BAMBOO.
zLes INSPECTORS.


Kew a Ships Captain Pulled the Wool Over
an African Customs Onioer's Eyes with
the Assistance OF = Yankee Music Boz.
Smuggling That Paid.
The duty on plug tobacco which cost 25
cents a pound in this country was at one
time rs cents . pound in the Portuguese
possessions along tho west coast of Africa
The natives were fond of chewing, and the
high impost tax was therefore "a great in
ducement to smuggling. Tho American
ships which traded with the west coast al
most always carried several tons OF plug
tobacco along with the general cargo and
the skippers usually made an attempt to
got the tobacco ashore free of duty, SO as to
make the 900 or 300 per cent profit assured
II they were successful Smuggling be-
came so frequent, however, that the Gus
toms authorities finally placed an officer
on each ship as soon as 1t entered the har-
Dor, and no goods could be landed by the
skipper without the permission of this
Portuguese negro customs inspector.
This vigilance interfered somewhat with
the smuggling, as 1t WAS not always that
the officer could be bribed.
An American sea captain tells the fol-
tons Of tobacco into the country In spite OF
the presence Of an officer on his ship He
had been lying off small town in the
Gambia river for several days and had
landed good part of his cargo in the le-
gitimate way. He had about six tons of
plug tobacco, but he preferred to take IL
back to America rather than pay the re-
quired duty of 10 cents pound
The afternoon before he intended to sail
q coasting schooner came into the river
and shortly afterward tho trader in charge
boarded the American and asked the skip
per If he had any plug tobacco.
About six tons, answered the skipper.
I'm sell 1t to you for 80 cents pound"
The trader reflected awhile and finally
offered rs cents u pound for the tobacco
delivered on board his schooner
The American said he would do his best
to circumvent the watchfulness of the GUS
toms officer on board during tho evening
There was another American trading
vessel in the river, and the skipper rowed
over to his oountryman to see If the latter
could help him out. On board this last
vessel were several musical boxes, and the
captain was bringing them to Africa as
presents to the daughters Of some of the
many Portuguese digpitarles to whom he
was under obligations.
How much do those musical boxes
COST" asked the visiting skipper.
About $40 a. home" replied the other,
"but Ihape not brought them over here to
sell am going to give them away
"Sell me one" said the captain who
owned the tobacco. II have particular
use for It. will give you $73."
After a little demurring the other agreed
to the trade, and q half hour later the
bx,a .,it h. III
turning out Home, Sweet Home' and
"Down Upon the Swanee River"
The Portuguese inspector heard the
sounds from below and left the deck to see
what tho cause of the melody was
"Hello" said the captain as the officer
came into the cabin.
What Is thats" asked the negro as he
9azed in wonder at the box and heard the
familiar tunes.
"This is musical box, answered the
skipper, and he told the negro to turn the
crank and make the music himself The
latter had never seen anything like it be-
fore and was amazed at tho wonderful ma
chine His first question was:
How muchr
Five hundred dollars" answered the
skipper.
The negro rubbed his head and looked
own q musical box at such price.
You can play on 1t for awhile If you
choose, said the skipper presently. "I'm
going on deck to give my orders for the
night"
As soon as tho captain was out of the
cabin he called the mate and asked him II
the tobacco was In a aconvenient place. The
mate said it was in the main hatch and
near the top. Tell the boys to stand by
with their shoes off," said the captain,
"and load the tobacco into the longboat
as quietly as you can. Then put 1t aboard
the schooner. As long as you hear the
music box playing we are SAFE"
The captain went below and lit his pipe.
The negro was still turning the crank.
THAT a great thing" said the skipper.
"Well, 1t would not be much good over
here" continued the captain, because
your young ladies could not play on 1t |
longer than 10 minutes They would get |
tired"
Nonsense, said the negro. "I could
grind this all day
I'm bet you the instrument against
quarter" said tho captain, that you can't
grind 1t an hour without stopping"
The negro jumped at the bait and put |
. quarter excitedly on the table and vowed
that the white man could not draw back
from the offer he had made.
The captain laughed and said he had no
intention to back out of the bet and then |
took the time and told the officer to go |
ahead
The sailors above heard the notes in the |
cabin, and they worked with will. In
three quarters Of an hour they had made
two trips to the schooner and had dis
charged the entire six tons of tobacco. The |
mate then strolled into the cabin and nod
ded to the skipper that 1t was all right.
For heavens sake stop that grinding"
ahouted the captain to the negro. "You arc
driving me crazy. I'll give you the machine
II you II stop grinding"
Tho officer laughed and ceased his turn
Ing why, I could do that all night, he
The nsxt morning when the relief came
aboard tho negro was rowed ashore hold
Ing the musical box on his lap, and no sus-
picion came across his mind as he glanced
1t the little soasting schooner filling away
, mile or 20 below with her nose pointed
York Sun.
Warts.
Warts that arc rubbed with moistensd
piece Of muriate of ammonia will, it ID
aid, shortly disappear. In some cases
warts leave after epson salts have been
kakan for rona ti,oe Mapv parsnps hnva