The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-19
Little Schooner Lena Is Trying
to Land Both
SUPPOSED SMUGGLING JOB
The Vessel Left Vancouver Some Weeks
Ago Bound South
Cleared for Mexican Ports, but Realty
Billed to Land Oil This Coast.
Opinions of Customs Officials

There is a rakish little craft somewhere
along the Los Angeles or Ventura county
coast that the deputies of Collector OF the
Port John Gaffey are looking for, and
would like very much to sight.
Some time ago a small schooner cleared
from Vancouver, British Columbia, o.
tensihly for Mexican ports. AS matter
of tact, it was afterward learned that the
little schooner, the Lena, intended TO
land somewhere between Point Concep-
ci1n and San Pedro. Tho Lena had on
board choice cargo of about twenty five
Cinnamon, and some suspicious pack.
ages, which it was supposed contained
opium. All of this it was very desirable
to smuggie into tue United States.
Through the government secret service
agents Il was learned that the schooner
would touch somewhere on the South
California coast and land its cargo at adj
vantageous points without going through
the formality OF consulting the custom
house officials.
Collector Glffey's office was duly in
form d of the departure of the Lena from
British Colum ba. sharp waton has
been kept, but up 10 date sue has failed
20 turn IN, nor has any craft appeared
that looked anything like her.
The Lena, shortly after leaving Van
couver, Was repaintej, Ter name changed,
and The schooner 9th erwise altered SO
that sne could not be identified. This 10
quite customary With SNUG eiers.
If the cargo OF twenty-five Cinnamon
hava been landed, along with a small
quantity of opium, a fortune has been
realized for her owners.
1t was understood that the schooner
had landed the Cinnamon at the island
of San Clemente, which Is about forty
ililes Que south of San Petro. Trading
boats frequently stop there and the idea
would be to have these trading vessels
put the Cinnamon OH the mainland.
The opium could be easily taken from
the island from tims to time and carried
into port in safety by one of these trad
ing vessels.
The collectors Office has received no
information OF any Chinese being now
on San Clemente, although deputies of
Collector Gaffsy admit that it is possible
for them to be there and the Office know
nothing about it,
One Of Mr.. Gaffey's deputies said yes.
terday: why, there are innumerHb.e
places between Point Conception and San
Juan Capis -ano where the little schoon-
er could have landed. We have only thies
deputies to watch over 100 miles of main
Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz. Anacapa, Santa
Barbara. santa Catalina and San Gle.
mente and San Nicholas.
"Now, while we have been Keeping as
sharp a lookon as it is possible fot us to
maintain with our limited torce of depu-
ties, still we are forced to admit that
there are plenty OF places whore the
schooner could have touched and dis
char ed her cargo without our knowing
any thing about it.
~ do : OF think, though, that it would
have been possible to have landed any
Cinnamon st San Clemente. Too many
would have known about it, and tie int
telligence would have reached Us before
an opportunity 60 put ths Cinnamon on
the mainland had been offered.
"Still we know that the schooner 10
somewhere not far off the coast in this
collection district, and va propose to see
to it that she does not land. She is not
flying the United States flag. Our Infor-
nation is positive that she is not bound
for the ports ior which she cleared. If We
can get her it will be rich price