The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-20

be little question. 1t was place in which
formerly kegs OF smugglei spirits and to-
bacco were hidden. The place lies some
fourteen or fifteen miles from BoscaStie,
dangerous little haroor on the North
cornish coast, and about mile off the
mar road from London by Exeter and
Launceston TO Falmouth. The coach
travellers in old days consumed a good
deal OF spirits. and here IN a tangle OF
lanes lay little emporium always kept
well supplied with stock of spirits
which had not pad duty. and whence
the taverners along tho road could derive
the contraband LIQUOR with which they
supplied the travellers. Between this en-
porium and the sea. the roads-parish
roadside over wild nroors or creep be-
tween high hedges of earth on which the
traveller can step along when the lane be-
low is converted into the bed of a stream,
also on which the wary smuggier could
stride along whilst his laden mules and
asses stumbled forward in the conceal
ment of the deepest lane.
A very curious feature about the coasts
of England. where rocky or wild is the
trenched and banked up paths from the
caves along the coast. These are notice
able I'm Devon and Cornwall and along
the Bristol channel.
That terrible sea front consists or pre-
cipitous walls OF rock with only here and
there dip. where a brawiing stream has
sawn its course down TO the sea, and here
there is perhaps. 4 sandy shore of dimind-
tive proportions. and the rocks around are
pierced in all directions with caverns. The
smugglers formerly ran their goods into
these caves when the weather permitted,
or the preventive men were not on the
lookout. They slowed away their goods
in the caves and gave notice TO the farm
ers and gentry IN the neighborhood. all or
whom were provided with numerous dom
keys which were forthwith sent down TO
the caches and the kegs and bales were
removed under cover Of night or OF storm.
As an excuse for keeping droves or
donkeys. II was pretended that the sea
sand and the kelp served as admirable
dressing for the land and no doubt so
they did: the trains OF asses sometimes
came up laden with sacks OF sand. but
not infrequently with kegs OF brandy.
Now Il wary preventive man might
watch too narrowly the proceedings or
these trains Of asses. Accordingly squiTos.
yeomen. farmers alike set 10 work 10 cut
deep ways in the face of the downs, along
the slopes Of the hills, and bank them up
50 that whole caravans of laden beasts
might travel up and down absolutely IN
seen from the sea and greatly screened
from the land side.
Undoubtedly the sunken ways and nigh
banks are a great protection against the
and no doubt greatly were the good folks
commended for their consideration for the
beasts and their drivers In thus. a. great
cost. shutting them off from the violence
OF the gale. Nevertheless. Il can haFdlE
be doubted that conco8lmenI from the eve
Of the coastguard was sought oy this
means quite As much. II not more, than
the sheltegiug OF the beasts OF burden
from the weather.
Fau - ~ church
IN the writer's reighborhood was Gemol-
ished The church was originally the
place where the parishioners from dis
lance. in a country district put NJ be-
tween the morning and afternoon serF-
tees on the Sunday. IL was always q long
building OF two stories. that below served
for the men that above for che women.
and each had Sc great fireplace. Here
they ate and chartered between service.
as already said. and here were served with
ale By the sexton or clerk. IN great
many cases these church houses have been
converted into taverus. Now this one IN
the writer ne lgh borhood had never been
thus altered. When 81 was pulled down, u
was found that the floor Of large slate
slabs IN the tower room was undermined
wFth hollows Ike graves. only OF much
larger dEsneusiouS-and these had served
fer the cOnceaiment OF smuggied spirits.
The clerk had n fact dug them out and
afd A Httle trade on Sundays wlta selling
c9ntrahand liquor from these stores.
The story Is tclf ~ a certain baronet.
who had a handsome house and park near
the coast. The preventive men had long
suspected that S.r Thomas had done more
than wink al the proceedings OF the r.
celvers u sEuugR,ed goods. His park
dipped t8 graceful un8ulationS 20 the sea
and - A lovely creek IN which Was MS
boat house. Bu. trey never bad been ahle
80 establish the fact that ne favored the
snugEiers. and allowed them 10 use his
grounds ard outbundings.
However. al last one nisht a party q
men with kegs on their shoulders we're
seen stealing through the park towards
rhN mansion They were observed also
leaving without the kegs Accordingly.
npxt morning the officer in CCmmard
called together with several Enderlings.
lie apuIogtzel 20 the tarones for any in
convenience his visit might occasiou-he
was quite sure mat SIR Thomas was ig-
uoranf o. tie use made q hlS park his
landing place. even ass souse--out sbers
vas evidence that ran goods had been
brought 10 the mansion tie preceding