The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-13
A TEN MILLION ROBBERY.
Fhe Annual September Smuggling Of
Jewels and Silks.
DIAKOND.STUFPED BICYCLE TIRES
The Handles Of Golf sticks Filled with
Them and Canes Open TO suspicion.
CHASTITY find ola Dead Body Used
ssa Medium of the Smuggiers'



tom-IIouSc. Here active work set IN
,yben the fan passengers began 70 ar
rive and 10 will last without pause
until the arrival home OF al good cit-
go i'm November In THIS month Tie
force OF inspectors IS several times
doubled and tho employees work IL
dustriously al day. II IS the smusgieis
season aud nov there are beng brought
into the United States enough NaluHo.cs
TO support In luxury the SUCCESSFUL
smuggIers Tor a year.
IL is estimated that $4,000 worth OF
diamonds comc into this country IN inns
way every fall; and 100000 worth OF
snks. The amount In Iacos ana gloves
f,As never been computed. IL IS useless
90 attempt Il, but IL goes well into tho
ten millions. 800.
TWO CLASSES or SMUGGLERS.
e,,ucglcrs. in the Custom House. arc
divided into two classes. In're Is mo
wealthy class. who bring over their
own coats and gowns, gloves and per-
fumes and many other articles OF per
sonal luxury. The other class IS inc
,rofessional smucgler. who brings into
rho United States diamonds ana SKIS
Tor tho fan trade and whose work de-
scats the tariff laws TO an alarming ex-
tent. II is for these that the great Gus
,om-Housc staff IS employed and for
whom IL was originated.
Every year sees improvements in
smuggling New smuggling tricks ore
invented and. 81 must be confessed, they
work successfully until discovered. once
known. they are speedily told from one
Cusfon-House to another, until the
whole border is posted on them. IN"
next thief gets caught. Then another
ruso must be employed Inspectors say
that year after year secs an improve
mont in smuggling. Tricks that were
considered smart a few years ago would
be laughed M now for so much newer
and better ones have como up.
MessIs. Mccoy. Brown Donneily and
others. Of tho New York house, were
discussing improved smuggling a few
davs ago said one gentleman: "lf %
tell the tricks we make them common
Thieves drop thcn and study mp new
ones. That makes moro work for US.
So we tel nothing
A COMMUNICATIVE OFFICIAL.
ono Of tho Custom House officials
stood leaning mp against n log Of wood
the other day that was carelesSy stood
,n a corner Of shed. Nothing queer
about that Oh piece Of wood, is therey'
he asked Nothing except that 1t was
kicking around tho deck until an officer
The sailors objected so strongly that the
oricer Let il lie. When The ship came In
tho officer mentioned IL to us and We
caught tho sailor just making of with
IL in a boat. 1t was fun Of choice la
Nana cigars.
as a general thing" said tho Gus
tom-House inspector. cit IS not the crew
that troubles us. on the contrary the
whole Ships company is Of assistance
10 the Custom House. A reward IS o.
fered for tho apprehension OF smugsler5
aboard, AMI all. from the officers anu
stewardess to the deck hands. are on the
watchout for suspicious people Never
thcless, a great deal oscaIes MS every
year.
eve deal" said he. with the clever
est pooplc IN the world. II man has
a good address, and is a genuine sharp
or he will 60 into the smuggling busl-
ness and will operate in spite OF you.
With women 81 is stil harder. II is al
most impossible 70 detect them. They
nre not known by face and their dlsni-
fed manners and simple, ingenious looks
deceive us. Even where We suspect we
must be cautions about searching.
"The latest smuggling trick rs the b.
cycle one. Many people trav1 with their
machines because most foreign wheels
are heavy. on the last voyage Of the
CITY OF Y n gentleman came over with
his wheel. He was most careful Of il and
had IL placed I'm his state-room. One day
some one proposed a bicycle ride on deck
and begged the gentleman TO try the ex-
periment. saying he had read that II
could be enioyably done.
"The gentleman who up 10 this time
had been a willing participant OF all
ships sports made some excuse. Then
win you allow me TO borrow your
vhcel9 ventured one Of the gentlemen.
Il have n curiosity to try the experiment.
"The owner Of the wheel flushed,
Hammered out something and went be-
low.
This Incident passed unnoiiced with
the passengers but il impressed a sailor.
who reported u to the Custom House.
When the gentleman stepped of with the
bicycle some one quickly unScrewed the
valve and let the air out Of the pneuma-
tic tire. Instantly il bumped down upon
the rim lumpy and hard. II was filled
with diamonds
NEW GOLF GAME.
another new trick was played on us
this year with a golf stick. and. Ike the
bicycle. II was discovered accidentally.
A sportsmanlike young fellow took a
modest stateroom and mingled freely
with the passengers. invariably appear
ing in costume that suggested the
young man OF leisure with outdoor pro-
clvities. one day a chambermad en-
tered his statcrOom 20 close the port
hole. The young man was lying reading
upon MI. couch The girl lifted down a
golf stick and reached for the swinging
window. with a cry the young man
sprang 10 his feet. How dare you? he
cried. snatching the stick from her
hands. Then. recollccting himself. he
passed Il OFF nonchaianuy. must have
been dreaming II thought YOU had
taken up the stick TOTO murder me-
Queer. thought the maid. and more
than queer thought the stewardcss. who
nut II down I'm her log-hook 10 read 20
tho Custom-House officer as one Of the
'peculiar incidents OF the voyage. Queer
enough 20 investigate thought he. and
queer indeed II turned out later when
$4,000 worth Of uncut gems rolled out OF
the handle Of the stock.
1--WE arc up on one little tribe sad
tho Custom House man. land that Is me
return-trip racket. Examination o. goods
IS made only at this end Of The voyage.
Won know. man can board the ship
with a cool million IN valuahes. but me
trouble IS that DO can't get on with
them.
.The return-trip racket helps him
amazingly. a man takes a stateroom nj
Liverpool and goes aboard with as many
diamonds as he can AFFORD 20 buy These