The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-08-06
SMUGGLERS ARE CUNNING.
INGENIOUS Devices For RObbing
Uncle Sam.

when engaged IN stealluS from IAe
Government display great deal of
cunning, refinement, and quick wit.
The customs inspectors, who have
charge of the examination of baggage
and the searching of vessels at the
various docks, are nearly all of them
experienced men and perfectly famil-
lar with all the tricks to which snug
glers resort. They know when to look
for diamonds or other valuable articles;
have an eye which carefully measures
the capacity of trunks, SO as to detect
false bottoms ARE sometimes somewhat
affectionate in embracing passengers
whose clothing seems too bulky;
are careful students of human nature,
and can discern in the appearance OF
satisfaction with which the passenger
observes the examination whether any
thing has been omitted in the search.
Not infrequently diamonds are
found concealed in false calves, in false
shoe soles and heels, and in thousand
other places about the person, partic-
uIarly in the hair of women, where,
wrapped in tissue paper just the color
of the hair, they are securely fastened
with silk thread. 1t used to be a
common thing for smugglers to bring
over diamonds in Edam cheese, silks,
laces, and shawls packed in bales of
hops. Iron tubing used to be good
way of hiding goods. Precious stones
have been smuggled into the country
in cakes of soap, in cavities of large
corks used for perfumery and toilet
articles, and in hollow canes and UNI
brella sticks. One old-fashioned sill
yer-mounted cane made twelve
successful trips. The supposed I'M
lucky thirteenth was started as new
number, one, with a new cane, which
at last accounts was still on it's travels.
Diamonds, etc., of value S25 to $780,
600, have been carried in that old cane
on each trip. Most frequently it came
in through Canada. 1t is now tap
ping the pavements of Chicago as an
ordinary walking stick.
One of the most remarkable devices
used by smuggler to conceal contra
band articles was a Bible followed
out inside, so that a number of valua-
BILE watches or other precious articles
could be concealed among the leaves
This was carried under the arm by a
solemn-visaged and reverend-looking
gentleman with white whiskers. He
was noted among his fellow passengers
on the steamer for the care and attach
ment he displayed toward the holy
book. The man turned out to be a
notorious smuggler, who, in small
way, had for years been defrauding
the revenue by bringing in articles
supposed to pay duty.
Several loaves of bread followed
out inside SO as to contain cigars have
also been lately seized, and from the
same gang of smugglers was taken a
concertina filled with choice Havana
cigars, upon which high duty would
have had to be paid if brought in in
the ordinary way. Another ingenious
device was a can made to tow over
board from the stern of steamer. II
was water tight, and contained large
quantity of cigars when captured. An
oil can with chamber to contain bran
dy was also taken from one of the en-
gineers of an incoming steamer
Perhaps one of the boldest of these
devices was bogus log of wood, or
rather a log which had been followed
out, which was found kicking about
harmlessly on the deck Of the steamer
1t was closely packed with cigars
Another ingenious ruse was carried
on for some years before it was discov.
cred. Small-sized cedar logs were
procured, which we're sawed into
boards, leaving an end Of the log I'm.
cut, so that the thin planks would
open like the leaves of book. Parts
of the interior of the planks we're care
fully removed leaving hollow space
which was filed with fine Havana eli
gars, packed in boxes, and the logs
we're then carefully tied together, Civ
ing them the appearance usual to
cigar-box lumber sawed into planks
Imitation Jumps of coal have also beer
made for this purpose, and these
painted black, have been almost i'm
possible of detection. It was gooc