The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
MESCAL SMUGGLING.
A Profitable business with Intervals OF Jail
Carried On Along the Rio Grnndc.

A Profitable business with Intervals OF Jail
Carried On Along the Rio Grnndc.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Dec. THE mescal snug.
Elcrs and drinkers are found by thousands along
the Rio Grandc border among the poorer
Mcxicans. Mcscal is u fiery liquor made out
of tho juice of the magucy plant, a species of
cactus which covers the ~platcaus of Mexico.
The liquor is perfectly white, andits intoxicat-
ing qualities are probably greater than those of
the vilest. whiskey that was ever passed over
q bar. 1t is said by the Federal and the county
Off GERS of this district that three-fourths of tho
border crimes are due to the insane mania
which the mcscal inspires in Mexican tipplers.
The Smuggling Of mescal into the United
States from Mexico is a thriving industry along
tho Rio Grande. and IL not likely ever to be
broken up entirely. At every term OF the
Federal court held in this district scores of mes
cal smuggling cases arc disposed of, and the
forlorn-looking Mexican offenders get sen.
fences ranging from thirty to ninety days in
Jail. They receive their punishment in silence,
and when their punishment Ia over they make
their way back to their old haunts on the Dor.
der and resume their smuggling operations,
probably only to be arrested again very soon
and sent back to Jail.
Mescal smuggling is a vocation.with hundreds
of Mcxicans. They have been smugglors all their
lives, and their fathers before them were Snug
$3.50 81 sA NNoJ Fby VI iiLhlil "
and the profits of the business are worth the risk
taken. The best quality of mescal can be bought
on the Mexican side OF the river for so cents a
gallon, and when brought to this side it can
readily be sold for So a gallon. and II brought as
far as san Antonio S6 a gallon can be oh
Texas there are many mescal dives where the
smuggled liquor ID, bought. 1t is in these
s~tabbing affrayS which have 30 long disgraccd
the border country occur.
only at night. His home is on the Mexican
side Of the river; Not much OF an outfit is re-
CURED s 1t incl ndes a goats hide. with the skin
E0atsSkin VIII hold about i've gallons of mescal.
must mn s'G have a TO sm shf fiGi %ht s kide w the Ssm s,ta4SE
HIM the means of crossing the lilo Grande.
Late at night the skin is filled with the liquor
to some point down the river a mile or so be-
low the town where his skill is moorcd. Putting
the load of mescal into the boat, the smmggicr
steps in and starts to pull for the shore OF the
United states. II the night. is too bright, no
e eere Rrpets Is b mad M, to cross ere ;o,c II NO g., Federal ON.
United States. the smuggier regards his nights
work as being more titan half over, for II ia a
comparatively easy matter for him to make his
way. up tho river and into town, where the
Illicit liquor is quickly disposed of ut some
There Is u crossing on the Rio Grande about
three miles below Laredo. Tex. which has been
. nugslors and United Suites officers. Tho
most noted OF these ARRAYS occurred about
Eo'cH yours ago. Information was received ut
tho Custom House late one evening that an
ailempt would be made that night by n gang OF
loads or mcscal.. 1t was not known to the OIL.
cersat what point on tho river the crossing would
DC made, but the most likely place was Devils
bend. A party of five deputy United states mar
shals, headed by Capt. Nick Preset. went to the
crossing soon after n~iGhtfall, and lay in wait for
the snugslers. II was nearly 3 O'clock in tho
morning when tho silence was broken by this
dipping or oars and tho low murlnur OF yo G "a of
ne smugglers as they rowed toward this side OF
me river with their loads of liquor. There were
FOUR Doats and two men in each boat, The
United states officers made no move until ali
the boats had landed, and the liquor taken ont.
and the smugglers in readiness TO carry il into
Town. Then they made a sudden dash for the
HcTicans, calling upon them to surrender,
Although taken by surprise, the smugg!crs had
timo 10 draw their pistols and fire n voiley at
me n oi1ccrS before tho latter were upon them.
The first shots from the Mexicans Killed two
OF the deputy marshals. but the surviving OIL
GERS returned tho fro and shot one of the smur-
giersi woundinR him mortally. The Other
members or the smuggling party fled into the
thlck undcrbrush which lines the river, firing
ns they went. They were never captured.