Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-01-29
4'what do you ,neanq answered.

"'That's all right. You can go ahead,
We were just fooling.'
81 told them that they could go ahead
and 1 would follow when got good and
ready. OFF they drove swearing at
themselves and at me, and as soon as
they were out of hearing drove back,
picked up my keg and landed it safely
"The government knew well enough
that there was smuggling going on up
here, and they sent along a special
agent to spy it out. lie was a smooth
one, and he nearly got me. This fell
low-his name was Dart-went direct
to Dumas place and said that he had
got into n little trouble in the states,
and he wanted Dumas to take care OF
him until it blew over. That fattered
Dumas pride, and the old man took
him in and made much of him. Dart and
Dumas became great chums. They
went duck hunting together. they
fished and drank together. AS soon as
1 saw Dart suspected him, and he
wasn't slow in guessing what brought
me to see Dumas so regularly. Dart
tried to pump me by being hail fellow
and by cursing the customs officers. /
was only boy, but wasn't so easily
caught rs all that. defended the Gus
toms men and condemned smuggling,
Dart just winked his left eye in know
ing sort of way. Fortunately. as IL
turned out, Dumas didn't give away his
tunnel. He admitted to Dart that his
place was a headquarters for SNUG.
glers, but he didn't commit himself any
further.
81 had made three successful trips
while Dart was staying with Dumas,
and 1 guess that my success had made
me a bit careless. My fourth trip was
the last smuggling expedition that |
ever engaged in, and it came so near be-
Ing my finish in ali ways that it
thoroughly frightened me. 1t was
cold, nasty night in October, and
reached Dumas place about eight
o'clock. Dartwas sitting in the barroom,
and Joined him. We drank more than
the usual quantity of ale, and when
Madore came in whistling to indicate
that my keg was strapped on the sig
said:
"'We!l, Dart, I'm going just as soon
as Madore can hitch up
"'I think I'll take little horseback
ride myself he answered, and see if
can't clear my head of this ale
This disturbed me, for couldn' t say
anything for fear he might get on to the
right track and suspect my gig. 1 have
since thought that Dart suspected that
I picked UP my goods somewhere along
the road, and he expected to detect me
in the act. hurried out to the barn
and drove out just as Dart came out OF
the barroom to get his horse. .saddled.
"Three miles down the road and just
after had crossed the line 1 heard n
horse galloping behind me. l knew il
was Dart, and that he would overhaul
me unless could reach a fork a mile
ahead and confuse him as to which road
had taken. Whipped up my mare and
we flew. AS looked over her head into
the darkness 1 saw light that was
evidently lantern just about where the
forks of the road were Dart had cor.
nered me. knew it. AS soon as 1 saw
that lantern knew that revenue Off
GERS were with it. couldn't slip my
keg because the straps were tangled up.
In an instant 1 had made up my mind
what to do. There was fairly level
field on my left with no fence on the
road. Without stopping my mares
speed 1 turned into it. My gig bumped
clean off the ground. 1t was rough
riding. but l realized that it was ny
only chance. The noise that made go.
| ing across that field warned Dart and
| the other officers what had happened,
and they yelled to me TO stop. | didn't.
and then followed dozen or more shots
| from their revo!vers. The balls
whistled over my head. don't know
how / got to the woods. found Il
score of old wood roads, and selecting
one of them. walked my horse in and
! waited. / heard those fellows beating
the bush around me for two hours.
had slipped the keg out and concealed
it, but 1 didn't want to be captured
even though they had no evidence
against me. The officers gave it up, and
1 drove home at daylight minus the keg
My mare was used up, and friend Of
mine tipped me off that the game wa:
up. Dart was special agent, and ht
was going to dog me until he got evi
dence enough to arrest me. l though
it all over, and l concluded that if
stayed SO near the Canadian line thu
temptation to smuggle n bit would bt
SO strong that / should weaken, ant
probably end by being captured. hat
saved a snug little sum, and with it
went to New York. have lived there
since, and l am heartily ashamed of m!
early smuggling.
"Dart is connected with the secre
service, and few years ago met hin
in the Hoffman house in New York
Dumas place had been closed, and Dart
after we had drink together in re
membrance of Dumas old ale, said:
"'Were you smugglin or not the nigh
we chased you into the fields?'
"'That question is outlawed,' an
swered, and you didn't catch me. Let
talk about something else