Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-04-07
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!: A SMUGGLER'S LAST TRIP. +:
The Turning Point for a Young Man 8
on the Border.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

tlOrk one u1Bub were udn uOItu uut IL
discussing politics, the service of the
road, and the possible annexation of
Canada. AS the train ran across the line
into the United States one of the men
looked out of the window with the in
terest of man seeking familiar scenes.
There was just light enough for him
to see that the long ditch-marked farms
of Canada, with their stone houses. had
been left behind, and that the less pic
turesque farms of the states stretched
out from the track. Settling himself
back in his seat and including the other
smokers in his audience he said:
This country hasn't changed in rs
years, except for the introduction OF
this railroad. Twas born in this neigh
borhood, and although it sounds like a
queer admission, up to the time | was
20 years old | spent much of my time
an smuggling whisky, brandy and al
cohol across the line. For various rea-
sons there isn't much of this sort Of
thing done now. Probably the chief
reason is that it doesn't pay, and then
again, it is not looked upon as respecta-
BILE. Ny father was engaged in the
same business before me, and several
of our neighbors, good churchmen, were
in it up TO their eyes, and it is not
strange that my conscience did not be-
gin to work on this subject until one OF
the respected citizens of a nearby town
was convicted and sent to prison for
smuggling. The government made an
example of him, and although all of
mis- acquaintance regretted it at the
time, it has proved a good thing.
Didn't the customs officers interfere?
Well, some of them did conscientiously
when they got chance, and there were
plenty of them all along this line who
only made a bluff of interfering that de-
ceived no one except the government.
/ knew one officer who was in the bust
ness himself. As young man l thought
that smuggling was all right, and it
never occurred to me that was thief.
i haven't done any OF 1t since. Coming
through this region has brought back
some OF the old experiences. Therewere
then, and l have heard that there are
AOWt undny obOiCo Outit diOtiH AHC lints
so that one-half should be in Canada and
the other in New York state. Thismade
IL easy to smuggle in small articles, but
at the same time the customs officers
had TO watch these stores closely or
lose their jobs,
81 worked better scheme than that.
When / was 16 years old my father,
whose farm was in the neighborhood,
gave me fast mare. She WAS very fast
for those days, though she wouldn't be
worth talking about now. | built a
light two-wheeled gig for her, and 1
defied every officer along the line to
catch me. They all knew that was
smuggling, but none of them could get
the proof. My method was simple. [
would leave home about dusk in my gig
and drive leisurely across the line to a
little stone hotel, where | received my
liquor. The place was known to be a
depot for smugglers, and suspicion was
frequented it. The proprietor was a
French Canadian and as shifty as an
Indian. On the ground floor Of his
house was dingy dining-room and
opening into it very respectable bar
room for Lower Canada. The bar it.
self was of mahogany, and back of it
stood an imposing array Of ale kegs.
The proprietor's name was Dumas, and
his imagination was as fertile rs that
of his illustrious ma sake. 1t pleased
him to fool the customs officers, and he
did it in many different ways. Dumas
kept the liquors in long, oval-shaped
kegs in his cellar. There was no reason
why he shouldn't have as big stock
on hand as he chose, and whenever in
quisitive customs officers came over the
line in spying expeditions Dumas was
ready to take them into his cellar and
exhibit his stock. Not until five years
after had left the smuggling business
did the officers discover that one big
cask in Dumas cellar was simply a
blind that concealed the entrance to a
tunnel that ran to the barn 30 or 40 feet
back from the house.
THAT was the keynote of the snug
Cling scheme. Time and again l have
sat in Dumas barroom drinking ale
with fellows whom knew to be spot
tiers sent to keep tab on me, while Du-
mas man. Madore. has softly rolled my
key of liquor through the tunnel and
into the barn. My gig was fitted up
with three heavy straps, so arranged
that keg could be held by them close
up under the seat. By slipping the
straps clear to one side / could easily
drop the keg if | were closely pressed.
When everything had been arranged
Madore would come into the barroom
whisiling. That was my cue to order
my horse hitchedl up. When that was
done l would saunter out to the barn.
get into my gig and drive out by back
road. Once started knew that no Gus
toms officer could catch me. The Gus
toms spoilers who knew that Dumas
kept his liquors in his cellar. and who
had watched me all the time and had
seen nothing taken from the cellar.