The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-01-05
A SMUGGLING YARN.
NEW YEARS ADVENTURE ON THE ST.
LAWRENCE RIVER

with a Revenue CATER In Midvvin-
ter-The search For Cargo Of
French Brnndy-The Most Gallant
Smussler on the Gulf.
The Canadian revenue cutter Domin-
ion slouched ominously up and down
the south coast of Anticosti. poking an
ice covered nose into every bay and
cove along the coast as she went. 1t was
New Years day and bitterly cold in the
gulf. Officers and men (there were not
dozen all told) cheerfully cursed the
Cape Gaspe lighthouse keeper. who had
sent crazy dispatch up to Quebec with
some nonsense about a struggled cargo
of French brandy.
But the inland revenue department
at Ottawa knew a few hundred barrels
of French brandy had lately found its
way into the country, and it had
its suspicious. So when the Gaspe in
formation came up to Quebec Captain
Armstrong was sent down with three
pound gun to look into the matter.
vacation with the captain, SO he told
me to come along as there might be
some excitement. But New Years on
the lower st. Lawrence, found, was
not thing to be longed for, and we
both called the inland revenue depart
meut some very bad names as we paced
the Dominion icy little deck. The cap
tain, nevertheless, was keeping his
weather eye open for a black tug with
a red funnel, known as the Rosalie L.,
and supposed to be making up the gulf
for Ste. Anne des Monies with 60 barrels
of French brandy on board.
never felt such raw, benumbiDg,
paralyzing cold. For three days our
search for smugglers had been fruitless.
In fact, no kind of craft cared to pass
either up or; down the gulf in such
weather.
1t was on the afternoon of New
Years day that fishing smack ran uI
alongside and reported that black tug
with red funnel had been seen com.
ing up the gulf. So we slipped away
from Anticosti and went churning west
ward for the south mainland. Revenue
cutters are not made for loafing, and
the Dominion was making her Is knots
an hour until fog blew up the gull
| and caused us to shut down to quarter
| speed.
We were shivering OH deck in thai
| great white gulf fog late in the after
noon, when from the southwest VIZ
heard the sudden report of signal gun
This was followed by three short blasts
| of a siren. The Dominion sped aheai
| under full steam, and we forgot the
cold. Two men stood in the bow ant
strained their eyes through the whit,
mist that hung over US like blanket.
Ten minutes later the lookout cried
open boat ahead!' Under our bow
. feet ahead small boat tossed III
and down on the waves.
| Port! Hard port!' cried the cap
tain. Before the wheelsman could swint
her round and stop the engines we hat
swept past the tiny craft The one maj
in the boat dropped his oars and light,
waved his hand to us as we lunged pas
and lost him in the fog. He certainl,
was not trying to escape.
We lay to, and in couple of min
utes the boat pulled up alongside.
| The crew of one climbed nimbly OF
board. He was little dark skinne'
Frenchman, with twinkling black eye
and a turned up nose. He dotted hi
heavy coonskin cap with great grace a
he stepped on deck and bowed.
"Ah, m sieurs, it is the first of tn
| Oood voop por,pif mo to xyich roy, a IL
m'sieurs, the compliments of the sea
son." Again the little man bowed
smiled and showed row of good whit
teeth. He spoke English with astound
ing fluency for a habitant.
Our captain returned his salutation.
"What is your name, sir. and you
1hip?" he asked
"Ah, my name! Pardon me, m 'sieurs
It is Pierre Baptiste Delorme of Ste
Anne de Montes What do you call
him - pilot. fisherman, trappeur.
N 'sieurs, and lumberman
Again the cheerful little man bowed.
The captain started at the name and
took letter from his greatcoat pocket.
He went up to the little Frencbman.
"And smuggler, Pierre Baptiste De.
lorme," said the captain. The idea waf
absurd. The little fellow laughed up.
roariously, took a flask from his coon.
skin coat pocket, and CALAMITY passed
1t around. 1t was filled with fine French
brandy.
"Ah, no, m 'sieurs" he said, taking
Q deep drink, II have my wife and the
little Pierre and Baptiste at home, an6
fishing is better than this" He pointed
toward the three pound gun.
Once more through the fog the sigma
gun sounded, followed by the whistle.
"What ship is that?' asked the cap
tain.
'"Oh, that is the Rosalie F., m 'sieur
with Goldfish for Three Rivers"
"Codfish!' said the captain. "Ant
what is the gun for?''
The little man shrugged his shout
ders. 'The fog is very thick, m'sieur.
The captain went to the wheel. I'D
You know these waters well, NJ. De
lorme?''
: Know themv' A smile spread owe