The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-26
now sMUGGLERs TURN the TRICK
Picturesque Days Are over, but In
genions Devices Maintain the In
teresf


geniOns Devices Maintain the In
tercst
From the Baltimore American.
The day of the picturesque smuggler Is
over. No longer does his swift craft steal
into the harbor of some seaside village in
the dead of night and his brawny men
pull for the beach to unload boxes and
barrels of rare stuff and hide them on
shore until such time as they may be
distributed without fear of the revenue
office. But that does not mean that
smuggling is a lost art, by any means, for,
in spite of the army of men that Uncle
Sam employs to guard his sources OF rev.
enue. and see that no dutiable articles
are brought in until he gets a share of the
profit on them, hundreds OF thousands Of
dollars worth of goods pass in without
detection every year. 1t is est mated.
indeed, that more than 100000 worth of
diamonds are Struggled i'm every year, not
to mention other precious stones. 1t is
regular business, and the professional
smuggler is nearly as numerous, though
not nearly so picturesque. as of old.
Not only are the professional smuggiers
engaged in the business. but many coed
ering with fear while their baggage is
being examined. lest some articles that
they well know are dutiable and have
tried to hide in a trunk or about their own
persons may be brought TO light. Sad
to say. not many peoples consciences are
tender when II comes to trying to rob
Uncle Sam. Moreover, many regard It as
an exciting sort of a game. and derive
much pleasure from a contemplate OF
hpf q1a In al "a
nue. officers.
Diamond smuggling Is perhaps the most
profitable part of the business. Most OF
the gems come in from Canada over a
regular route from Montreal to New
York. Canada admits them free Of
duty, so that there Is no trouble in get
ting them to Montreal. but then comes
the problem OF conveying them across
the border. Not only does the govern
ment have a custom-hou wherever a
railroad crosses from one country to an
other, but there are number of secret
service agents who keep watch on the
dealers agents, and are continually trav-
cling about trying to intercept the mes
senger who carries the gems-for they
must of necessity be carried by hand. as
It would be too dangerous to send them
by mail or express. The duty on the
uncut gems is but 10 per cent. It was
made low so that there might not be too
much temptation to evade the payment
Of it, But, nevertheless, there are many
sharp men and women who make good
profit out of the business and 1t Is not
often that they are caught.
A man who has purchased large guam
tity of diamonds on the other side may
generally be sure that he is being care
fully watched from the time he makes
his purchase until the time he has passed
the custom house. II Is said that In many
OF the foreign dealers Establishments are
employees who give tips to the customs
officers in the hope of getting reward
in case Of confiscation Employees on the
ships coming over are similarly on tho
lookout for smugglers, and are rewarded
for information in regard to them. IL
strong suspicion attaches TO an incoming
traveller. he or she Is carefully searched.
and II any gems are found they are con-
hscatcd
Most ingenious are the methods used by
the snGgglers. Not long ago It was dis.
covered that a woman Yves bringing .iia-
monds hy feeding them to dog in small
pieces Of fat. on this side the dog was
killed and the.stones were recovered. Dia-
monds have been concealed in cakes Of
soap and pieces of candy. A hollow cane
has been often used with success. and
on oue occasion the glass grapes on a
woman hat We're found 10 contain vaiu-
able stones one OF the most remark.
able instances. perhaps, vas when a nuni,
Der OF Rood- sized gems were found under.
uea.h poIous plaster on a smuggler'a
chest