Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-01-30
COMING HERE BY STEALTH.
Hundreds of Chinese Being Struggled
Across the Border From Canada.

Hundreds of Chinese Being Struggled
Across the Border From Canada.
Three hundred and fifty Chinese, fifty
Japanese and thousands of dollars
worth of opium have been struggled
from Canada into the United States on
an average each month for nearly
year, according to discoveries made by
the American agents of the immigra-
ton department at the boundary line.
The smuggling has been carried on
despite the utmost vigilance of the Of
ficials, but so extensive is the open
boundary line that thorough scrutiny
is impossible. American officials re-
Gently redoubled their efforts to arrest
smugglers and struggled orientals
During a recent month 200 have been
captured while endeavoring 10 cross the
boundary, but it was only during the
last few days that the extent of the
system was ascertained. Now every
effort is being made to cope with it.
r. G. Tatlow, member of parliament
for Vancouver, obtained tue first clew
to the Illegal operations at the boun-
Diary. The details he gave have been
investigated and are found by the
American officials to be practically cor
rect. Most of the Chinese are taken
through in parties of from ten to TWEEN
t. There are in all score of roads
and trails across and around Mount
Baker. between Chiliwack and What
com. Only six are watched, and even
these are insufficiently guarded. So
nicely has the underground railroad
system been worked that welldrawn
maps, containing plans of all trails and
roads, arc supplied to men going across
the line so that there is no possibility
of their losing their way. The guarded
roads are marked and the secret paths
are outlined. SO that fully two-thirds
of the 600 or 700 japanese and Chinese
who try TO get through each month are
successful in their endeavors. While
the Chinese are taken through in large
parties under the personal supervision
of Canadian guides. the japanese are
usually sent through by themselves.
The Chinese pay $50 each. or only
$40 apiece if the party is large one,
while the Japanese are given a map
and the direction of the sun at noon
for the modest sum of So. TIE lap-
anese are usually strung out IL a long
line sometimes a quarter of a mile
from one another and each shows the
succeeding one the trail by marking the
trees on either side of the path. Thus
they get through and if one happens
to be captured the others have time to
get away. 1t takes three days to make
the trip. travelling at night and sleep
ing in the daytime.
II was reported from Steyeston that
three Chinese were drowned near the
boundary line at Point Roberts 4 rev.
enue launch on patrol nearly ran dcsn
their craft, which had been watched for
some time When the Chinese saw that
they could not get away they pulled
the plugs in the bottom Of the boat and
threw themselves overheard. Ab0uf
81 200 worth of opium was found
stowed in the sinking craft All Of the
Chinese who illegally cross the bonn
dairy carry from five 10 ten pounds of
opium. There are several opium fac
tories in vancouver and the poppy prod
uct is Smuggled in small boats around
to Blain and Whatcom.
The real trouble lies. according to the
customs officers. in the iaXity Of the i'm
migration laws Of Canada The ori-
entails know they cannot land directly
in the States, and they come through
Canada simply TO find the easiest route
to the desired point in the States Can
adian laws are complained Of as being
lax in other particulars, for no punish
nent can be inflicted upon the guides.
who live on this side Of the line and
who take good care never to he caught
in the United States.-V11couver. b. c., 4
correspondence San Francisco. Cal