The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-24
STRUGGLED TOBACCO FOUND.
INSPECTORS NINE SJ,NW Worm
~ BtNkERS or STEAMER.
We're Dri, en- From Their Work b! Threats
Of Violence by Crew Of the ~. George
Expect 10 Find Is Much More when
They Resume Operations To-day.

Three customs inspectors mined for
tobacco in the coal bunkers Of the Phe nix
Line steamer ST. George. in dock at Sixth
street. Hoboken, last night, and "panned
out 200 pounds before they had to desst
because Of the threatening attitude Of the
crew. According to the inspectors the
tobacco was struggled into this port from
Antwerp, and before they get through their
mining operations. which will be continued
to-day. they will have contraband tobacco
worth $4,000. The tobacco. they say.
il worth little over - a pound. and there
fore, last nights haul was worth about
IS, 900
The inspectors, Driscoll. Angelo and
Waldeck, have been watching the crew of
the st. George since she arrived from Ant
werp last Saturday. Last week they were
told by one Of the crew Of the Red Star
steamer Vaterland that five members Of
the crew of the vaterland had been dis
charged at Antwerp on suspicion of being
smugglers. The five men, the inspectors
learned, had shipped on the St George
which was due here Saturday.
Ever since the ST. George got in al least
two OF the inspectors have been watching
| the vessel. They saw nothing suspicious
| until about 10 o'clock last night, when a
rowboat with two men in it stopped along
side Of the ship.
The inspectors boarded the St George
and the men In the rowboat moved away
| into the darkness The inspectors began
"A search Of the boat. and sticking out of A
coal bunker aft Driscoll found bag Of
| tobacco. By removing some of the coal
| he found another bag.
Then the three customs men got picks
and shovels and began digging into the coal.
Before they had got down two feet they
had removed Coz pounds of fine Sumatra
Under another layer of coal. about feet
thick. were 400 pounds OF tobacco. A few
feet below that the inspectors got 200 pounds.
The entire crew. thirty-fve in number.
stood around the miners, and as bag after
bag OF tobacco was pulled out there We're
| grunts of disgust, which soon turned TO open
expressions OF disapproval. Finally six
foot seaman. who seemed TO he the ring
leader, made a proposition that was APP
plauded by his mates.
There's only three Of EN-" he said
and suppose we throw EN- overheard and
make food for the fishes?'
The inspectors were pretty tired, having
removed several tons OF coal. and besides
they don't care 10 risk fight with thirty
five hardy seamen. SO they decided to
stop operations for the nigh, and ,aks
the tobacco ashore. They expect TO find
a lot more
The inspectors say that the ship has beer
watched so carefully that the smuggler,
have not had an opportunity to dispose o.
the tobacco. IL the chance had presented
itself the tobacco would have been put il
rowboats and taken over to this city, tn,
inspectors say. They believe that there il
more tobacco on board the vessel. becaus.
she has been coaling for two days, and mos
OF the tobacco is probably at the bottom o
the. Uunkers 49,
A number Of inspectors. armed, wer,
on guard over the ST. George last night anc
no one was allowed to leave her. The
customs officials have the names OF tn,
five men " were accused Of smuggling
on the Vatei and and several arrests ma,
! oe made to-day