New-York tribune., 1905-02-08
FIGHT With A SMUGGLER
MERCURY At go BELOW.
Thrilling Tale of Chase and Capture
from the Northern Frontier.
IFRcN THE TRIBUNE suREAu.I

Washington, Feb THE Immigration Bu-
reau has just received a report from Inspector
Thomas Darcy. of Plattsburg. N. Y. which
reads like chapter from odd Cap Collier
or some other thrilling detective story. AL
though the inspector failed to capture gang
of smugglers and their human contraband the
chase he describes hair raising one from
start to finish. and he succeeded in blocking the
plans Of the Villains" Mr. DARCY writes un-
der date Of February 1, and tells of the attempt
made by "a notorious smugger, Frank Cas-
tine, who was trying to bring a sleighload of
Cinnamon over the border
Word reached Inspector Darcy from Douglas
Corners. Quebec. on the night Of January 30
that Castine and his CeIestials had started from
that place and pointing for La Prairie.
Hurriedly summonng and arming Inspectors
Weeks Maher Ketchum and MacGregor
Darcy proceeded to Dewey's Corners with
sleighs and dogs Two roads leading from Can
ada through Dewey's Corners. and so the
inspectors decided to intercept the smugglers
and the smuggled at that place. They waited
until after o'clock in the morning before the
dogs gave the alarm. The thermometer stood
at 20 degrees below zero and it was necessary
to keep the horses Of the United States officers
constantly moving IN order to prevent them
from freezing to death.
Finally a huge SLED filed with Cinnamon hove
in sight followed by small cutter containing
one man. The inspectors barred the road and
ordered the strangers to halt. Instead Of obey
ing, the two sleighs were quickly wheeled
around and started back in the direction Of
Canada. The inspectors set out in hot pursuit
They raced madly over the snow covered roads
mile after mile. the keen wind nearly blowing
the breath from their bodies and the hail OF
ice thrown back by the heels Of their horses
pelting them like Gatling gun bombardment
They gradually gained upon the smugglers
and when within calling distance shouted for
the fugitives to surrender The pursued cny
replied with curses and whipped their horses
all the harder. Finally Darcy fired his revol-
yer after the speeding sleighs, but the shots
went wild. Still the inspectors gained, and soon
it became evident that they would be able to
overtake the smugglers within the next few
hundred yards.
The man in the small cutter realized his can-
gerous straits as soon as the pursuing inspec-
tors. and resorted TO a desperate ruso. He rose
in the sleigh. and. deliberately leaning far over
to one side, overturned 1t in the middle Of the
road. The inspectors sleigh was close behind
There was no time to turn out. had there been
room in the narrow road, and in another in
stant Darcy and his men were sprawling In
the top of Castine and his wreck. Cas-
tine did not give up without struggle, how
ever for when Darcy picked himself up he
found the smuggler rushing toward him with
OF the broken sleigh shafts uplifted 10 strike
subdued. In the mean time. the sleigh contain
ing the Cinnamon had disappeared up the Ca
madam road. Placing Castine in charge Of
Inspector Weeks, Darcy and the others again
took up the chase. but the Zig sled had had too
long start and was not overtaken
Inspector Darcy reports that when they got
Castine back to Dewey's Corners, IL was found
that he had sustained a fracture of rib either
in the capsizing Of his sleigh or the hand TO
hand combat in the snow. Acting upon the ad-
vice Of the United States Attorney D'Arcv
writes he allowed Castine to go home for rnedi-
cal attention THE attorney says that he win
probably not try to escape concludes the in
spector. but if he does the country will be well
rid of him"
The five Cinnamon who were in the sleigh are
believed 10 be still in some town near the bor-
der waiting their chance to enter the United
States.