The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-10
Schooner Hacht Is OverhauIed
by L. s. Officials.
Was Trying to Smuggle Chinese
Into This Country.
HUNT OF TWO WEEKS
Is Rewarded by Her Capture in
Providence River.
A Total of 81 Persons Placed
Under Arrest.

Providence. r. L. Oct. 1O.-After
having evaded the United States Gus
toms and immigration OFFICES for more
than two weeks, the schooner yacht
Frolic. which left PIacentia. N. F.,
with a cargo of contraband Chinese
immigrants, was boarded Ia tha
Providence river early today and con-
hscated in the name OF the United
States government. Two Portuguese
members of the crew were placed an
der arrest, they being the only per-
sons found on board the boat; two
men we're arrested on suspicion Of be-
ing concerned in the smuggling Of
Chinese into this country: whils IT
Chinese believed to have been pas
sengers on the FroIic were also ar
rested.
The Frolic entered the harbor in
broad daylight, anchoring on the west
side of the Providence river at Har-
Dor junction at 10 o'clock yesterday.
Despite the vigilance of the coast
guards and the revenue cutters from
Eastport Ne. to Cape Hatteras. the
schooner came up the harbor without
attracting any attention. those who
saw her taking her for a fishing
schooner.
It was by accident that it was dis
covered that she was the Frolic. At
an early hour this morning a man
employed in the coal pockets STUN
bled over two Chinese huddled in
heap on the wharf of the coal yard
He was about to eject them from the
premises when some one on board the
schooner cried out. Don't bother
those fellows. will look after them. -
The workman went to the office OF
the company and reported the occur
renee to the night watchman who in
turn informed the police of what had
happened. Officers were dispatched to
the scene and within a short time
eight Chinese had been captured.
Meanwhile the customs and imnli-
grafton officials had been notified Of
the affair. The vessel was not board
ed Immediately, however. as there was
not a breath of wind stirring and II
would be impossible for the craft to
get away The search for the Cain
! ese was prosecuted ard before long
nine more had been caught.
It was not until this morning that a
boarding party went out to the schoon-
er- In the party were a number of
policemen and United States Deputy
Marshal Stone.
The vessel was the Frolic. No at
tempt had been made to remove from
her stern the raised letters which form
ed her name but heavy coil OF rope
hung over the stern COMPLETELY con
cealing the name. The deck house wa
covered with white canvas giving the
craft the appearance of fishing
schooner The interior of the vessel
was in an indescribable condition ci
filth The only persons on board at the
time were two Portuguese sailors who
were sleeping in the forecastle.
The vessel was conf1scated and the
Portuguese we're arrested and brough
ashore.
The Frolic gave every appearance OF.
having undergone exceedingly heavy
weather Her bowsprit had been car
ried away. It is believed by the officers
that the break Of the bowsprit made
1t precarious to remain longer at sea
and that the commander of the yachi
decided to make a bold dash for port
Close upon the arrest of the Chinese
and the confscatfon of the schooner.
came the arrest of two white men
found in the vicinity on suspicion OF
having been concerned in the sugglfng
Just how many Chinese were on.
board the Frolic when she left the
Newfoundland coast is not known al
though it was reported that there wese
thirty three unlawful passengers.
A systematic search of the Chinese
quarter OF the city will be made by the
police today.