The Cairo bulletin., 1906-12-25
j. 5. BATTLESH|P
AS A SMUCCLER.
REVENUE OFFICERS FIND THE
OHIO LOADED WITH ORIENTAL
VALUABLES.
OFFICERS IMPLICATED
In the Rather Sensational Revelations
Big Cargo Of Silks, Cigars,
Wines, Etc, Are Also Taken
From U. S. Jack Tars.

FROM u. 5. Jack Tars.
New York, Dec. 24--The big battle.
ship Ohio, just home from tac far
East was raided by United States
treasury officials in the Br9cilyn
Navy Yard last week the news of
which has just leaked out, and whole-
sale smuggling discovered. A bE
seizure Of smugsled goods was mada
Today the jack tars" and many
officers we2t about with sad face
mourning the loss of silks. cigars,
wines and other costly goods from
China Japan and ether Oriental ports.
| The raid was led by Spec al Treas
L ury Agent Ralph ". Clayton. iii
charge Of thc confidential work or did,
treasury department in matters relat-
ing 70 customs
Many officers Of the batteship were
caught with the goods on them. ac-
eordiag to a report that Is supported
jby evidence that is hard to disba-
lieye.
The Ohio brought in enu1gh rare
works of ar, and valuable curios fro1n
the East to start several stores lii
Fifth ayenge From stem to Stern
and from upper decks away down il
the copper plates that sheathe her
bottom, It seemejthat there was no
place that did net hide some article
of yalue.
Officers implicated.
II was rumored that several arress
we're made as a result of the seizures.
but this was denied Anyway GER
tain officers were placed in a very
uncomfortable POSITION by toe dis.
cover.cs Of treasury agent-. one of
the "a officers on the ship was MT
only caught Ia b deliberate lie ac.
cording 70 d very authentic repyrv
but was exposed in an attempt to
In chesi filed with the I'M
est silks Of China and with ether ar
ticles of great value
When treasury agent asked him
what was in the chest the officer re-
marked in a most nonehalart manner:
Oh there's nothing but some old
books in tha box" The agent was
Ordinarily the word of
4 commissioned officer in he army
r navy is accepted as the truth in the
perfunctory cl stoms exam nation that
are made when battle ship or
transport comes into port. There had
been too many queer things on the
Ohio, however. to arouse the susp.c-
.ons of the customs officers.
We'll If you don't mind. I'd like
to take a look AT the books. he said
TO the officer who owned the chest
There was some demurring. which
made the agent all the more insIstent
Finally the officer was compelled 20
open his chest and then the treasury
agent beheld a wonderful collection of
Z ods from the Orient.
Big Cargo Of curlcs.
That was only a small part Of tAe
big cargo OF curios on the battle ship
Nearly every ore of the 734 men on
he ship had an uncomfortable ex.
)erience when his kit was opened and
i5tiabie articles exposed to view.
Here is partial list Of gods
seized Nearly $4,000 cigars, 1000
Jrushes and ether toilet articles hun
lreds Of pieces Of Chinese ANA Jan
Nose bric.a-brac all sorts Of quaint
n Bese ornaments many cases IF
champagne and o. her wi-es dozens Of
beautiful kimonos. a large collection
II art objects and curl from Ch.-
leic vorkshopI many Ia silver
ggs engraved with typical Chinese
Genes. boxes Of the finest silas from
he looms of China and Japan costly
aces that world make he Fifth ave
me modistes wild with 'coveto-s-
less.
Mos OF these goods were thrown in
1agazi-o lockers and put Under guard
lniccrs and men. were given chance
s pay duty on the goods and rec'aim
rem. except IN certain instances. u
understood that most OF the OF
FRS paid the duty demanded and re-
aimed uossessios Of their goods
The Ohio came in from The far Es~t
b Dece nber Q She had to limp il
on Gibraltar o- account Of iniur 81
is aimed while passing through The
leE Canal. and BY the time she ar
ved here word hal already come
lag She was veTtahle treasure
.ip."