The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-09-20

tH1 Way lWQ Fqfsl5k4nt arm Aou1efa
Scared a Ships Captain end Escaped
the lnspeetors-A Poll Parrot That
Told Tales Out Of School.
In the early nlneties of tbe last CEN
tury the precautions observed by tile
officers Of the United States treasury
department in preventing or rather att
tempting to prevent the successful
smuggling Of d1tiahle goods into this
country were as adequate IN their
scope and as rigidly applied as they are
today. This means that the achieve
ments Of two smugglerss who may be
called Harry White and Richard Ber-
gen, need by ne means be regarded AIS
insignificant For years they piled
their trade upon the various transat-
iantic liners, and when at length their
system was laid bare through the acu-
men Of government agents their in-
genuity still served to prevent the
just punishment Of many other Of
Tenders.
The smuggling White ana Bergen
did was confined to trunks full of
nickel Or silver plated German ana
Swiss watches, English cutlery. wool
ems and tweeds IN the aggregate
however it may safely be yentured
that the revenue Of the nation suffered
more through these two men than
through the occasional successes Of
diamond smuggiers
Inevitably Of course as their trl
umphs Increased in duration and pro,
portion, the leak forced itself upon the
notice Of the customs officers. White
and Bergen did not know this. Agents
of the treasury department In England
and on the continent were set to work
and eventually suspicion was fastened
upon Bergen. who was In London en-
gagged ID Tie Wholesale purchase Of ta-
bic cutlery. The two smugglers We're
never abroad together it being parr
OF the system FOR oae to renain at
New york.
The government agents watched Ber-
gen for fortnight One Of them was
never far of when q purchase was
made. and when the object Of saspi-
ciun booked On a certain liner thar
fact together with a complete list OF
the dutiable articles 10 his possession.
was cabied to Washington The vessel
was due past Sandy Hook on May i0.
1S9-, ana ihe custom house inspector
had prepared a distinguished welcome
for the man whom they had long rc-
garded as their special bette noige.
Bergen was accomplished and genial,
'frequented the smoking room night
and day and was popular with card
players and the passengers in general
One morning when the steamer was a
few miles east Of Fire island there
came Fry from the lookout. Man n
small boat in distress OF the pom
bow The captain deserted mas
standing un in 4 small sl00p. be mas'
of which was shattered and the craft
somewhat down b. the head. She waz
drifting to sea. AMI the captain signal
ed for full speed astern. altered bis
course trife and finally came near
enough to the occupant Of the sailboal
to throw him a line. by which. wet
and bedraggled. he was hauled 10 the
deck. amid the cheers Of the passeni
gers. If Bergen felt surprise as be
saw bis fellow c0nspirator white
eprawled on deck. Ne gave no indlca-
tion or It In due time the ocean wait
disappeared from among the pazseni
gers.
Developments were not long delayed
The liner was approaching the Sanlf
Hook light vessel when Bergen. Wild
OF eye, with hair disheveled and cheeks
flushed, sought the privilege Of an I'M
mediate and private interview With
the ships chief executive BE was
taken into the chart room, where fan
ing on his knees before the captain. be
begged him never to divuige what he
was about to tell. and then be uBfohled
q terrible plot which he had conceived
Of destroying the vessel and her pas
sengers.
lie was a Fenian. ae said, and bad
been selected by bis comrades 10 r'1ce
an internal machine IN the hold Of be
British vessel Cloekwork was at,1cb.
Sd to the bomb be declared. and it -as
tined to 90 OF within twenty min1ies
lie had remained 6rm IN his deadly
venture throughout the trip. but now
at the crucial moment a little boy with
whom be had played about deck and
had grown TO love lad swerYed him
from bis purpose. he said that TIE
bomb vas contained within a huge
leather trunk and he begged the cap.
tain to have it heaved overheard be-
fore the mechanism ticking away the
lie Of the ship should have time 20 Do
It's work.
The captain was man Of aetion.
and before the last words were out Of
Bergen's mouth he was on deck, sum.
moning the watch to quarters.
into the baggage loom al OF you =
be roared. "and jack every piece II
baggage on deckr'
The crew set to work Trunk after
trunk was hauled out while BERGEN
stood beside the captain. shlvering IN
excess OF emotion. Suddenly he caught
the officer by the arm.
"Thars I'll" he cried, pointing to an
enormous trunk
@Ail right. replied the captain. Now.