The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-07-10
CLEVER SMUCCLERS,
Daring Efforts 10 Evade Uncle
SANS Customs Officials.
One eoLD PIECE OF WORK.

,
Scared a Ships Captain and Escaped
the lnspsetors-A Poll Parrot That
Told Tale. Out Of School.
In the early nineties ~ the last cen
tury the precautions observed BY tie
officers Of tho United states treasury
department IN preventing or rather NJ.
tempting 20 prevent the successful
smuggling of dutable goods into th'.
country were as adequate in their
scope and ne r'riily applied as they ARE
TO- " This means that the schieve-
me .s " two srugglcrs. who may be
calle-i Harry White and Richard Ber.
gen. need 10y no means be regarded as
Insignificant For years they piled
their trade upon q various transat.
lantic liners. and when az length their
system was laid bare through the acp-
men ~ government agents. their H..
gcnuity stll served 10 prevent the
Just punishment of many other Of
Tenders.
The smuggling White and Porgen
did was confined 10 trunks full of
nickel or silver plated German and
Swiss watches. English cutlery. wool
ems and twecis In the aggregate
however. Il may safely hc ventured
that the revenue Of tho nation suffered
more through these two men than
through the occasional successes OF
diamond smuCglers.
Inevitably " course as their tn
umphs increased IN duration and pro
portion. tie leak forced i'solf upon the
notice ~ the customs officers White
and Bergen I'D not know this Agents
of the treasury department iu England
and on the continent were set 20 work
and eventually suspicion was fastened
upon Bergen. who WAS ip London en-.
gIg~i IN the wholesale purchase OF Ia.
ble cutlery. Tie two suucglc-s were
never abroad together lt being part
/ " the system for one 20 remain at
New YORK
/ The government agent. watched Rer
I gen for a fortnight one Of them was
never far 81 when n purchase was
/ made. and when the object ~ @uSui.
cion booked on certain liner that
fact. together with a complete list ~
the dutiable articles In his possession
was cabled to Washington. The vessel
was due past Sandy Hook on May lG
iSI'--. and the custom house INSPECTORS
had prepared a distinguished welcome
for the man whom they had long re-
garied ms their special bette nolrc.
/ Bergen was accomplished and genial.
frequented the smoking room night
and day ana was popular with card
players and the passengers IN general.
| one morning when the steamer was =
few miles east Of Fire island there
came n cry from the lookout. Man iu
small boat In distress OF the port
bow" The captain deserted n man
standing mp in n small sloop, the mast
OF which was shattered and the craft
somewhat down 10y the head. She was
drifting TO sea. and the captain signal.
ed for full speed astern. altered his
/ course triHe and finally came near
enough 10 the occupant OF the sailboat
10 throw him a line. 10y which. wet
and bcdracgled. he was hauled 20 the
deck. amid the cheers Of the p.ssen.
gers. II Bergen felt surprise "a he
saw his fellow conspirator White
sprawled on deck, he gave no indica-
tion Of It. In due time the ocean waif
disappeared from among the passen.
gers
Developments were not long delayed
The liner was approaching the sandy
Hook Hight vessel when Bergen. Wild
Of eye. with hair dlshcycled and checks
flushed, sought the privilege OF an I'm
mediate and private interview with
the ships chief executive. lie WAS
taken into the chart room. where. fail
ing ou his knees before the CAPTAIN. he
begged him never 10 divulge what he
was about 20 tell. and then he unfoldcd
terrible plot which he had conceived
7 Of destroying the vessel and her pas
sengers.
/ lie was q Fenian, he said. and had
been selected 10y his comrades 10 place
an Internal machine In the hold of the
/ British vessel. Clockwork was attach
Ell TO the bomb. he declared. and It was
. timed 10 60 OF within twenty minutes
/ He had remained firm in his deadly
| venture throughout the trip. but now
.
whom he had played about deck and
| had grown 20 love had swerved him
| from his purpose. lie said that the
bomb was contained within a huge
leather trunk. and be- begged the cap.
tain 20 have II hoayed overheard ho.
fore the mechanism ticking away the
life of the ship should have time 10 d,
It's work.
The captain was a man Of action.
and before the last words were out of
Berren's mouth he was on deck, sum
mou.ng the watch 10 quarters.
Into the baggage room all Of you"
he roared, "and Jack every piece OF
baggage on deck"
The crew set 20 work. Trunk after
trunk was hauled out. while Bergen
stood beside the captain shlyering In
excess OF emotion. Suddenly he caught
the officer 10y the arm.
THAT'S r." ne cried p0lntlnr "a an