Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-08-07
CLEVER SMUGGLERS,
Daring Efforts to Eyade Uncle
Sans Customs Officials.
ONE BOLD PIECE OF WORK.

rhe Way Two Persistent Tariff DODGERS
Scared Ships Captain and Escaped
the insPeetors-A Poll Parrot That
Told Tales Out OF School
In the eariy.nineties OF the last CEN
/ tury the precautions observed by the
officers OF the United States treasury
i department in preventing or rather at
tempting to prevent the successful
smuggling OF dutiable goods into this
/ country were as adequate I'm their
/ scope and rs rigidly applied as they are
/ today. This means that the achieve
ments Of two smugglers, who may be
called Harry White and Richard Ber-
/ gen, need by no means be regarded rs
insignificant For years they piled
! their trade upon the various transat-
| lantic liners and when ut length their
system was Laid bare through the acu-
men Of government agents. their in
genuity stir served to prevent the
/ just punishment OF many other Of
! tenders.
The smuggling White and Bergen
! did was confined TO trunks full OF
nickel or silver plated German and
/ Swiss watches. English cutlery. WOOL
ems and tweeds. In the aggregate
however. it may safely be ventured
that the revenue OF the nation suffered
more through these two men than
THROUGH the occasional successes Of
diamond smugglers.
Inevitably OF course as their fri
umphs Increased in duration and pro-
portion. the leak forced itself upon the
notice OF TIE customs officers. White
and Bergen did not know this. Agents
OF the treasury department. I'm England
ana ON the continent were set TO work.
and eventually suspicion was fastened
1 upon Bergen. who was in London en-
gagged IN the wholesale purchase of ia
bic cutlery Tie two smugglers were.
never abroad together. Il being part
or the system for one TO remain NJ
New York
me government agents watched Ber-
gen for fortnight. One of them was
never far of when 4 purchase was
made. ard when the object of suspi-
cion booked on 4 certain liner that
fact. together with a complete list Of
the dutiable articles in his possession.
was cabled 10 Washington. The vessel
was due past Sandy Hook on MAY is.
j
had prepared q distinguished welcome
Tor the man whom they had long re-
garded ~ their special bette uoire.
Bergen was accomplished and genial.
ffequenied the smoking room night
and day and was popular witli card
players and the passengers in general.
one morning when the steamer was a
few miles east of Fire island there
caiie cry from the lookout. Man I'm
small boat IN distress or the port
bow, The captain deserted a man
, standing up in 4 small sIoop. the mast
OF which was shattered and tho craft
somewhat down 10y the head. She was
drifting To sea. and the captain signal
Cd FOR fun speed aStevu. altered his
course tridc and finally came near
enough to the occupant Of the salIhoat
L. throw him line. by which. wet
. and hedracglel. In was hauled TO the
; deck. amid the cheers Of the passen
gers. II Bergen felt surprise as h,
saw his fellow conSpirator White
sprawled on deck, he gave no indlca.
ton OF il. In due time the ocean wait
disappeared from among the passen
gers.
The liner was approaching the sandy
, Hook ligAt vessel WHOM BERGEN. wild
of eve. with hair liSheveled and check,
flushed. sought the privilege Of an i'm
mediate and private interview Will
? the ships chief executive. He wa,
taken into the chart room. where. fall
, ing on his knees before the captain. he
begged him never to divulge what hi
was about 10 tell. and then lie unfoldet
terrible plot which he haG conceived
, of destroying the vessel and her pas
sengerS.
lie was Feniau, he said. and hal
| been selected by his comrades 10 place
, an Internal machine in the hold OF Tho
! British vessel. Clockwork was attach
ell 10 the bomb, lie declared. ana il wa.
. timed 10 go of within twenty minutes
He had remained firm in his deadly
venture throughout the trip. but now
at the crucial moment I little boy Will
| whom he had played about deck ant
Z had grown 10 love had swcrvel him
= irom his purpose. lie said thar III,
bomb was contained within Il hug,
leather trunk. and he begged the can
, tain 10 have it heaved overheard be
fore the mechanism ticking away III,
life Of the ship should have time 10 IL
its work.
, The captain was man Of action
, and before the last words were out Of
, BerSen'S mouth he was on deck. sum
moninS the watch 70 quarters.
Into the baggage room all OF YOU
he reared, and Jack every piece OF
baggage on deck
The crew set TO work Trunk after
trunk was hauled out. while Bergen
stood beside the captain. Shiverine IL
excess OF emotion. Suddenly he caught
the officer by the arm.
That's itr' he cried. pointing TO an
enormous trunk.
"All right" replied the captain. Now
! then, men," pointing to the designated
piece of baggage, over with It. and
In hurry. Heave it way out, II any
part Of it hits this ship You're all dead
men, Over now"
As the liner slid into quarantine tive
secret service agents and dozen Gus
tom house inspectors hurried up the
ladder from the revenue cutter. Moth
ing was said 10 Bergen until the dec
larations of the passengers were sign.
FL. wherein II was stated that BERGEN
had no dutiable goods. Then the suS-