New-York tribune., 1909-04-23
USED THE CHURCH TUG
SENTINEL. CUSTOMS MEN
SAY, CARRIED rSLEEPERS."
Smuggled Goods Taken aboard
Boat By Sailors from Ship Lying
at Brooklyn Docks.

A bold scheme of smuggling Oriental goods
ashore, patterned after the fashion Of the
sleeper method employed by the alleged
dressmaking syndicate. was nipped in the bud
on Wednesday evening in South Brooklyn by
three customs inspectors on the night staff
The goods consisted of seven cases of china
ware, screens. curios. Japanese brtc-a- brac and
other goods made IN the Orient. Of a total value
Of more than $1,000
The unusual feature Of the sn1ugglers in get
ting their goods ashore was the use of the tug
Sentinel owned by the Seamen's Church Insti-
tute Of New York.
While making tour of inspection Of the piers
in South Brooklyn Inspector Bradley walked to
the stringpece of Pier 4. Bush's Stores. where
the bark Comet is docked Bradley heard the
chugging OF a tug In the dock between two
ships. one lying the north side of Pier + and
the other on the south side Of Pier 3. He
walked 70 a place where he could observe the
tug and found it was the Sentinel. which visits
the ships in port To distribute invitations TO sea
men for religic',s services The services
held every Sunday ar the floating Church Of our
Saviour. off Peck slip. in the East River.
Bradley noticed the Sentinel taking on men
and boxes from one Of the ships in the dock
and Immediately fastened TO Inspector Sanger.
who nearby Sanger ordered 10 hail
the Sentinel and ask 70 be taken UP 10 the float
ing church with the sanorn1ep who were taken
aboard from the ship. The skipper the
church tug said he was welcome. and Sanger
went aboard.
After making examination, Sanger ordered
the Sentinel tied up at the end of the pier.
Inspector Bradley. who meanwhile had been
Joined by Inspector bingham. went aboard and
ordered the men on the tug TO land all the crates
they had taken aboard from the ship. It was
dark in the wheel house when the seizure
made. and It difficult for the inspectors to
recognize faces. Inspector Bradley asked the
man ar the wheel who he was. and he replied
that he the master of the Sentinel
The inspectors told him that all they
wanted to know. and when the skipper
permitted to go the Sentinel steamed up the
Buttermilk Channel 10 Peck Slip.
The three inspectors guarded the seized crates
throughout the night. and yesterday morning
removed the smuggIed goods 70 the Appraisers
Stores
The superintendent in charge OF the Seamens
Church Institute said last night that the Senti-
mel was tied up at the slip on Wednesday night.
and that if she made any trip 1t not with
the knowledge or sanction OF the institute. He
said the tug was sent out chiefly on Sundays
and holidays to bring seamen the church. at
Peck Slip but that occasionally she visited ships
in port to distribute tracts and invitations to
services.
The man in the wheelhouse who said he was
the captain Of the Sentinel was asked by the
inspectors to explain why he had taken the
crates from the ship. He said he understood
that the crates contained the personal property
of the sailors who took the stuff aboard the tug
The superintendent said the tug had not been
used for smuggling, and that the seizure
of such little Importance TO him that he had not
given the matter any serious attention