New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-27
SMUCGLERS OR THIEVES?
Ma,;reiania Raid q Descent, !"
but Its Purpose Is Secret.
DIsPLEAsES CUNARD PEOPLE
oniy One Passenger IN Trouble
THUS Far-Surveyor Prom
ises Drastic Inquiry.

ises Drastic Inquiry.
Surve-or Henry began an investigation
yesterday 10 md out al about tho ra10
Of customs inspectors on Thursday nnsht
OF :fe vaclred Stajeroo1nS o. passengers on
the steamship MsuretaIis- = representa-
i've OF the Cunard Line called on tho sur
xevor in the morning and wanted 10 know
what II was all about
An know about 1T is what ] have
,.zd said the Surveyor. and the Cunard
man said that all he knew about Tire mat
ter WAS what the Surveyor knew The call
ended with a promise Of drastic inquiry
from the Surveyor.
Collector Loeb said that tho Stateroofns
,hs. had been vacated had been visited by
customs inspectors as usual when steam
sims arrived At this port CIews to SNUG
cling were frequently found. he said. ana
persons nipped in trying 10 swindle Inc
government
\ story gained ground that a Treasury
department agent, one who about a year
ago MAS active on the piers when steam
slips were tied VI. and whose activity was
stopped after considerable complaint OF uli-
necessary searching of passengers had been
raade. had gone down the bay 10 meet the
Narretania for the purpose Of checking
SrnuscIe a lot Of valuable 5ewelry. He old
90 down the hay on the cutter and did so
aboard the steamship. 1t was learned that
r7. found there was no need Of his Yigl-
lance.
Look for Heir with Jewels.
The storv, vouched for by customs OH
Gals. was that a person who had inheI l'e'
i~vveIry worth many thousands OF dollars
had taken passage on the big CufdrofI'
Tho Treasury agent heard Of this lie
thought an attempt TO cheat the govern
mont might be made. hut he found mat
rho io,veI-v had been correctly declared
Thai ended his vigilance. As his name was
mentioned as having been at the head OF
the search Of the stateroonls, he sent out a
denial containing 20 words
Another story had il that the Treasury
agent was looking for the proceeds on the
Ns11retsnia 81 = great diamond theft III
south Africa The thieves were SAID 10
have boarded the Cunsrder Just before she
sailed. and would Try 10 get the loot ashore
here without detection
Is,,, ,7ora Of the stories could shunt the
--1e Of the descent Of the inspectors on the
-,r,orcflried ,tareroorns on the steamship
Nsfl-erania OF Thursday night the great
Indignation Of The stewards. who were com
,r1a5 % lose = certain amount Of sleep,
nd The wonder and unrest Of passengers
7,7,o chose TO remain aboard overnight ana
-r-o heard the noise Of the proceedings
The customs aIr1 norltles would have oeen
-1essed If the facts had ~amaineo unknown,
That was one Of the ancient secrets Of me
-o-,-Fce one IF the deputy collectors sara
YESTERDAY. and but for the oo1lspicuous11ess
IF tho acton On the steamship Msureiania
-ould have remained q secret Tor : sooo
tine longer. IN all probability
This MAJ, said that the search Of the
rooms could not he called a raid oNacuS'
descent would be d better description,
Cunard Line investigates
.o.1,e- commemorative Of the Cunard
7.:na went 10 the companT's pier yesteroa>
., mako further investigation He sara ne
found that there was nothing irregular III
no search. as the inspectors examined Only
er7r-v rooms and did not moiest 1ooi9 III
which passengers We're sleeping
IS aid At the Cunard office yesterday
- while the general searching Of state
,o,,,s immediately after the passengers
.ad zone ashore was an unusual proceed
,,,e The corrany was not inclined 10 mo
rs--1+ with the customs officials for so DO
m i was said. however. that some warn
in- q the plan might have been given the
officials OF the line in advance
We ara always willing 10 cooperate
Nth the customs officials in the discharge
o. their duties" said representative OF
,1,a line yesterday, out there are ways OF
ICING about these things other than by SUD
don and r!ntirnely methods.
when i comes down 10 cases am not
ere that the customs officials are wholly
within their rights in Tansacking steam
shin inst as the passengers are leaving It
,.r7 land 10 official can make search OF z
housa or premises without warrant
The company has some rights in this
matter The fact that n man wears the
inform of = customs inspector Is no guar
znree that lie is a desirable or proper per
son to search a room
Among all the passengers on the Maure-
-enia Only one, II was said yesterday, was
eo,7nd 10 have made what may prove 70
have been an ogTor n the declaration OF
rsEczSe
Mrs. Mav1ne Mckenzie OF Chicago. had
- 20 10 the Custom House yesterday he
cause her declaration contained no dutiahie
-o..C~. while the inspectors said that her
TRUNKS had several new gowns among their
contents
The trunks were taken TO The hFpraiser's
.-.o-sc and Nrz Mckenzie VIII report 70
.-r.e-isT Tteput,, surveyor SMITH this morn
3. 10