Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-23
FOE OF SMUGGlERS.
Tim Donohue's Detective Work Put
Him in Many Tight Places.

After being i'll for a short time
Timothy j. Donohue, one of the best
known men in the customs service in
this port, who had seized more SNUG
gled goods than any. other man in the
Government employ. died in his home,
151 Harrison street, Brooklyn. Don
ohue was known to thousands of ocean
travellers. and in more than one case
their acquaintance with the quiet-ap-
pearing man began While he was
searching their pockets. No other man
ever held his position in the local Gus
toms service, and no man will take
his place for Donohue practically
created his position. and filled it in
such way that 1t became a saying
in the service that he worked by in
stinct not by rule.
Donohue was born in County Kerry,
August 29, 1915, and came to this coun
try when about years old. His en-
tering the Government employ came
by a rather peculiar chance. He was
working as marble cutter and polish
err and his ambition did not extend
beyond becoming a good worker in
stone, when a strike was called and
he was forced to search for other EN-
ployment.
A position WAS offered him in the
customs service, and in 1889 he was
appointed tally clerk in the weigh
ers department. In 1871 he became a
packer and opener, and later in tie
year a night inspector. This gave
him opportunities to develop his abil-
ity as detective, and he did such
good work that in 1879 he was made
l.
Donehue's first work was To stop
the smuggling of cigars and tobacco
into the port, and he was instrument
tai in breaking up the ring that then
existed, The customs force was not
organized as nov and Dnnohue had 30
go out from Staten Island at night
in a rowlboat to watch incoming YES
els.
The practice of the smugglers was
TO threw the cigars overheard in rub
Der bags. 10 be picked up by accom-
plices, who put them on the market.
Donohue found himself in many a
tight place, and there We're times
when he had to fight his way out.
He used to say that he knew every
nook and corner on a vessel where
smuggled goods could be hid, and the
results of his work proved it.
In his early work on the piers Don
ohue was assisted by Thomas Brown.
another character who made history
for the department, but Brown was
killed in 1901 By fall from d window,
and no one was found to take his
place. The last big seizure of cigars
made by Denohue was 100000. which
he found il a liner running to CUBA
in 1882
One of the tight places in which
Donohue found himself while perform
ing his duty is still the subject of a
story told among customs men. one
steamship was a principal offender IN
the bringing in of struggled cigars
and the smugglers used a spare boiler
in which to conceal the contraband.
Donohue learned that big consign-
ment of cigars was coming in the snip
and when she locked he searched hei
from keel to pilot house, but without
success He was sure the tobacco was
on board but could get no trace of 1t
Finally he noticed that although thi
firemen were free to go ashore, sew
eral were hanging around grinnins
behind his hack at his discontinue.
Taking a hammer and lantern ht
went TO the boiler room again and LII
each boiler a smart rap. One sounded
hollow.
"rake off the manhole cover of this
boiler" he ordered.
The men hesitated, but Donohue was
not to be gainsaid. OFF came the COW
or. and, lantern in hand, nonohue de-
scended into the iron cavern. Ihere
piled up he found 100000 cigars await
ing removal to the shore, put Wh,ts
he was exploring, some one clapped IL
the manhole cover and the inspector
found himself a prisoner He pounded
the sides of his prison and tired ms
lungs with shouting. Finally the IAN.
tern went out. Still he pounded ant
shouted. but it was several hours De
fore Waterman making his ROUNDS
discovered and rescued Hmm. I
Times.