The Republican journal., 1913-05-22

As a truthful annalist it becomes the
duty of the compiler to record the fact
that after the British took possession OF
the eastern section of the State, and
Castne especially, the patriotism OF the
people here and in the surrounding
region was not in all cases proof against
the temptation to furnish fat beef to the
enemy at good fat prices, or to import
goods of foreign manufacture without
rendering "to Caesar the things that are
Caesars" in other words without pay
ment of duties. The hazard attending
the importation by vessels from, abroad,
added to the high duties, had SO far en-
HANGED the market value of foreign mer-
chandise as to place it beyond the pecuni-
airy ability of most of the people to pur-
chase even those articles which had
come to be regarded as necessaries. The
long stretch of territory in this section
necessarily left unguarded by revenue
officers afforded great facilities for
smuggling, and the high prices paid by
the enemy for our products, beef es-
pecially, constituted an inducement to
supply them, although at the hazard of
seizure and condemnation, which many
were not strong enough to resist.
During this fall and the winter sue
ceeding, especially after the Penobscot
was closed by ice, brisk contraband
trade was carried on between Castine
and the western side of the river. All
sorts of devices were resorted to to elude
the vigilance of the revenue officers.
Wagons with double bottoms constituted
one of those devices and very success
full one, until it was detected, and in this
wise: Moses Adams, Esq, Sheriff of the
county, residing in Ellsworth, on his way
to Boston CHANGED to stop for the night
at Wiscasset. There was something
about the construction of his wagon that
attracted the attention of loafer in the
stable-yard and upon examination it was
found to have two bottoms between
which was concealed quantity of valu-
able English merchandise; it was seized
and condemned. Occupying the high
official position he did, and being a promi-
nent member of the Federal, or anti-war
party, he was regarded as shining
mark and the following shot was fired at
him in the Boston Patriot of Nov. 9,
1914:
'THE DOUBLE BoTToMED WAGON.
The next trip Mr.. Sheriff Adams takes
to Castine, we would advise him to make
use of an Air Balloon as there appears
to be no safety in travelling on the land.
The doubled bottomed wagons are not
safe from the grippe of James Madison's
will be perfect safety as the officers of
Government are not permitted to travel
in the air, nor to make seizures there"
After sleighing commenced, sleighs
with false backs and fronts, pungs with
false bottoms, became favorite vehicles
with the smuggling community. 1t was
not unusual to see large, portly gentle
man drive up to the tavern door just at
dusk, order his horse to be ''put up"
and after taking supper retire for the
night leaving orders to be called early in
the morning; he invariably came from
the east. A rigid examination of him
and his surroundings would have led to
the discovery, probably, that the plump
saddle on his horses back was stuffed
with sewing silk, that silks and satins
were hidden between the two backs and
fronts of his sleigh; that the false crown
in his hat concealed pound or more of
needles, and that his trunk contained
nothing but his comb and tooth brush
and lot of old newspapers. The lean,
lank, shad-like guest who appeared in
the early morning would hardly be recog-
nized as the portly gentleman of the
night preceding, and the increase in the
weight of his trunk during the night was
truly miraculous. 1t was a singular fact
that all travellers of this character when
they left here took the back route for
the west; all the revenue officers were
stationed on the shore route.
Large quantities of foreign merchan-
disc were struggled across the river
at and near Bucksport. About three
miles this side Of the Ferry was Shute's
tavern, where nice supper could be had
at any time on call. An invitation to
revenue officer at this place to take a
ride to Shute's behind span of spank
ing bays was irresistible. While he and
the owner of the bays were enjoying
their supper the bays were harnessed to
another sleigh and the unsuspecting
officer rode back with a cargo of mer-
chandise under his feet which had never
paid tribute 10 "Uncle SAM" his pres
ence was guaranty to all other officers,
that no search was necessary. Gill-the
generous, whole-souled Gill''-and his
span of bays enjoyed a refreshing sea-
son here until peace was declared and
then disappeared as mysteriously as they
came.
One more incident of the smuggling
era, which will be remembered by few
who were not Indifferent spectators on
the occasion, must be recorded. A prom