THE WEST SHORE.
173
SMUGGLING CHINESE AND OPIUM.
The movement on foot at Washington to secure for the revenue service
on Puget sound two small and swift steam cutters for the purpose of putting
an end to the smuggling from British Columbia of Chinese and opium, now
carried on so extensively and successfully, is one that has the hearty approba
tion of every resident of this section j not that they care much about the
opium feature of the business, for they look upon that as a matter concern
ing only the revenue officers and the smugglers. To the community at large
the smuggling of opium is a matter of indifference. It has no effect upon
the use of the drug for purposes of debauchery, against which stringent laws,
but illy enforced, exist in every state, and the question of whether the govern
ment shall or shall not derive a small revenue from the importation of the
damnable stuff fails to create any interest whatever. To be sure, the moral
welfare of the nation requires that no one shall engage in any occupation de
clared to be unlawful by the constituted authorities, and for this reason smug
gling of opium or anything else ought to be suppressed. But that is just a
trifle too advanced a position for the masses to take, who, as a rule, take but
little interest in public morality, except as it affects themselves or their busi
ness. It will be many long years before we will become educated to
the point of becoming interested as a people in questions of abstract
morality or those bearing solely upon the national welfare without af
fecting the individual in a financial, social or religious way directly.
Else why so much popular indifference upon the subjects of restricting
immigration, purity of elections, political bossism and official peculation ?
In the subject of smuggling Chinamen, however, our people have
a direct and profound interest, not so
much in its moral aspect as in the
harmful results. We made a long
struggle for years against the igno
rance, bigotry and provincialism of
our eastern brethren before we suc
ceeded in securing an act for the ex
clusion of Chinese, and it is very gall
ing to see the act to a large degree
rendered nugatory by the failure of
the government to properly enforce it.
There is no lack of zeal on the part
of the local authorities charged with
the duty of administering its provis
ions, but there is a woeful lack of
means supplied to them with which to
execute it, and this lack is chargeable
much to the indifference of the high
er authorities at the nation's capital.
Passing by the abuses of the
habeas corpus act, the straw bail prac
tices and the return certificate frauds,
all of which operate to secure en
trance into this country for a great
many Chinamen not legally entitled
to reside here, let us look at some of
the methods employed to secure a
foothold on American soil without even an attempt to make the act appear le
gal. It is impossible to say how many Chinamen succeed in crossing the
boundary line from Canada or Mexico and losing their identity in the com
mon monotony of some Chinese colony. It is certain that hundreds crossed
in from Mexico, until last year the excessive vigilance of the officers, which
resulted in the capture of a large number and the heading off of many more,
as well as the inhospitable nature of the desert country over which they had
to pass, and where the bones of more than one now lie bleaching in the sun,
practically put an end to all effort in that direction. The Canadian border
is the one now offering the easiest openings for the guileless Mongolian. The
Canadian Pacific railroad runs parallel to the border from the Pacific ocean
to Lake Superior, and there are many places along the route where a crossing
can be made by a person willing to spend the time and money necessary to
effect it; but it is on Puget sound where this illegitimate business has become
a science.
Chinamen are compelled to pay a head tax ol fifty dollars to land in
British Columbia, and they cheerfully pay this in order to secure a foothold
from which they may gain the coveted entrance to the United Stales, to se
cure which they would willingly pay many times that amount if they could
come direct. By this arrangement Canada gets the money and we get the
Chinamen. Although a few manage to cross the line on foot and safely
reach the sheltering domiciles of some of their countrymen, the great major
ity come by water. The numerous islands in Puget sound at the head of the
Straits of Fuca, lying on both sides of the supposititious line separating the
two countries, offer special facilities lor the operations of smugglers, who,
using small sailing vessels and taking advantage of dark nights and their
knowledge of the movements of the revenue officers, hare little difficulty in
crossing the line with cargoes of opium and its smokers, landing both in the
hidden recesses of some American Chinatown. The vessels engaged in this
business are ostensibly fishing boats, from two to ten tons burthen, and are
so registered at Victoria, the seat of operations. They frequently change
their appearance by painting and making other external alterations, and occa
sionally adopt a new name and new registered owner, all for the purpose of
confusing their identity in the minds of the revenue officers on both sides o(
the line, who keep a bright lookout for them, the officers on the Canadian
side feeling that these slippery skippers are as willing to bring contraband
goods back with them as to take them away, being neither respecters of per
sons nor governments. It is against the law for these vessels to go to any
foreign port without first clearing at the custom house, so that in engaging in
this traffic they lay themselves liable
- " -.1 1 i"-
to seiiure by the revenue officers of
both governments. However, the
conditions are such that, being simply
" fishing boats," they can pass in and
out of the harbor without attracting
attention, and though it is in violation
of law for them to carry passengers,
a Chinaman or two could be claimed
to be hired as assistants.
At the entrance to Victoria harbor
there is a buoy off the Indian reserve,
and this is where the smuggling ves
sels lie at anchor, presenting the most
innocent aspect imaginable. When
the financial arrangements for a cargo
of opium and Chinese have been
completed, small lots of the former
are secretly taken on board, and
enough Chinamen to make a load are
told to get ready. Toward the close
of evening two or three will stroll
over to the reserve disguised as si
washes. They are taken aboard one
of the boats, and in the morning she
goes out to fish. If a customs officer
happens to notice them he cannot say
anything or attempt to stop the boat,
which once out of the harbor is free
from prying eyes, and she shapes a
course for Cadboro bay. Or she
may go up to James or Sidney Isl
ands, as Cadboro bay is getting rath-
er too public, although a few years
ago it was a famous place for smugglers. When one or the other of these
havens is reached the Chinese are landed and the boat puts back to Victoria.
This is done two or three times until a sufficient number to make a good load
have been concealed at one or the other of the points mentioned where there
are camps. Then, all that Is needed is a favorable wind and a dark night.
The rest is easy. No curious eyes can see the start, they are far away from
telegraph offices, and the run across is quickly made, the trip being so timed
that the sloop gets by Port Townsend in the early evening. Or she may go
down by way of Dungeness. Sometimes a bold dash out of Victoria harbor
m the evening is made, but even then there it not much risk. The only
trouble is, if the Canadian officers see them it is apt to cause unpleasant in
quiries. The use of the telegraph It of no service whatever. Frequently
haw the officers in Port Townsend been notified, but it it of no avail. The
means ol detection on the American tide are to small that the smugglers only
laugh.
When an opium cargo only it to be taken, small lott are cached from
time to time on Salt Spring island and on other islandt to the southeast where
camps are maintained, and when the proper time comet a cargo it made up
from the repository and a run made acrost the line. The landing of the
opium it the most difficult part of the work. A Chinaman can be landed
A SMUGGI.KK IN THE STRAITS
OK KUCA.