Smugglers in the Channel.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7834, 29 May 1905, Page 2

Smugglers in the Channel.

Belgian smugglers and French Customs men have had a lively meeting at Dunkirk, the contrabandists- bemg worsted and taken prisoners-. *or some time pust the Customs officials at the Kronen northern port had noticed thut a good deal of contraband stuff, and espcciaill/ cigars and touoeco, was 'faking smugged into the town by Belgians. Tho latter, who are all daring seamen, ran their luggers into Dunkirk, on stormy nights. If they could not enter the port they made for a point on tbo coast and unloaded their stuff thero. The French Customs men accordingly resolved to scour the coast in their sloop, or revenue cutter. Captain Mace, one of the officiate, went out in tho sloop La Flandre, having with hltn on board a Hetuentant of the Douancs service, and old salt named Haiuoudt, and four othor persons. The Flandre was a few hours out when a Belgian smack was sighted oil a littlo French town. Crowding on nil saiil, the Customs sloop went uftcr the smack, but the Belgian smuggling skippera was qqual io the occasion, and made for the o|>en, sea Old Haiuoudt, after consultation' with Captaim Muce, got int 0 the , cutter's small boat with four men, who, by dint of pulling nurd, reached thu smugglers smack near the water limit between France and Belgium. Haiuoudt called on the smuggler to surrender, but the Belgian skipper, who is described ns a Hercules, brandished a capstan bar and swore that he would smash tha skull of the lirst Frenchman who should strive to b)oard his craft. Uamouajt then covered the smuggling skipper with his rovolver, and declared that he would lire if he and his men were not allowed to Wourd the lugger. The smuggler at once dropped the capstan bar and surrendered. Humoudt and his men went on board and mnde prisoners of the captain and crow. The chief smuggler was sent to the revenue cutter La Flandre, and Haiuoudt took command of the higgler. Both vessels made for Dunkirk, but were separated during the bud weather. The smugglers smack, commanded by Hnmoudt reached Dunkirk alone, and it was thought for some time that the other vessel had gone down in the storm. This was not the case, for La Flandre reached port four days nff.r the captured craft. The smuggler's vessel, wh,ich belongs to the little port of La Panne in West Flanders, not fur from the French) frontier, was overhuuded by the Customs people, who found a mixed cargo, including big packages in' tobacco, estimated ns worth nearly £IOOO. The sequel to this exciting adventure was enacted at Dunkirk, where Captain Swartewag-r, of the captured smack, and a Dunkirk man named Heard, who is the proprietor of thu Seven Provinces Cafe, were brought before the Magistrate on the charge of smmgigling .'lCcu-t of tobacco and resisting the Customs oir.&>rs. Captain Maco and others aboard the, Customs sloop Ui Fto.tid.ro told the story of the uxcitjng proceedings leading up t (( ij K , capture o) the *muggk>rs.. Heard pleaded that hd did not know tho nature 01 the expedition, .but was promised a sovereign to pilot tho Belgian smack to Dunkirk. Prisoners were found guilty, and tho Magistrate ordered the confiscation to th,o j'mujrsluM' vessel, and impusc'cj a line of £1025, the va\u c of'the contlscaled to£osn T*h f a "u "r U I,oins n " 0, "• £2uoo. In of, payment, Vhey are each, to undergo a year's in> prisonment, Another 1% enpturo o* cpntraibund tobnw,o was made bv" [ ho "wnku-k Customs. A Kouse at No, 40, Ituo Voltaire, was raided and in an artfully concealed hiding. place, the searchers discovered about •iewt of Moravian tolmcco, similar to that captured on the Belgian smack. The place appeared, to be a perfect smugfelcrs' haunt. Further arrets ar« anticipated;