SMUGGLED WAR , STORES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8247, 21 February 1905, Page 2

SMUGGLED WAR , STORES.

DYNAMITE FOR RUSSU IN THE THAMES. THRILLING NI^HT 7 Vbl^GB. The following extraordinary story is told in the London "Daily Mail" of Deoember 17: — Public attention -has recently been turned to the shipment ef British steam-coal to Russia and the Far East, and the-efforts which the authorities are making to stop it. Thosje who were surprised at these illicit transactions in coal will be even more astonished, when it is stated that a much more serious form, of contraband traffic has been taking place right under the eyes of > London itself. . , . Thousands of tons of dynamite, picric acid, gun-cotton, shells, ammunition and other forms of explosives, all most clearly contraband, have passed under London Bridge during the past few months en route for the Far East, and, up to the present, the authorities seem powerless, to prevent it. , A spark, a collision, even careless handling, might cause a catastrophe within a stone's throw of the Houses or Parliament themselves, due to the terrible nature of the cargoes carried past in innocent-looking barges. _ _ A correspondent, after endless difficulties, has succeeded in actually making a voyage on one of these expeditions, and the story of his adventures is more suggestive of romance of the Captain Kettle order than a plain statement of happenings on the work-, a-day Thames. I was told (he writes) that if I happened to be making a pleasure trip in' a wherry somewhere in the neighbourhood of London Bridge at eleven o'clock one winter's evening, I might run across a tug towing four barges (peculiarities described). If I then mentioned the name of a certain London firm, highly respected in city circles, and by^ no * means connected with anything/re-* sembling contraband, I would have an .opportunity of seeing the beauties of the Thames by night. / CARGO OF DESTRUCTION. CuViously enough, at the hour and place named, a triangle of lights, red, white and green, resolved themselves into a grimy tug and four creaking, blunt- nosed barges. • The " open, sesame " was effective, and I was bidden come aboard- ' The little tug was positively swathed in fenders, affording an easy foot-hold, as I clambered over the side and said "Good evening" to a bearded individual, whose face glowed a ghostly green as he leaned in front of the starboard side-light. As the wherry dropped astern I was able to t^We note of my surroundings. Astern, the noses of the two front barges strained at the tow-ropes, pushing a miniature cascade before them. Above their hatches lay some unsophisticated bales of moss-litter, beneath which each carried between twenty and thirty tons of dynamite, shells, gunco^ ton and other forms of explosives. Like the tug, the four barges were ' thickly wadded with fenders, and, as ah additional precaution, they were lashed to each other doubly and trebly to prevent bumping and the consequent dangerous concussion. A bump which an ordinary lighter would 'take as part of the day's work migb.t mean annihilation to the tug and its convoy, as well as tremendous damage to. every thing and person within a large eraHius. • -i It |ras explained to me that it wo other^, similar consignments were simultaneously making their way 'to the same .rendezvous as ourselves — a steamer of two or three thousand tons, which was waiting in the early morning " some- i where in the estuary of the river. w?J. c "? ld fa *"liar reaches, Galleons, Jjjritn, Long and Nbrthfleet, were traversed uneventfully during the small hours. Once a shadowy steamer passed within a few (feet of the end of our tail . of barges, her wash grinding them i against each other despite their lashings, and her semi-racing screw splashing the dummy load of straw. " Thank goodness she's going out light," said our skipper viciously. " Her captain won't earn muoh commission this voyage." Later, near Gravesend, the traffic grew denser. * . ' ■ MOMENTS OF ANXIETY. Tugs, lighters and barges crowded , the river, each a potential cause of disaster. ' Sirens hooted, and it became necessary to stop and drift helplessly to avoid collisions. On several occasions collision (with : the possible detonation of our terrible freight), seemed inevitable, and though we once rubbed shoulders gently with some moored .ftarges,', the fenders did their work and prevented any violent blows. <• • ■ . At last we came safely through into the Lewer Hope, and, turning round by the blinking Mucking Light, entered the broad Waters of Sea Reach, where we began to lift slightly to the long slow- swell of the estuary. There was not much further, to go, for soon we came up with our steamer, looming, mistily in the hazy, muggy dawn* We were the last at the tryist, for the other barges were already clinging round her sides, ridding themselves of their cargoes. Unfortunately, the name of the steamer was hidden by a sailcloth awning which had carelessly been lefthanging over her stern. Another obscured the name on her port bow, and doubtless the other side was in a similar condition. , As if they had been so much chinaware, our own lighters were manoeuvring alongside, and the dummy deckcargo was removed. Mysterious cases were revealed, upon which the steamer's derricks got to . work— ;some half-filled sacks being first hung round the cases to act as buffefs. Before another rainy day had fairly broken, and while the sheltering fog was still hanging: over the water, the oai-go had been transferred to the contraband [runner. / TO RUN THE BLOCKADE. She had/ so the captain whispered to ,me, left a well-known port in ballast, cleared ostensibly fpr Cardiff to Ijbad coals, but ''having obtained bunker coals sufficient to parry- her to her Far Fastern destination by means knpwn ciiiy to those on board, shfe sailed as soqit^ as we had delivered the last case ovt-r- --■ Sid®.' '.'■'■'. '■'■''■■ ;;-V ; '., ; The first part of the business, it oiigh very dangerous, is equalled, if ?nt Pur- V . passed, by the troubles and dangers threatening the steamer on which our cargo was shipped. With papers put of order she is practically an; outcast. Unable to enter any port but that of her destination, where formalities are dispensed with. Granted that she safely arrives at Shanghai or some other Chinese port, the '.crew-, by ; "' -that time realising : whithor they are bound, will probably refuse to proceed, andthe ship will Be obliged to continue her voyage to heir: discharging'^port manned by a Chinese % other crew, and calling for her origi- , • hal crew on her return. j I The wAole business is naturally extreraely hazardous, and calls for great ingenuity itt avoiding- the penalties to .which shippers are liable if .found guilty of engaging in such ; a venture. None but the most determined men will , ; embark in the trade. '