H. B. WORTLEY, Esq.,
Messrs. A. HOLT & Co.,
LIVERPOOL.
Doar Sir,
338
(62)
56
T.S.S. ANTILOCHUS,"
BIRKENHEAD,
18th April, 1916.
1
I beg to report the result of the frequent searches for Opium we made last voyage in accordance with the instructions issued by the Company.
Before arriving at each port the engine-room (together with all other parts of the ship) was thoroughly searched, and upon arrival another search was made by the Customs Authorities, to whom we rendered all possible assistance. At Shanghai, on the outward passage, a place was discovered which had evidently been used for hiding Opium. The stairs leading to the Firemen's Forecastle had on some previous occasion been boarded up to prevent the dirt from people's boots falling behind the stairs, where it would be difficult to clean-this formed a receptacle which measured 4 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 9 inches at the base, tapering off to nothing at the height of 8 feet.
**
4 ft. 0 in.
width 2 feet 9 inches.
An entrance to this space had been ingeniously constructed in the Electric Stores by sawing through some boards and hiding the saw-marks by two battens. When the battens were removed four boards forming a door yielded to the touch and disclosed the hiding place. When discovered there was no Opium there, but some pieces of red paper indicated that some had been there. When the ship left Shanghai outward bound, the No. 1 Fireman failed to join the ship, so before returning to the same port, the 2nd Engineer and I had a search through the missing man's effects, and also paid another visit to the Electric Stores. Wo were rewarded by finding about 285 lbs, of Opium hidden in the place I have described. This was handed to the Shanghai Customs Authorities immediately the ship reached port. I append a piece of brown paper with an adhesive label, which is part of the paper in which a number of one pound pieces of Opium was wrapped.
G
Yours obediently,
(Signed) FRANK WREGG,
Chief Engineer.
ཡམས་ས
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