Dramatic Story of Dave Lightner, the "Narcotic King:" Optimiem in China Trade: An Early Northcliffe Story: Kashio's Plucky Performance: A Thrilling Trans-Pacific Race From Our Own Correspondent.
Vancouver, Sept. 7.
Captured in Shanghai after being chased for 20,000 miles by seereé agents, Dave Lightner, alleged "Narcotic King" of the Pacific, arrived in Los Angeles this week aboard the liner West Farallon. His stateroom was of large steel bars specially constructed in the Officers' wardroom and he made the passage weighted down with ball and chain and irons, In Portland, more than a year ago, Lightner was indicted for offences under the drug law, but jumped his baal. Secret police learned that he had gone to sca as a coal passer and the wireless Jed to his being identified in a ship's stokehold. He was taken ashore in China, gaoled in Shanzhai and escaped. The West Faral-Ien_was steaming from Shanghai to Los Angeles. A day after leaving the Chinese seaport, the first mate discovered a stowaway in tha steering-gear room, hiding under some materials stored there. The captain ordered him to be put to work. He was a muscular man and -gave battle. by which pass-angers were attracted, Mr. Paul H. Gross, American Vice-Consul at Shanghai, was returning to the United States on leave on the West Farallon. He saw the fight and he remembered the message of the secret service. A radio message was sent to Shanghai and shortly afterwards came the wireless reply that the stowaway was sought by the secret service and must be held on the ship until' delivered to American agents. Lightner was put in irons and placed in_ the cell shortly before the vessel docked at Yokohamai, to prevent his escape.
For six days. following assaults on the officers—he was like-an enraged tiger—he was fed only on bread and water. Each day he was taken to the deck and allowed to exercise under guard. Arriving at Tos Angeles, extreme precautions were taken by Federal agents in removing him from the ship. He is now undergoing the: preliminaries to the trial which was interrupted by a spectacular trans-Pacific flight and return,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.