The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-05 00:00:00

Capture of Long Shore Pirates,

Revelations lately made at the police courts in
the neighbourhood of Plymouth have established
the fact of the existence of an organisation for pur-
poses of crime amongst the juvenile criminals of the
neighbourhood. Lads from 12 to 20 years of age
seem to have become possessed with a desire to
imitate the exploits of celebrated criminals, forget-
ting that the increased population and altered
manners of the age render now such careers per-
fectly impossible. On Friday another of these
combinations was detected in Plymouth, the offen-
ders having exhibited a desire to copy the adven-
tures of Capt. Kidd and similar buccaneers. Their
depredations were made by sea, and they, like Kidd,
had a store for their plunder, a mimic Key of the
Bahamas. For several days past the watermen's
beats moored near the Great Western Docks have
been plundered. Insignificant and even valueless
articles have been taken, as well as better plunder,
the boats being stripped of everything moveable. A
barge was also visited and lightened of a quantity
of bones and soldiers' old jackets. At first it was
net easy to see at all how these robberies could have
been committed. The plunder could not be found in
the premises of the dock company, and it was known
that at each of the company's gates, by day and by
night, an unimpeachable member of their vigilant
police was posted, and who could not have allowed
such lumbersome articles as sails and ropes to pass
him unnoticed. At length the roboery of the barge
threw light on the sffAir, as a waterman's boat was
missed, and when found she bore indications of hav-
ing been employed is the carriage of bones such as
had been stolen. It was thus conjectured that the
docks were entered by the thieves, and some of the
watermen's boats were employed in carrying off the
stolen articles, the boats thus used being, artfully
enough, left taarobbed. Over the offices of the
Milibay quarries Mr. Steer, the foreman of the lime-
burners, and his family reside. From their win-
dows a view of the quarries can be commanded.
Leading out of the quarries to the eastward of the
West Hoe Baths is an old tunnel and arch, formerly
an entrance to Three Holes-quay, but which is now
unused, as is also the quay, access to the tunnel
being nearly closed up with rubbish. About the
breakfast hour on Friday morning Mr. Steer, his
wife, and Mrs. Mitchell, a daughter, noticed some
suspicious looking youths going into this tunnel,
who subsequently left with large bundles. A second
visit was also noticed during the morning, and again
the lads left, carrying packages. Tnis roused curia-
sity, and Mr. Steer, accompanied by some of the
men employed in the quarries, visited the tunnel.
The result of their inspection was a discovery of
part of the property missed from the docks —sol-
diers' jackets, pieces of rope, canvas, a smockfr?ck,
and other articles. Kesseil, the Hoe constable, was
at once communicated with, and an ambush was
laid. Shortly after three o'clock the lads again
arrived, and, with mistaken caution, came into the
tunnel one at a time. As each made his appearance
he was taken into custody and handed out, and thus
four of the young thieves were taken in succession.
The ambush, however, was broken up too soon, for
it was seen when ton late that a fifth lad was
leisurely coming over the Hoe with a bag under his
arm, who, observing several persons collected round
the store, beat a speedy retreat. The parties cap-
tured have given the names of John Williams, Thos.
Jones, James Widger, and James Musty.

THE NEW " SENSATION KETTLE."—The demand
for sensational novelties has led to the improve-
ment of that common article of domestic utility the ordinary
kettle. We have now the " sensation kettle," to which the
principle of steam power has been adapted. On Thursday
the new apparatus was exhibited in operation to a number
of gentlemen at Mr. J. Stent's, the Talbot Hottl, Great
Charlotte-street. It consists of a cast-iron pedestal 3 feet
in height, with hexagon base, fixed to the counter on which
it stands, The upper part of the machine contains a tray
for the reception of from two dozen to 30 tumblers, which
may be kept warm or otherwise, as circumstances require.
There are two brass kettles of globular form—one for hot
water and the other for coffee ; and below are two taps for
supplying at all times tresn cold water. There are also
ther taps, from which hot water can be obtained.
Beneath the kettles are two atmospheric rose burners, con-
nected with the gas main, and having stopcocks, each
burner consuming at the rate of not more than two
cubic feet per hour. Above the kettles, and close to
the cap of the pillar, are two cocks, each entering the lid,
for renewing the supply.; and there are also affixed to each
kettle floating valves, with indicators to show their con-
tents. The tray is elaborately finished by an elegant per-
forated brass band, appropriately burnished and lacquered.
The apparatus is a gift from Professor Anderson, the
Wizard of the North, to Mr. atent, in remembrance of
many acts of kindness conferred by the latter gentleman
during a period of 20 years. The machine, which exhibits
remarkable ingenuity, was brought from Edinburgh by
the manufacturer and patentee, Mr. John Lawrie, brass-
founder, &c., of that city, and is the fire t introduced into
England. It bears the name of the patent " Wizard
Kettle." The fitting up was entrusted to the Liverpool
United Gas Com eany, and carried out under the supe-
rintendence of Mr. H. V. Dobson. The result of the trial
yesterday was highly successful, and the apparatus appears
to be well adapted to its intended purposes —Liverpool
Mercury.
THE LATE FIGHT BETWEEN KING AND HEENAN.
—An application was made yesterday to Mr. Justice Shee
at Chambers, in the case of the Queen v. King and others,
by Mr. Thomas Beard, the attorney fur King. He, with
Heenan, Sayers, and several others, engaged in the late
prize fight, had been committed by the Wadhurst bench of
magistrates to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions at
Lewes for an alleged breach of the peace. The application
was for a writ of certiorari to remove the indictment from
the sessions into the Court of Queen's Bench, His lordship
granted the application, and the indictment, which was to
have been tried this day, will be removed.

BARBARA'S HISTORY. By Amelia B. Edwards.
3 vols.—" If Miss Edwards (says the Atheneum}
goes on writing such stories as ' Barbara's History' she will,
on some bright day of u lucky season, wake up and find
herself famous. Alien Edwards has qualities superior to
mere literary facility and acquaintance with the artifices of
her art, iShe has humour, insight into character, and a
somewhat ext3nsive knawledge (it books. We give her
full credit' for having written a thoroughly readable and
deeply interesting novel,"