New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-11-10


tory. and some idea may be gathered Of his exten
siye information from the statement upon his part
that he could speak for six months at time with
out explaining all of his views. We had to regret
that our own limited time prevented US from hear
ing the concluding portion Of the eloquent speak
er's remarks, but recommend them to the careful
consideration Of the city fathers, before whom, we
understand, they are, some of them, to be shortly
laid.
Smaller PSracIes and Other Deprcdntions
upon the RIver-Hovg the Stolen Property
Is Disposed of
The finding of the body of John Fitzgerald
floating upon the river, and the evidence Of the
river police has attracted some attention to the
life going on on the great stream just in front
of u.s. and, for the benefit Of this class of the
public, we csndense the statements of some Of
the witnesses who were present at that inVesti-
CATION, and which have been reiterated to us
since by other parties connected with our crimi-
nal courts:
There are some two or three hundred skfs and
small boats, of one kind and another, upon the
river in front of the city, about thirty Of which
are here employed in fishing, and about the
same number every week arrive from Lake Sal
vador by way Of the company canal, and laden
with fsh, oysters, crabs and game. Most of the
remaining number are viewed, with suspicion by
the river police; and when they are honestly
engaged at ALL it is in bartering and selling
small commodities to the vessels lying in the
river. But their more frequent occupation is cot
ton stealing from the ships and steamboats,; and
more than two hundred parties supposed to
| be engaged in this business, It was even stated
that men connected with respectable houses
were, in some cases, indirectly concerned in
these transactions. The cotton, when stolen, is
carried to certain parties, and no questions
asked.
The amount of stealing that is done in this man
ner it is thought was five times what it was in the
remainder of the city put together; and with
only the present river foree-thirteen in, number
for the First and Fourth Districts-the thieves had
it pretty much all thefr own way.
This force moved about upon the river in two
boats, but not much could be done in that way, as
thieves give notice of their approach by whistles
and otheY signals UP and down the river, and
sometimes at night by telegraphng with lanterns
to the opposite bank. 1t was only by watching
their movements before hand, upon tho land, and
in this way seeing what they were up to- that any
thing could be accomplished.
The thieves WHO operate upon the river, are
"iunk,n and as that has been decided to include
cotton in sacks and bags or almost anything else
which they can pick up on board Of, ship, they
can always find some party from whom they car
claim they bought the stolen property in regular
trade.
1t looks like difficult operation for a skf' t.
move alongside of vessel and for the thieves tt
then go on board and succeed in carrying ava,
AZ. ,,lD ba
there not always traitor upon board of the boa
or ship to be robbed. If yeu suppose that mat
is willing to be treacherous, and has consented Il
divide the plundeE, the risks to the thief bu
j very little -Four and five bales can be stolen il
" such way and from such parts of the vessel tina
it Will not be missed by the captain, who in genera
is compelled to place confidence in his mate; an
it is said that as many as eightand nine bales hav
s bean carried away in a single night without hi
knowing anything about the matter. 1t is not sas
y for an operation of this kind to be carried 0
7 unless some officer that is trusted should oithe
IL be thrown of his guard, or smile upon the undel
% taking; ana even in that case it is gensrall
l' deemed prudent to make the watChman drunl
~ provided he is not allowed share in the spoil
As Sometimes indeed the cotton is not carried to Il
5 ships at all, but a delivery is made and receip
III follow the delivery are supposed to cover AT
little irreguarity as 80 forms. The captain know
nothing about the matter until the vessel arriv
no at her destined port; and if at that time he shou
Ia- be so unreasonable as to suspect any one, the
II are enough other vessels in which the accus
its party can find new employment.
he This was the view taken of the matter by t
I'd, river police on the other hand, from perhaps b
ii. ter informed parties. 1t is but justice, howeT
his to state that the mate of a vessel is held accom-
,ut able at the end of his voyage by deduction
ad losses from his wages. Secondly, as captai
he when in port associate much with each oth
ad breaches Of trust of this character become kno
to to the fraternity, and the delinquent finds it
tns cult to obtain employment.
rco When the watchman is to be operated npor
,ec- cold or rainy night is preferred when it is ia
ker for granted that he will be asleep under the
any pauln, or if he is still AXE he is amused, as
the have already stated, With the liquor and conve
in tlonal talents of oTe of the Contederates.
lave steamer upon which the robbery is to be c
pper mltted, we will suppose, is laden down until
leen guards are within two or three inches Of
oper water. at the given signal from the oony