New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-09
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE RIVER THIEVES.
THEIR HISTORY AND EXPLOITS.

PIRAIES.
Few who traverse the streets near the rivers
have failed to notice the many signs which, either
painted huge black letters the door or half OBJ
liberated on boards banging in the wind, announce tho
presence of junksore. Very curious places too, arc
many Of these junkstores each carries on an infringe
ment upon almost every legitimate branch OF trade win
some business OF doubtful respectabiity. Here may
generally be found all kinds OF shpssores, from "a
towingh awser to wax-end; from anchor to mar"
he7spke; from q jb TO a mainsa; from barrei OF
PORK 10 sack OF coffee and from blouse TO tafpauh
hat This combination OF sailOft, clothing hardware,
ana ptOVslon stores also does something the commits
sion business Very little any of the stock IN trade is
honestly procured; and, while there have been some
dealers who began with honest resolutions, they have
found sufficient reason abandon them. Their
dealings buyers are generally conducted with boat
men who drive nefarious trade upon the shipping
in the harbor. BY thus creating market for the
merchandise procured by such means they not only
courage and abet rvertheyng, but they the prince
cause OF ts existence Among the most notorious
be mentioned Nike Hays No. PIT Wcsts Nicholas King
souths near Roosevelt Martin OIiern south-st near
WALL Mike Sullivan Bro No II Coentesslip; place
on south-st, between Montgomery and GouVereur the
Donovans whose stores are six In number su@'ed as
follows: James and Dennis, No 4l3 Westst; inotny'
No. 172 souhst Daniel, No. l43 Cedar No lCa Market
and No. 90 Wests; Michael Doolan, NO % AiD"'y' III"
White on the north side OF Peck-slip
THIEyIsG IN THE HARBoI-PRoMISENr CAsEs =
River piracies in NewYork Harbor date ~ I@' 'N ny
1870 when small robberies upon tho shipping AZ ing
docks first brought this species OF crime I" inc TO
tce OF the authorities 1t not however, nril the
sauLHowett gang murdered a night-vatchInan on q
schooner lying at the foot Of olyert Eas RIVER that
these depredators came before the courts the crch-
stances of the case quite obscure appears upon
consulting the records, that the Waterman was enc
morning found murdered and the vessel roD"eo.
Detectives were az once set to work, and several
ri nrr fGG
suspicion Their names william saul, Nicholas
Hewlett Johnson, and Sullivan alias "DOdger" The
facts as disclosed the trial were. that these villains
ran alongside the schooner in small boat III when
Johnson remained while the other three boarded
the vessel and murdered the Waterman. Upon hrst
gaining the deck, SAUL the better to conceal ms move
mens had removed his shoes, and one of these lett IN
the hurry of the flight was the principal or his
conviction. Saul and Hewlett were hung at the TomDs
on jan 49, 1855 johnson was sent to prison. ana SULLIVAN
escaped through some echnicahtes Of the indictment
Since that time public justice has been repeatedly
Knocked by desperate characters and even OF ate
years their crimes have not been less in plumber or
atrocty In 1866 schooner lying at anchor near Rkers
Island was boarded by members Of the Conroy-
Lowrie gang and in fight which followed Their delec-
ton the mate killed and the captain dangerously
wounded Not long since, James Louvre entered the
cabin a schooner at the foot OF RooseVelts ana sue
ceeded in stealing all the jewelry and money on tho
clothes OF captain and mate The captain was lying
awake in the cabin and the villain enter,
but having no weapon Of defense at hand, allowed him
to escape. In the act OF ascending the eornpanO"y
the thief dropped from his pocket piece OF paper
which, on examination, proved to be letter from Ward
politician recommending James Lowre for employment
as laborer the Boulevard. This document was taken
TO the police; the thief arrested, convicted, and
sent up" for five years. John Anthem another meln-
Der OF this gang shot last New Years Day IN the
Seventh Ward. He did not think that the wound was
mortal and would not disclose the name Of the assassin
Conroy has, il is generally believed obtained sinecure
position the city government He has quit associ'
atng with his former companions and now wears fine
clothes and diamonds. Fail the Lowrie gang went
aboard English schooner during theanchor watch and
walking past the guards cooy entered the cabin Two Of
the gang dressed sailors remained in the boat. The
thieves ransacked all the chests and trunks, without
| waking the officers and coming up the companion way
took their leave rot until change IN the watch
that the robbery was discovered the deck had
supposed the visitors 10 he friends Of the captain irom
neighboring vessel Even as late ne March last James
Gibbons Broderick and "Bounce" OF the Old gang sue
ceeded I'm stealing several chests of tea from the ship
william wetherdge which lying at per 80 East
river; but the tea recovered, and Gibbons was
caught and is now in jail awaiting trial.
THE HARBoR POLICE.
The Uarbor Police was first organized I'm the Autumn
OF 1887 at which time small boats only employed
the service the following Spring the small steamer
She was fitted up floating station-hOuse, with Off
GERS quarters and did much good service among the
desperate gangs both rivers. The Deer disposed
Of however in the Summer Of 1866, and the steamer Me-
tropolitan was procured. She did not give salts
faction, having sprung aeak shortly after her launch
ing; but she performed the usual patrol duty
until July OF last year, when the Seneca
relieved her. The boat is elegantly fitted up and
has a commodious provided the uppcrdcck for
the Commissioners which, however, they have never
tit TO occupy While the dock front Of both East
and orth Rivers are constantly parOed by the small
boats, the Seneca makes regular trips the morning,
afternoon and night Tie actual service rendered by the
steamboat very slight for the that is approach
can always be discerned its chief object is 10 take mp
the captures made by the OF the working boats
The great need OF the Harbor Police would be- supplied
by about five steam launches with winch the thieves
could be successfully chased and which would be able
to stem the strongest tide and wind.
FOUR CLASSES or RIVER PIRATES.
River pirates may be divided into four classes ~
Cabin thieves are cunning and adro burglars who enter
the cabins OF vessels picking the locks and sometimes
choroforming the inmates They do not condcs,end to
steal rope sailcoth, but carry of watches, pocket
books and good clothes. This is the arisccratc class
o. Petty thieves those who prow about the river in
boat and steal everything they lay their hands
mon These are the dangerous scounrcls on the
rivera "a 1.-THE square"-a gang having for its
rendezvous the vicinity OF Catharine Market and
known as the Catamarket Club" Tls class effects
union with the mates crews, and buys what they
steal from the cargo during the voyage a. The
" Morning Rscrs" and "sundowners " sneak around
the docks between daylight and darkness morning and
evening and steal anything which may have been left
unguarded for few moments. They never use a boat
and the lowest order of river thieves The boats used
in the business generally hired from Mike onigev
the Battery and when abandoned falls into the
hands Of the police that individual always means to
its REIN fiat
and sharp st the bow and especially designed for rapid
rowing. They ALWAYS painted lead color and win