The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-25
ROvERS ON THE RIVER.
Ferryman's Folly and Daring
Theft-IIOw the River Thieves Made a
Raise OF Funds.

A Ferryman's Folly and Daring
Theft-IIow the River Thieves Made a
Raise OF Funds.
The exploits of some OF the river thieves who
infest our river fronts equally daring as any
of those the young are wont to ascribe to Dick
Turpin or Jack Sheppard Of ante 0elnn times; and
were they wildly portrayed upon the boards,
with the addition 0fblue lights, flashes OF lightning,
swelling tides and swiftly moving boats, they would
doubtless create as great Juror as the enact
ment of in the criminal life Of those fellows
of ancient time. Among the many daring acts Of
the pirates of the rivers perhaps few exceeded one
that occurred on the twelve minutes past ten
O'Clock trip of the ferryboat Commodore Barney, on
Tuesday evening, from Grand street to Williams
burg, by which the ferry master on this side, Will
liam Coflie, was robbed Of bag containing sos,
which he was conveying to the head Office on the
Williamsburg side.
II appears from his statement that as he walked
aboard the ferryboat he observed man, dressed
in The garb of boatman, close behind him.
His suspicious were not aroused however,
until he observed the supposed boatman
pull ont handkerchief and, swinging it, strike the
bridgeman across the eyes as ne passed on to the
boat from the bridge. This movement called forth
from the bridgemal an oath or two, and Mr.. Cofe
thought tile action OF the passenger a little sngu.
lar He however dismissed him from his thoughts
for the nonce, and walking forward deposited his
bag OF money in the room OF Engineer Rasche who
was standing by his engine. As the vessel moved
out from the dock the occupants of
small boat that was under the stern Of
as boatman, and asked him to fasten 1t In the
ring hook The obging bOatman complied and
Current Is rSpid to hitch on to the erryboats this his
manGuyre did not excite the suspicion OF the ferry
master in the least. moment later the three oc-
cupants Of the boat again called to the boatnan
and requested him TO pass the end of the rope under
and over the centre Of the guard chain to them that
they could drop away when they desired.
Again the obliging passenger complied. About this
time the other confederate moved forward to the
engine room, near the outside Of which Cerie was
up to the door, the fellow reached into the engine
room, aud, while lighting his cigar took in with a
CLAN glance the LOCATOR, IT,, 81 the bag, which lay on the
mp and down the deck smoking until the boat was
within hundred yards Of the Williamsburg shore.
Coming again 10 the door Of the engine room, and
standing three feet in rear of COME, he
ntently bent his view upon the ma
s o% DOWN The s ome RasShss GSSs an 10
eyes were employed directing his engine the
daring pirate snatched the bag, and rapidly run
small boat. Conle and Raschc quickly detected the
movement, and ran TO the rear Of the boat in pur
suit, but as they ncared the thief he eapcd into
the water from the deck, and just as Cone jumped
TO eaten the line OF the small boat 1t slipped over
the chain and the boat dropped astern; One of
up quck,' and within q minute the boat
man had been rescued from the water, and
before the erryboat could be put about the thieves
and their booty disappeared out OF signt under
some OF the piers subsequently the fellow who
but who had taken no part in the robbery beyond
securing the boats hawser and handing the end OF
1t back to its occupants was arrested by an officer
OF the Brooklyn force as he left theferry rat
accompce. He most positively denied the charge.
lie gave his name William Tracey and was held for
further examination The above iacts were obtained
from the cashier In the Office Of the company the
Williamsburg side last evening, as the engineer
and ferry master were not to be found. IL IL very
evident that the robbery was adrOitly planned in
expectation Of securing larger amount OF booty.
IL Is fortunate Tor C0iie hJt he failed TO catch the
hawser Of the thieves boat as 1t went over the
guard chain, for they would undoubtedly have shot
him down had lie done so. The police are actively
at work endeavoring to discover Tracey's cOnfed-
crates, with fair chance CT being successful.