Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-02-29
The River and Dock Thieves Of New
York

York.
From long article in the New York
Times, descriptive Of the operations of
a large class OF metropolitan thieves, we
make the following extracts:
1t is very common trick of boys of
from ten to twenty years old, in the
warm weather of summer, to take off
all their clothing except their panta-
looms, and go into the river ostensibly
for swim. a dozen or so of them will
swim out. to vessel and climb up on
her rudder, or perhaps on her bulwarks
if seen and ordered off, they dive over
board and continue their antics. AS
generally on vessel thus lying in har-
Dor, there is but single man on board,
or at most two, it is usually no difficult
matter to SO interest this lonely watch
man In swimming race, a pretended
diving match, or some other trial of
skill between two or more swimmers, as
to induce him to come to the side of the
craft to look, when the fellows put
forth their utm ost skill to interest and
amuse him, and to confine his attention
to their own movements. Meantime,
one or more of the swim ners has de-
tached himself from the crowd, and has
stolen on deck, sneaking carefully into
the cabin, and is busily engaged in
passing out articles into one Of the in
Vulnerable row-boats which are ALWAYS
plying about the river-some of which
are at almost all times in pay of the
thieves. If the fellow is detected while
he is on board, he simply dives over,
and is gone with his companions long
before the Waterman can either pursue
him or signal to the shore for aid. This
trick has been played in the light of
broad day hundred times. and on some
occasions, when the ship has been
found with the proper guardian either
absent or asleep, she has been robbed of
all her portable valuables-in one case,
not a month since, the cabin goods,
furniture and chronometer were taken,
and new Manila cable, which, of it
self, was a full load for a large boat.
Until within a very short time "raw
hides" which come here by ship loads,
principally from South America, were
free from theft. They could be left on
the wharves for nights and days without
watchmen and without airy looking af-
ter whatever. About the last week in
October, however, the owners of cargo
of green hides missed about 200 of.their
stock-it was at first supposed to be an
error of the entry clerk, and was so set
tled-next night more were taken, and
it soon became evident that the hides,
so long exempt from the common fate
of exposed merchandise, were being
stolen. 1t was known that they could
not be sold in New York-accordingly
| detectives were put on the case, and
| they found that the hides were put into
canvas bags, and surrounded with straw
to conceal the shape of the package and
The smell of goods, and were thus ship
ped to Newark, n. j., where they were
| purchased by newly-established firm
| who partially manufactured them, anC
then made quick sale to other and in
nocent buyers.
Women and very young children alsC
bear no inconsiderable part in the steal
ing. They will cut open boxes of su
gar, bales of cotton and packages o
other goods, with quickness and in
genuity that is hardly to be credited
and will carry off little by little al
amount of goods absolutely amazing
One day the clerk of large shippin,
house, who, with the chief officer, ha(
been supervising the unloading Of
cargo of sugar, went below with hi
friend for lunch, and on their return t,
the deck the two sat down on the bale
to enjoy cigar. White there the mat
Observed forlorn- looking woman lean
ing against the rail of the vessel, appa
rently without any definite object. 4
remark to the clerk drew from him tn
words that she was probably some beg
gar-woman, not doing any HARM" an,
no more was said. Just then, however
noting that the woman still RENAME,
in the same place after an interval G
half an hour, the officer spoke to hel
telling her to "move on" "Oh yes,
} she replied, "Pll 60 on" but at tn
same time she made no move to &c
Annoyed at her pertinacity, the ma
gave her slight push, when it was di.
covered that under her skirts she wa
hiding boy of FIVE years, who ha
pierced box of sugar, had alread
1 filled one large wooden pail, and 'ha
a another one nearly filled.
!, Many instances have been know
t where casks of valuable spirits, oils c
l other liquid have been entered by tn
0 thieves in the following ingenious mai
:, ner: The piers are built out over tn
}, water, and boats can, at certain stag,
q of the tide, easily run under them. tt
r robbers, with empty barrels in the
s boats, run directly under where cas-
It of brandy is standing on end the
70 with an augur, they bore up throue
y the planks of the bridge and head
y the cask, and draw off the liquor in
r, the barrels in their boat. Some of tt
e professional women thieves have lar
b pockets, or bags, fastened with hoo
70 under their dresses, and stand ready
L conceal anything handed by confedt
!, ate, from ships chronometer to
IL handful Of raw cotton, or pound
l. scrap-iron, or old junk.
ze 1t has been often stated, often doul
r ed, but is now asserted to be absolute
true, that some of these gangs of riv
r robbers have homes under the floors
It, the piers. Here, in spots many of the
at inaccessible save by boat and the ri,
ry side, they have places that are ser
ID caves, semi-cellars, fitted up with stow
1,g cooking utensils, beds, carpets, a
ds such conveniences as they deem nee
p. sary to their comfort. All these thir