The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-03-01
The River and Dock Thieves OF NO"
I

from ten TO twenty years old, in the
warm weather of summer, 10 take off
all their clothing except their panta-
loons, and 60 into the river ostensibly
for a 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 a 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 utmost skill to interest and
amuse him, and to contine 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 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,
princip ally from South America, were
free from theft. They could be left on
the wharves for nights and days without
watchmen and without any 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 Y ork-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
I, Of hue u,
ped to Newark, n. j., where they were
purchased by newly-established firm,
who partially manufactured them, and
then made quick sale TO other and in
nocent buyers.
Women and very young children also
bear no inconsiderable part in the steal
ing. They will cut open boxes of SUI
gar, bales of cotton and packages of
other goods, with quickness and in
genuity that is hardly 10 be credited,
and will carry off little by little an
amount Of goods absolutely amazing.
One day the clerk of large shipping
house, who, with the chief officer, had
been supervising the unloading of a
cargo of sugar, went below with his
friend for lunch, and on their return to
the deck the two sat down on the bales
to enjoy a cigar. While there the mate
observed n forlorn-lookiDg woman lean
ing against the rail Of the vessel, appa-
rently without any definite object. A
remark to the clerk drew from him the
words thatshe was probably some beg
gar-woman, not doing any HARM" and
no more was said. Just then, however,
noting that the woman still remained
i'm the same place after an interval of
half an hour, the officer spoke to her.
telling her to "move on" ooh yes"
she replied, "Ill 60 on" but at the
same time she made no move to 90.
Annoyed at her pertinacity, the man
gave her slight push, when it was dis.
covered that under her skirts she was
hiding boy of five years, who had
pierced box of sugar, had already
filled one large wooden pail, and had
another one nearly filled.
Many instances have been known
where casks of valuable spirits, oils or
other liquid have been entered by the
thieves in the following ingenious man.
ner: The piers are built out over the
water, and boats can, at certain stages
vi VIC tl'tt, easily Iuii uuucl ChtIL. liz
robbers, with empty barrels in their
boats, run directly under where cask
of brandy is standing on end then,
with an augur, they bore up through
the planks Of the bridge and head of
the cask, and draw off the liquor into
the barrels in their boat. Some of the
profe ssional women thieves have large
pockets, or bags, fastened with hooks
under their dresses, and stand ready to
conceal anything handed by confeder-
ate, from ships chronometer to a
handful of raw cotton, or a pound of
scrap-iron, or old junk.
1t has been often stated, often doubt
ed, but is now asserted to be absolutely
true. that some of these gangs of river
robbers have homes under the floors of
the piers. Here, in spots many of them
inaccessible save by boat and the river
side, they have places that are semi
caves, semi-celars, fitted upwith stoves,
cooking utensils, beds, carpets, and
such conveniences as they deem neces.
sary to their comfort. All these things
are stolen. Here the thieves conceal
their stolen goods until the favorable
moment comes for disposing of them.
| Here by candlelig the Youthful rob-