The New York herald., 1874-06-15
} y N *
River Thieves, Harbor Pirates and
Their Patrons.
WHAT JUNK COVERS.
How Unruly Pigs Of Lead and Iron Stray
from Ships and Wharves To Be I'm
pounded by the Junk Dealer.
A CALL FOR POLICE VIGILANCE.

The thefts that are constantly occurring along
the water front OF New York city, from vessels dis
charging or loading, from lighters and canalboats,
are perpetual source OF annoyance to our mer-
chants and citizens, while the aggregate loss to
our commerce from this cause alone must amount
TO hundreds OF thousands OF dollars year. This
subject has recently been referred to bv Police
superintendent Matsell In Q communication
to the Police Commissioners. 1t Ia noto-
r1ous that goods In transit from one
part OF the harbor to another are generally
reported short at the point OF delivery. A bag OF
coffee is missing, and nobody knows what has be-
come OF It; or half dozen or more pigs OF iron,
lead tin, slabs OF spelter or ingots OF copper have
mysteriously disappeared, to the intense astonish
ment Of those IN charge OF them. Dock thieves
and "water rats" are charged with having stolen
them, anu no doubt, often with perfect truth; but
II Is evident that there must have been lack OF
vigilance on the part OF those to whom
the goods were intrusted which almost
amounts to crime, or else their ignorance OF what
has become OF the missing articles is a pretence.
II Is By no means an uncommon occurrence on our
rivers at night for o boat, manned by q crew OF
river thieves, to pull up alongside lighter making
its slow way across the harbor, and to have the
master OF the lighter addressed. "Halloa. Capi
Sometimes the Captain may have something that
he can protably transfer to the smaller craft and
OF course although he may not be able tell what
has become Off, or where it has been disposed OF,
he will, without doubt, know where to find his
share OF whatever has been got for II. These river
pirates are well organized, and conduct their me-
farlous work with considerable skill and with an
audactty which can only come from conscious.
ness OF power TO escape punishment. they are
RARELY CAUGHT AND SELDOM PUNISHED.
SO long as they refrain rom outrageous assaults
upon the persons OF those who may resist them
to Ever to ts Goods
Iaey carry OF on or account Of their nature
on them SO easily effaced that after they have
passed through the hands OF the thieves or the
der It Is difficult to swear TO their ldentlty. The
same holds good IN regard to other articles which
1c.. boxes of irur. bags Of cotfee and nseed and
whatever else they can conveniently seize. The
d,sgraceinl, rotten wooden piers at which nearly
load give TO this community Of scoundrels most
ample facilities for pursuing their work. Goods
scarcely ever safe from their depredations
In the evening they will note the position
when the tide serves them, they win steal up in
their boats alongside, ana when the watchman's
PACK Is M turned @ transfer the goods on board ana
same sam! point n,. az again they may nave a load. To
DISAPPEARED IN THE DARKNESS.
interiered Nv, with II, before they have got what
though they rarely use firearms, they have habit
OF throwing stones at their assallants which is
they win not stop short even at murder When
they are likely to be frustrated in their designs.
s when On they DO not consider It s 70
It, and having accurately noted the position
beforehand OF lot OF coffee in bags, or hogshead
the woodwork OF the pier into the c0fYee, or what
ever they are In search Of and the article runs
IT is received in appropriate vessels. Tue TACT tnat
this community Of thieves, pirates and murderers
sans to
grimes; that tney are daily and nightly pursuing
their atrocous @ vocation, and tina. no Organized
TO justice, or to break up their system OF
plunoer, Is disgrace TO our city Masters OF mer-
ing that there IS more stealing done during the
delivery of cargo in New York than at any other
heard to say that they would never take charter
for New York Il they could get one Tor any other
port, because, what with narbor dues and stealing
trip were sure to be almost entirely swa allowed up.
The municipal authorities owe it to themselves
and TO the good name OF the commercial metrop-
oils OF this Continent TO make an end OF
THIS DISGRACE TO OUR CITY.
But how Tne question has been asked OF mer-
chants, shpowners. superintendents OF wharves,
weighmaSterS, Custom House officers and masters
OF vessels. and the answer from them all has been
slngularly uniform, and may be stated tnus:-"We
can see no hope OF curing tns evi except by either
abolishing the ordinary junk shops altogether or
the proprietors under such heavy bonds and un-
tagging police supervision as viii compel Them
goods sass' wnshs Ss sSeS arg
stolen or not" The testimony Of all
who have been 9nsra on the subject
class Of dealers who habisualy Duy from the DOCK
and river thieves whatever they may bring TO
them provided they get the goods cheap enough,
dealers who ask no inconvenient questions, and
who are base and unscrupulous enough to become,
In o sense, the partners oil these midnight ma
RAIDERS there would be little encouragement lor
the thieves to pursue their infamous traffic, aud
Se dnr 6 asr raas rous 81 as the
render the business more dlfticult than profta.
BILE. 1t is openly asserted tnat there are
Identified in their operations with the gangs OF
thieves who prowl around the wharves that they
buy not only what the wharf rats bring them, but
furnish boats ana outfits to enable the pirates to
carry on their predatory excursions with EN-
cheney and safety; they thus virtually hire the
ot the stolen goods. Nor do the thieves who sup
ply the junk stores with such proportion OF their
Shipping. but they loaf around ioundries, ma
chine shops ana factories, picking. up scraps
o. ron orass asa oIael aea anc
make OF with pig OF tin, or lead or q slab or
spelter. They also find or orce an entrance into
unfinished buildings and unoccuped dwelling
houses tear out the plumbing work and the gas
pipes and carry them all TO the junk dealer. who
buys everything OrOuRut W Hlul, 'dSklHS no ques-
tiOns iOr conscience sake"
HE MAKES A GOOD PROFIT
on his purchases and feels secure, because old
metals and such other goods as are picked up
about town are OF little intrinsic value, aud being
stolen In small lots at q time do not attract mucn
attention, while the owner can scarcely ever
prove his PROPERTY Canal boatmen frequently
take from the cargo they have IN charge pig OF
lead or iron and sell 1t at the nearest junk snop
for such sums as they need to delray what
ever current expenses their thirst or
hunger may prompt Dishonest cartmen
porters and others also 6nd the dealer IN Junk
convenient friend. The typical Junk dealer Is q
dangerous member OF society. lie either directly
encourages stealing by acting in colluslon with
thieves and robbers, or indirectly. by blying what
ever Is brought to him without making inquiry as
to It's ownership. Although junk shop Is popu-
larry supposed TO be sort Of receptacle for the
used up worn out and partially destroyed pro-
ducts ol human Industry. where rays and rnnes.