The New York herald., 1877-01-14
RIVER PIRACY SlMPLIFIED.

A
cEssIBLE TO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES RIVER
POLICE.
The Long Island shore, extending from the Hunters
Point Canal Bowery Bay, facing on tho East RIVER
including Ravenswood and Astoria, offers many admir-
able sites tor residences This fac! appreciated and
many geutleneA OF wealth have built handsome resi-
cnces along the coast which they inhabit not only as
summer resorts but dwellings 10 DO occupied during
the entire year.
With all the pleasant attributes Of the vicinity, It
cannot be denied that tho houses as they are now de.
iended are remarkably easy OF access by thieves from
the river or from the shore road Among the
numerous handsome abodcs along this shore those
OF Messrs. Sanford. Hitler, Comb, Langman. r. Free
man, Brooks, John G. Freeman, Luyster, wyIie, Wy
nants, Nelson, Harris Stevens Pnney. Blackwell aud
Halscy. The plots oi ground Oh which these and
other dwellings not named built, with possibly txo
or three border directly at the waters edge
and extend back tho road called Vernon which
is distance of at least 200 feet These lots vary In
width but all have considerable frontage the East
River. From the dwellings 10 tho water slope beautt.
iul lawns which are adorned with trees aud shrub
berry aud IN The summer season they present delight
fully picturesque appearances. Batthcsc same trees
and snrubbcry might furnish ample means Of conceal
ment TO II large number OF robbers who would find IL
necessary to steal way from boat on tho river
TO any OF tho houses, should II be necessary to
stealthy means in approaching tho dwelling, which
now all admit 1t Is not. The houses stand from sixty
10 ninety feet from the further from the
road than the river.
THE RIVER FRONT OPEN
AT tho foot Of the lawn. in a few Instances, arc
wooden fences ana several OF these are surinounted
with pckes OF the same material But the fences are
not built at the base OF every lawn; and even where
they are erected though they stand from siy to
,borN I'm lind ha py ynof
cncc, with the prospect OF rich ''crlb' ouy few
feet beyond and VIII anticipated interference until
the desired goal was reached would have no difficulty
Whatever scaling one OF them An alert ciiMber
could put himself from tho river bank between the
fence and the house In less than.sixiy seconds aud
where there IL no fence walk to the house is simple
enongh
Nearly all the families residing along this shore own
boats of some description aud have lighthouses along
the bank on top near the top of the river wall
(Which Is built OF sonc with flight Of stars leading
down 10 the water TO assist them In reaching their
vessels with facility man or pariy OF men landing
a. the foot Of these steps would encounter obstacle
to prevent their easy ascent the steps which
bring them into the boatbousc. Such plan OF action
conli he readily carried out at low waior when The
top of the river wall abou. eight feet from the
lace OF the water. AT high tide the steps would not
be required, the water is then only abopt two feet
IRON the top Of the wall
There is saying which gives people to understand
that there in locking doors to keep out rob
.avenswood carefully bolt and lock their doors and
windows retiring at night but, If the maxim be
houses ii they prevented from getting close
enough to IL. There doubt that crowd of ru-
ago. ana 1t is probably fair assumption that, II not
the party, another VIII endcavor 10 ROB some
other residence in tho Same noigborhood alter they
consider the little obstruction experienced by Party
No ! and the easy means OF escape from the shore
POLICE CORPS.
To ascertain something OF the police system or
Long Island CITY HERALD reporter called NJ the First
precinct station house, Police Headquarters at As
iorla yesterday, and learned from Sergeant Darcy,
" hO was
geant SAID that Long Island City embraced an area OF
Sounded on the south by Newiown Creek and on the
north by Bowcry Bay This district s divided into TWO
precincts, the FIRST extending IRON the Hunters
Point Canal TO Bowcry Bay, and IS probably 200 per
larger than the Second The entire CITY guarded
by one captain, two sergeants, two acting serseans
aud thirty men, seven OF whom are detailed 10. special
duty. No patrolman has post OF less than a mile
and quarter IN length, while several have beats OF
three miles patrol In the FIRST precinct tho first
post from the extreme northern portion Of the CITY,
runs west to Ncwtown avenue, one mile and hall.
The second post takes in Nam street TO Fulton ona
mile and u half The third post, where the rob
berries have been made, extends from Faton down
Vernon avenue TO Webster avenue mile and quarter
Tho fourth post from Webster avenue down Vernon
avenue, Tenth street, Hunters Point, taking Ia
the Ravenswcod shore'ro from Pot Cove TO the
northern extremity OF the city there IS no omccr.
but twelve regular patrolmen in the FIRST
precinct It wltnus be seen ha! the number Of po-
lcemen In the place Is laughably Inadequate TO
proper guarding OF tho peace
! Take, lor example, the vicinity OF Mr. Hillier's
! house The houses thereabout stand over 12j feet
from Vernon avenue. The officer duty that beat
has most OF nearly mile and half IN length Oh tho
avenue and not allowed 10 enter the gardens OF any
unless notices something suspicious
going In one OF them Assuming That he was pass.
ing Mr. Hillier's during the time that the masked
burglars ransacking the house. II highly prob
able that he would have seen nothing. beng so far
away. Even had shot been fired within the house.
shut up as II was doubtful that the report would
| have been heard the road 1t caunot be expected
| that policeman on Vernon avenue should see every
dInariiy dark night There are only a low places
whore the officer approaches the shore within 200 eet
There several small coves running into the snore,
and burglars In boat who were aware OF the move
mcnts OF the police could easily secrete themselves
until the patroman bad passed the place who're they
desired land To any ono visiting the shore II DC.
comes at once apparent that guard Is essential
| To protect the intercsts OF the residents.
LACK PROTECTION on THE RIVER
1T seems hardly possible that shore police could do
all that was required IKE that Of the attack
on Mr. H,ler's family. There Is no river police on
the Long Island coast, but Police Captain Woods Is
ardcnty advocating the Introduction Of one TO cruise
nlong the shores of Raycnswood and Astoria at least.
He says that only small boat Is required. say about
the size OF the launch used at the Hell Gate govern
mcnt works. but without 1t river pirates can come and
60 almost us they Please The New York police boat
Seneca which cruises the East River, has juris
dicton in Long Island. waters, and at present the
Long Island river trout IS literally unprotected.
The reporter few days ago. had u short con-
versation with Mr.. Richard Sanford, who resides IN
the next house to Mr.. Hitler when that gentlemen
admitted the houses along the shore very poorly
protected from thieves who came by the river he said
that the people IN The neghoorhooa had often talked
but did no more. He could not say what steps wouid
now be taken.
THE PRED0MINATING FEAR.
Perhaps fair illustration OF the effect that the con-
duct OF the masqueradng party has had ON The
people OF Astoria be had In old gentleman whom
the reporter passed after hc lett Mr. Sanioru's house,
The reporter was making his way, in tho face OF the
whstling east wind through tho driving, sieety
which was descending and being blown along a. u
piercing with hat well pulled down the eyes
TO keep 1t rmly on the head. and with overcoat closely
buttoned about tito cars when no hove sight OF the
old gentleman alluded to. Tho old gentleman, on
seeing stranger, sraspcd his umbrella tighter and;
the passed each other, the old gentleman eyed
the writer snsp'cIously, and brought the umbrella,
which the wind would not admit OF his spreading, up
against his shoulder, IT gun, and seemed to
Prepare lire the first evidence Of an attack. IL
occurred TO the reporter that the old gentleman had
lately been studying up the manual OF arms, In antci.
patton OF an atacK, and imagined that he held in his
hand newly purchased and already much used gun
when the rcportcr