The New York herald., 1879-07-30
RIVER PIRATES FOILED.
Captain Somers Gives Three of the
Gang a Warm Reception.
SHOT THROUGH THE CABIN WINDOW.
Attempt to Rob the Schooner
William H. Van Name.

schooner
lam H. Van Name. was very much annoyed on
Monday by discovering that while the hands wero
employed in another part Of the vessel q thief had
sneaked into the cabin and stolen u coat Tho
people who work along shore here were not sur
prised. and informed the skipper that river thieves
infested that part OF the East River. which is
known as 'the Hook" and is in the inn
mediate vicinity of Grand street ferry. Tho
vessel was moored to the bulkhead between
piers 50 and SO. off Gouverneur slip. and laden
with petroleum and almost ready for She was
going to sail yesterday. AS he compelled to
main another night in the neghborhood Captain
Somers took out of locker ten bore fowling
piece, which had not been used for some time.
and loaded it with heavy charge Of
powder and several ounces of No. shot.
Then he won't to his stateroom in the
house art and left the weapon there till
n;ghtfal All hands went to bed early. and the
skipper sat up until midnight. Then he turned
into his bunk, but compelled to get up again.
the night being too hot to let him sleep in the
little apartment So he dragged his mattress
out on the cabin floor and. leaving his stateroom
door open. placed the fowling piece beside him aud
settled himself for good sleep.
WIDE AWAKE FOR INTRUDERs.
He suffered very much from the heat even In his
moro roomy position. and tossed from side to side.
While in this nervous condition he heard q foot
fall on deck and listened. Presently q noise as Of
somebody stepping off the rail convinced him that
strangers were board. Straining his sense Of
hearing, and keenly alive to the slightest
sound, he sat up and waited. There was
overhead stealthily. as if fearful of arousing
the crew. Captain Somers satisfied they were
thieves In an instant he grasped the old fowling
piece and cooked it. Still he undecided how to
act lie knew tho intruders were on the after part
of the deck but they had ceased to about. and
oud not tell just where they might be- He did not
dare to go up the companion way lest they should
confront and overpower him there: and he could
not alarm the crew. who slept forward. He had
to wait for them. few minutes, which seemed
like hours. elapsed ere any sign was made Nv the
marauders again. When next he heard them they
were cropping and shutiing near the binnacle. few
moments later they had light the rays OF which
shot along the fife rail Of the main rigging and were
plainly visible in the gangways running between
the bulwarks and tho sides of the cabin. Captain
Somers was on the alert and cutched his piece more
resoluely. He arose and stole toward the window
OF his stateroo which looks out directly on the gang
way where the men were standing: He had just
time to notice that there were three OF them when
movement in his direction caused him to withdraw
to the cabin again.
A WARM RECEPTION.
Stern and silent he stood in the centre of tho
apartment with the hrearm ready and his eyes fixed
Oh the window toward which the fellows were evi-
IDENTIFY coming. There was halt without followed
by fcw seconds pause. during which the CAPTAIN
could distinctly hear the mutterings and whisper
what they said. Presently a man approached the
window. and the light shone directly ON 1t. Then
another appeared, and with jimmy wrenched q bar
from its socket outside. He in the act Of break
ing another when the Captain raised the gum and
fred. The report was deafening. and the cabin was
filled with smoke. Stunned aud blinded. Captain
Somers rooted the spot whence he had shot fo1
several minutes. Gradually he recovered his hearing.
and heard moaning and struggling on deck. He knew
that the soands did not indicate contest. but
rather the effort to remove heavy body. Therefore
he did not like to go out and follow up his assault
n tha mi ira atess n e.
later he heard the footfalls of his crew hurrying
att he hastened to the spot where the robbers had
stood and found that they had escaped. Lights
procured and traces of blood were found.
Indeed. the deck and paintwork spattered. and
rail which tho wounded man and those
who aided him succeeded In getting ashore.
The hustle and excitement on the little schooner
aroused the watchman at the icehOuse on the dock
and the shipkeeper OF the Grace Andrews ncar by.
They hastened ON board tho Van Name and heard
the Captains story. Then it WAS discovered that
the lamp used by the pirates had been taken from
the binnacle where it Is used at night to illuminate
the compass for the helmsman. The watchman.
Thomas Mcguire. informed the Captain that immc-
diately after the report he saw two men running
away and one OF them said to the other. Are
you shot. PatsyY' The others reply was made
when Mcguire was out of hearing. officers Nc
Sherry and Looney were summoned by Captain
the two men rs Fetched" Caldon and Henry Con.
roy. notorious members Of the Border Gang. After
another search for traces Of the thieves which
resulted in the discovery OF piece OF human flesh
backened and charred by tho discharge. the police
officers questioned Mcguire more fully and learned
beyond doubt that Conroy and Caldon were OF
the party. 1t about four o'clock in tho
morning and the officers determined to arrest both
the men. who. they know. had ''done time IN Statp
Prison Csldons residence was frst visited 1t ~
ut No. 43 Scammell street. tencincnt house. In
which the man lived with his mother and sisters.
McSherry went up stairs. raped ut the door. was
admitted, and, finding Caldon In bed with hte
trowsers and shirt on. ieigning sleep. touched
wanted" Affecting surprise and indignation CaL
don and amid the lamentations OF his family.
Attorney and Deaicey street. He was arraigned II
the DESK gave his age twenty-five. his occupation
that of laborer. and was taken down stars to
secure cell. Henry Conroy. aged twenty four was
arrested in like manner by the same officers at No.
AZ Rutgers street. But as neither was hurt and
nothing suspicious was discovered about tho men
except blood stain on Conroys shirt, for which he
could account little hope of hndnt
sufficient evidence TO connect thcm with the ut.
tempted piracy WAS entertained.
THE WOUNDED MAN DISCOVERED.
Satisfied that the who shot had been
seriously wounded, tn. officers searched the neigh.
borhood for some Glow to what had become OF HIM.
After long and weary search the officers learned THAI
n person known "bum" Moran had been brought
homo the previous night to his mothers residence
in Cherry street. dangerously wounded and that he
had been removed. by advice of tho doctors who
visited him. to st. Vincent's Hospital. in Fifth
street. Thithcr went McSherry and his partner and
wore informed by the good Sisters. who minister
to the unfortunates in the institution, that the young
man told them he had shot himself accidentally
end up stairs in one Of the wards. Tns
policemen went quietly to the room, recognized him
ns n bad character and one who had been on the
island. and reported the to Captain Copeland.
who put Officer Johnson in the builaing to watch ths
man. but to say nothing to him about his escapade.
After nine o'clock last night HERALD reporter was
permitted to converse with Moran by the sister in
charge. The room IN which he rests was dimly
lighted and the beds occupied by suffering men
and boys. Seated beside tho object or his inquiry
the REPORTER had u brief conversation with him.
Moran, who is slender youth. was evidently weak
and frightened.
"In the knee" he replied.
'No. but in what localityr
.On board o schooner ut pier 81. East River. I
went there last night to got boat that q boy had
stolen and while was leaning over the rail fellow
shot me with gun. . aodl Thought was blown
to pieccs My Knee Is ali shattered that is all
ccpt the bone. Sayp What that police officer
doing heroy Watching me? Did steal or go aboard
to rob. No, sir I'm u painter by trade. but I'm
out of work. Say! Can't something DO done to that
fellow for shooting Inc ?'
In reply to further questions Moran, who Is only
nineteen years old, SAID he had beon ON the island
for assault and battery. that he knew Conroy and
Caldon; had been with them early in the evening.
but was not with them board tho schooner.