Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-10-22
Bold River Pirates.

river pirates have infested the North
river, Erie and Atlantic basin and the
old slips and piers fronting the Eas.
river. In New York at the time the
war broke ont cotton was king. Vessels
laden with these goods arrived with
large cargOes. At midnight boats with
mufiled oars, with three or four of a
crew, would leave JAY street dock and
with another boat in tow, row along
side of the schooner. The watchmau,
if he was not in collusion with the pi-
rates would be either knocked overheard
or gagged. The pirates would then
throw over bale or more of cotton,
fill their boats and row ashore. The
cotton would be slowed away under
the docks or at once removed to place
of concealment. At these times the
police and the pirates were in collu-
sion, and as long as the thieves were
known 10 the river police and paid
their allowances they were not mo-
Tested, but The gangs that did not pay
for the privilege of being permitted to
board and rob vessels were chased and
fired at by the river police boats, and
often captured. In the meantime the
cotton and rope, sugar, coffee, or what
ever goods had been procured by the
river raid the night previous were sold
To the numerous junk-shOps along the
East and North rivers. During the
day detectives would visit the junk
stores, receive i $50 bill or more from
the keepers of these fences and retire.
After the rObberies the owners and
Captains OF the vessels would seek the
police and inform them of the robber-
les, which were Uffrequent occurrence.
The police would pOunce upon some of
the thieves who did not pay for the
privilege, and they were arrested and
convicted because they dId not. MI
merous members OF the gangs of thieves
who infested the North river during
the war, 1851 10 1860, made from S2O,-
600 to SO 600. The river pirates flour
ished as long As they succeeded in car
ryfng on their nefarious calling. and
a long as their friends on the police
were in power or on the post. As soon
as a change was made IN the police,
and officers of the river squad detailed
that would not be bribed, numerous
arrests were made. The river pirates
had different modes OF robbing vessels.
The leader of the respectable gangs
would ship one of his members or Il
voss el To make the trip 10 Port Royal
Hilton Head or Ncwburn. y. c. On
Tie return of the vessel he would no.
;ifv his cOnfederates cn shore what
time to board the vessel. \ fleet of
boats would leave Franklin, Jay ana
North Moore streets, and reach the I.
VeSSe! by different routes The vessel I
would be boarded, and with the assis- .
tance of the man on board the boats .
would be filled with coffee, sugar, tea,
cotton, or whatever the cargo consisted T.
of. and taken ashore, and on the day
following disposed Of. The gangs on
the East river. also when afraid 10
openly hoard 4 vessel, adopted similar
ruscS. One Of the leaders of the North
river gang was Jack Clark. He was
weIl-known TO the police, and made
money by this business.
Pete Martin was another noted North
river pirate, and was arrested several
times for boarding vessels. OF late
years since the war, the river pirates
have become quite bold, and they do
not care what risks they run in order
10 carry out their plans. In fact,
many of the rObberies of the river pI-
rates of late years have been so auda-
cioUs that the river police have taken
effective measures for their capture.
Captain Reese, who commands coast
ing vessel, says: 1--WE cannot anchor
over night in the East river without
the probability of being boarded by
masked gang of pirates and robbed be-
fore daylight. Why THESE river thieves
of New y ork are becoming a bold and .
as desperate a Malay pirates" There |
seems to be a dread among all the Cap |
tains of vessels from the EGst and the /.
West abont lying over in New York, |
and any vessel with a valuable cargo |
has to be well guarded at night to pre- !
vent the incursious of these pirates who
InfeSt the river. Numerous devices
are adopted by the different gangs IN
order to rob the shipping. Jim Wat
son, dliJS Shorty, was one of the most
expert river thieves in the business.
He was associated with Jack O'BrieE,
Teddy O'Brien and Mike ToOle, Mike
Shanahan, better known To the pO-
lee as Big Mike, was the leader. This
gang piled their calling by boarding
the Havana and Mexican steamers.
Saanahan. for the past three years,
has planned numerous robberies on the
East and North rivers, and made a
large amount of money. Recently, he,
with a number of his gang, were con-
victed of piracy in Hudson county, y.
j. Shanahan, however, slipped his
hand-cuffs and and escaped. 1t is re-
ported that lie is now secreted AT Red
Hook. and that he has big gang OF
dcs yeradoeS under his control.