The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-03-19

A CURIOUS TRADE.
hor v.I..bIss-some Of the
Thfn9s Thae are Broaaht 70 the surface.
A New York paper prints the follow
inc interview With q man who makes
living by 9rappling for valuables in the
East river:
eyes, sir, I'm . grappler and searcher
for lost valuables, and though perhaps
shouldn't say it, no man about the
harbor is az sure Of finding ring,
watch. cane, body, billiard table, piano
or ANYTHING else that lies at the bottom
Of the river as am. For whyp Simply
because I'm the son Of Henry Linesbnrg;
who was for fifty years acknowledged
searcher in America. Ny father dug
ali the East river ferry slips; raised
SO. 600 bars Of railroad iron that was
sunk off Whitmore's stores; recovered
no end of anchors that were supposed
to he lost: made $50 an hour for twenty
hours at stretch by fishing up eighty
four iron plates, weighing |, 400 pounds
each. that were made for the first iron
monitor by Delamater, and dled ia
mented by many. He had an ancient
head, he had-an ancient head. I'm
his SON." IT..
Mr.. Linesburg paused to get q light i
from the stove Of his small shop IN Ill
larry street, Brooklyn, where ne was
talking with the reporter, and tnen
leaned back in his chair with the e3-
preston of man who had thorougniy
defined his social status and reefs that u
is unimpeachable. He is rather small
but sinewy and tough IN appea .,;atIs
and speaks deliberately and quietly,
and looks directly in the eye of person
when speaking. Not an old man by any
means. but one whose life has been one
IF exposure and hard work from child
hood.
"I' We been in the profession OF CRAP
plin' since was a wee skid under my
father." he continued, can have been
in the business myself for twenty years;
You've heard of my skill. 1t amt skill
80 much as tits knowledge. You may
think it strange, but know every hole,
crevice. rock or notch in the bottom OF
the East river from Corlear's hook to
the Battery, an along the Hudson to
Spuyten Duyvil creek. II You drop q
three-cent piece overheard I II find it Tor
you; likewise an anchor
"You must have brought some queer
things to light in your time"
Must IF True, I must. l have
A good many years ago Captain jacobs
of the Second precinct. notified me te
come and see.him. Linesburg, he SEE
slook for q Stiff "A mystery SEE
'Ded mystery, says he. I began mex
, day at dawn, an within three bours
found a coffee bag at the foot of Little
street, Brooklyn. In the coffee bag wa
the right leg and thigh of woman: Sh'
had been quartered, ard ! found ON
! quarter. That was ali. It's a myster.
vet, and have no more idea OF its SO
luton than babe unborn. Nor do
know how Captain Jacobs came by ID
! information that made him set me o.
the search. The other three-quarter
+; were never found. They must hav
! been burned or buried. for they wer
nowhere in the harbor."
! 'sMight-"
"No, they mightn't be in the harbo1
q for looked. That settles it MY fathe
Z (now dead) once found box OF com
plete burglars tools in the New LOT
slip of the Fulton ferry, and you ma
take my word for it they were Deantles
| i $1,000
If kit in nv life. The find created bi
l. excitement among the police at th
d time. az it was hoped that it would lea
ot to the conviction Of gang OF burglar
Ee that bad crossed the ferry the night b
is fore. It didn't. It was only myster
l. Give picked up more women alol
n the river than you can shake SLICK
N Looking for diamond ring that son
ladv had dropped overheard, and BIZ
of some lady that ring had-or no-tn
re won't twist exactly-buG I've found
n. awful sight of females in this old ha
ce Dor. They kinder take to the wate
o. Won know. and when I find one / tow
n gently to q dock and tie it fast, al
gs then notify the police. The police ia
a her to the morgue, she is Duried IN Il
On tiers Field. and there's an end OF
tst Lord. what books and books OF m!
n. teries." ;,
"How do you find the small
20 articles?''
r, "Several days ago a wen-knov
let merchant in Fulton street, Brookl1
I'll named Jewell, fell over the forws
mt chain of Catharine ferry boat. AS
of fell, his watch, which was very va
Of able, jumped from his pocket. the t,
or ouoise shell chain broke and the wat
le- rolled into the river. Invent down
IN the slip in a rowboat and droppe.t
Ike pair of tongs twenty.six feet long int
oW hole / happened to know near the
Y" of the pier, and fished up the wat
clapped it into sweet oil, and sen.
Sc back 10 its owner. The tongs are
Wo like oyster grapplers, only finer, an
Tie knew the tide swept all heavy artle
er, into chat hole when the ebb set In"
'est
or