Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-29
a CURIOUS TRADE.
Graphing for Valuablcs-Somc OF
the Things that are Brought so
the Surface.

Graphing for Valuablcs-somc OF
the Things that are Brought Io
the Surface.
the New York Sun publishes the following
interview: Eyes. SIR. I'm q grspper and
searcher for lost valtlables. and though perhaps
shouldn't say It, no man about the haroor Is
as sure or nnding ring, watch care bofy,
biiiiaTd table, plano. or anything else that lies
a. lae pouom or the river as am. For why:
simply because I'm the son of Henry Lines
DGrg who was for fifty years acknoyledypd 10
De the best wrecker, grappler and searcher In
A tanre s, Ny father dug all the East river
that was sunk of Whitmore's stores. recovered
no ED or anchors that were supposed 10 be
lost; made $50 an hour for twenty hours at a
slretch oy nshlng up eighty-four iron plates.
for the first iron monitor by Delamater aud
died iamented by many. lie had an ancient
head, he had-an ancient head. I'm his son.
Mr.. LineSburg paused 10 get a light from the
stove OF his small shop In Hillary street. Brook
lyn, where he was talking with the reporter.
and then leaned back In his chair with the ex-
preston OF man who has thoroughly defined
his social status and feels that II is unimpeaen-
able. He Is rather small but sinewy and tough
10 appearance, and he speaks deliberately aud
quietly, and looks directly In the eye OF person
VIII speaking. Not an old man by any means,
but ole whose life has been one OF exposure
and hard work from childhood.
I've been in the profession OF grapplin' since
qn ne sS9n
twenty years. You've heard OF my skill. Ii
am Skill so much as Ills knowledge. You may
mink IL strange, but know every hole crew
lc', rock or notch in the bottom OF tue East
river frem Corlears Hook to the Battery, an
along the Hudson to Spuyten Duyvil creek II
you crop a cent piece overheard l II find it for
yor; nkt wise an anchor"
You n ust have brought some queer thincs
20 ilght ID your time"
Must |? True. 1 must have. good
many years ago Capt ain Jacobs OF the second
prt cinct, notified me to come an see MIN.
.Linesburg,' he SEE, look for stin' "a mys-
terry, SCI l. bed mystery says he. j began
found coffee bag at the foot Of Little street,
Brooklyn. In the coffee bag was the right leg
and thigh OF woman, She had been quar-
tered. aud found one quarter That was all
It's mystery yet and have no more idea OF
Its solution than a babe unborn. Nor do /
know how Captain Jacobs came by the infor-
nation that made him set me on the search.
The other three quarters were never found.
were nowhere in the hareor."
mo, they mightnt be In the haroor. Tor
locked. That settles It. My father (now dead)
once found box OF complete burglar tools In
the New York slip OF theFulton Ferry, and you
may take my word for 1t they were beauties
never saw more elegant and finished kit In
my life. The find created a big excitement
among the police at the time, as &c was hoped
that II would lead TO the conviction OF a gang
OF burglars that crossed the ferry the night be
u
"fve picked up more women along the river
tnan you can shake stick at Looking TOR a
diamond ring that some lady had dropped over
beard, and find some lady that a ring had-or
no-that won't TWIST exactly-Dut I've found -
awful sight OF females In this Old harbor. ThH
Kinder take TO the water, you know. and when
find one tow II gently to dock and tie it
fast. and then notify the police. The police
take her 10 the Morgue. she is buried In Pot
ter Field, and there's an eEi OF &c. Lord. what
books and books OF mysteries"
. How do you fiHd the smaller articles?n
" Several days ago a we'll known merchant In
Fulton street, Brooklyn, named Jewell, fell
over the for'ard chain OF Catharine ferry DO n.
AS be fell, his watch, which was very valuable,
jumped from his pocket, the turquoise shell
chain broke, and the watch rolled into the river.
I! went down TO the slip In a rowboat and
dropped a pair of tongS twenty-six feet long
into hole happened TO know near the end OF
The pier and fished up the watch clapped tt into
sweet Oil, and sent IL back TO It's owner. The
tongs are Just like oyster grapplers. only finer,
and | knew the tide swept all heavy articles
into that hole when the ebb set In"