New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-28

SEARCHING THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER.
TALK WITH AN OLD MAN WHO MADE HIS LIVING by
sFARCsING FOR ARTICLES LOST IN The RIVERS
AND FOR DROWNED PERSONS.
The first chapter in Dickens's novel "Our Mutual
Friend" presents to the reader the somDre picture
in the black waters of the Thames. in the pursuit OF
his chastity business. That man who has followed
a similar business that OF gfappier, dyer ase ana
vears lives within short distance from the Fulton
Jerry Brooklyn is probably known to few. At No.
SO Cranberry ST.. in small old-fashloned cottage
oo;nted white with green shutters and small pOr-
fIcO i'm 'front.' with green-panted lattice work, over
which an ivy trails its irregular course yes John
n Brewer who has been engaged IN the business
referred 10 for almost a lifetime A TRIBUNE re-
norter found the old man in the small courtyard
adjoining his humble home one day last week. All
the objects in the yard were strongly sugges'ye Oh
cared yawl occupied the greater part OF the little
enclosure, while one corner was taken up by
some chains and scraps. The only living occupant
of the yard at the time OF the reporters visit was
decrepit looking, white haired OLD man, engaged IN
tinkering at the old boat. He said he was John h.
brewer the person the reporter was In search of.
Being requested to give some "reminiscences OF his
career ID his peculiar trade, the Old man seated him.
self upou the gunwale of the boat, and gazing with
far-o look in his mild blue eyes at the worn sides
of what had been for many years tried and trusted
companion, said:
for over fifty years, for | began when was about
twenty. aud Pm nigh onto seventy-four now. was
born and brought up in this State and so were my
father and grandfather before me. Pm an
American to the, back bone; I've, done erappln'
and wreckin' in the East and North Rivers, in the
Long Island Sound at Sandy Hook and at He'll Gate
and have always succeeded in maxim pretty good
liyin out of it, tell yon. Eve raised thousands
O tons o. railroad iron. anchors, big and little.
chains cables besides c2nal-bOas, bodies, and rings
watches lockets and other jewelry One OF the best
Jobs Pye ever had. was durin' the war when the
Government was buildin' an irOn-clad at the Navy
Yard Eighty -four steel plates, each fourteen feet
iyn' near the dock. The weight was too much for
the old pier. and she broke down. sendi4 the
plates to the bottom OF the East River
They sent for me. and asked me to get the plates
for 'em said would, but wanted $40 for each
work. sWeil, Brewer, said the Csptin'. Il s'pose
it'll take you o couple o days to get one O. them
plates up! Days said j, Jest you come back in
an hour or an hour an half, an III show you some
thin'l He laughs kinder. and walks Oft thnkin' Pm
round them plates and when the captin' came back
l he'd three on the pier. Jest tell you he opened
"A canal boat full of coal laying in her dock got
and was sunk got the Job of liftn her and gettin'
out her cargo il possible II was mighty hard work,
but get her up did, and, by bucketsfull, every
pound of coal In her. I've done some treasure
too. Spanish brig dropped q Gag OF dollars that
she was takin' out TO South America overheard In
the harbor here, o good many yearsago. There was
q very strong tide runnin' OF the time. and the
divers that were sent after the Gag gave 1t up
rs bad Job. Somebody told the Spanish captin'
about my luck In tindin things and he sent for me-
He offered me $20o TO get up tnst Ssei went went
found It. But here was fix; the bottom Of the Gag
had fallen out and the dollars were strewed around
Il. Well, LEST went aboard ship again, got my