The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-02-01
New York,s River Thieves.


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New YOrk's River Thieves.
New York has q large number of pro-
fessional thieves, many OF whom ap-
parently lead an honest life and are not
known as dishonest members of society
except to small circle of friends.
Chief among the class referred to, says
q metropolitan paper, are river thieves
or pirates, all of whom at some period
of their lives learned the art of hand
ling an oar either as an accomplishment
or in the line of duty. If one of these
should be found basking in the sum
light and mentally mapping out his
duties for the night, he could easily
plead that he was an honest man out of
employment. Groups of these fellows
can be seen lounging around the Erie
basin in the daytime, playing cards or
gazing at the vessels at anchor. AS a
rule these men are rough-looking fell
lows, although many appear honest
enough. Some of them live in tene-
ment houses in New York or Brooklyn,
and have good regulations not only
among their neighbors but also in their
own families. Many are young men,
the sons of honest parents with whom
they live. Each one knows how to dis
pose of the articles which find their way
into his possession. There are num-
Der OF persons who make money by buy
ing stolen goods from river pirates.
The junkmen, at best, are regarded
with suspicion. Some of them, beside
purchasing Junk from the masters OF
vessels, will steal whatever they can
lay their hands on. If boy or an ap'
prentice should be found alone on q
vessel the iunkman will offer him a
trifing sum for some OF the gear OF
stores Watchmen on vessels at anchor
in the stream are sometimes in collu-
sion with the junkmen, by whom they
are well paid. According to the genu
inc boatmen, such as those at the Bat
terry, the Junk business, although it il
licensed by the authorities, is dishonest
and the men who follow it should bt
classed as pirates.
On dark nights the watchmen of tht
vessels at anchor in the bay are told tt
keep sharp lookout. Every approach
ing small boat is viewed with suspicion
If the latter should be hailed and shoulC
| fail to answer, but row hastily away
the watchman can feel himself free #
7 fire at the retreating boat without being
3 called to account for his conduct
There are usually two or three pistol
t in the cabin of vessel, and crew
e when warned, is able to repel boatloa
t of river pirates, or at least to al ac
e the attention of the vessels III th
o neighborhood. Consequently tn
! pirates have to proceed with gres
It caution. They usually select a dar
y night for making an attack on vesst
n at anchor If it is summer they ger
s orally pass themselves as honest worl
men enjoying a quiet row, but if it
d winter they on their dishonest mil
a sion with the expectation of meetin
g with danger. If the captain of
% schooner anchored in the bay is know
)r to have money in his possession tn
v pirates are apt to select that vessel.
le When trade is brisk and quantiti'
t, of rum, molasses or other liquids al
rs left on the piers, the river pirates 70
'e in under the docks and bore hol'
Of through the planks in the flooring an
ID into the hogsheads above. The hqui
h pours through the holes and is caugl
it by the men in the boat below. o.
night in the spring of 1880 boat co
~ tanning four river pirates approached
I'd feet of coastinR schooners anchored
" Flushing bay. But the alarm was giv'
er in time and the crews were prepared
le defend themselves. One of the pirlt
re in endeavoring to escape fell overboa
le and was drowned. Several of the Gre
re in the neighborhood we're aroused al
as the three remaining pirates were caug
II. and were arraigned before the eutho
in ties next morning. In day or two t
of trio were "railroaded to Sing Sing
u This proved a wholesome lesson, a
n for some time afterward no attack "
ly made on a vessel at anchor. The
ed have been number of cases of col
so sion between dishonest dock watchm
he and river pirates. The former "
no until the coast is clear and then g.
he their confederates the signal to
Ter proach and begin operations, while th
nd mount guard and stand in readiness
lr- give them warning of the approach
IN any one But for the watchmen on
an vessels the river pirates would come
board and cut all the ropes below
re- Delaying pins and carry them of.
sre "