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

New YOrk's River Thieves.
New York has 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 a small circle of friends
Chief among the class referred to, says
a 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 sun-
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 ough-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-
ber 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 a
vessel the iunkman will offer him
trifiing sum for some of the gear or
stores. Watchmen on vessels at anchor
in the stream are sometimes in collu-
sion with the junkmen, by whom they
are we'll paid. According to the genu-
inc boatmen, such as those at the Bat
terry, the junk business, although it is
licensed by the authorities, is dishonest,
and the men who follow it should be
classed as pirates.
On dark nights the watchmen of the
vessels at anchor in the bay are told to
keep sharp lookout. Every approach
ing small boat is viewed with suspicion.
If the latter should be hailed and should
fail to answer, but row hastily away
the watchman can feel himself free to
fire at the retreating boat without being
called to account for his conduct.
There are usually two or three pistols
in the cabin of a vessel, and a crew,
when warned, is able to repel boatload
of river pirates, or at least to a. 'iact
the attention of the vessels IN the
neighborhood. Consequently the
pirates have to proceed with great
caution. They usually select dark
night for making an ATTACK on a vessel
at anchor. If it is summer they gen.
orally pass themselves as honest work
men enjoying a quiet row, but If it is
winter they g on their dishonest mis-
sion with the expectation of meeting
with danger. If the captain of a
schooner anchored in the bay is known
to have money in his possession the
pirates are apt to select that vessel.
When trade is brisk and quantities
of rum, molasses or other liquids are
left on the piers, the river pirates row
in under the docks and bore holes
through the planks in the flooring and
into the hogsheads above. The liquid
pours through the holes and is caught
by the men in the boat below. One
night in the spring of 1850 boat con
tanning four river pirates approached 6
feet of coastinR schooners anchored in
Flushing bay. But the alarm was giver
in time and the crews were prepared tC
defend themselves. One of the pir1teI
in endeavoring to escape fell overheard
and was drowned. Several of the crews
in the neighborhood we're aroused and
the three remaining pirates we're caugh
and were arraigned before the Guthori
ties next morning. In day or two tn,
trio were "railroaded to Sing Sing
This proved a wholesome lesson, anC
for some time afterward no attack wa
made on a vessel at anchor. Their
have been a number of cases of cOllu
sion between dishonest dock watchmel
and river pirates. The former wal
until the coast is clear and then Civ
their confederates the signal to ap
proach and begin operations, while the.
mount guard and stand in readiness t.
give them warning of the approach o
any one. But for the watchmen on tn
vessels the river pirates would come OF
board and cut all the ropes below th
Delaying pins and carry them of.
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