Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-06

G FOR RIVER THIEVES.
a Boat Along the wh.rves

CREEP Boat Along the WharTes
al Tiers of New York City.
It was poor night for river thieves to be
abroad. They generally come out when fog
and rain and mist are thickest. Jose and
Cregan bent to their oars with short arm
and shoulder stroke, the kind that would
drive Bob Cook wild, but is the best in the
world for this kind Of work Past the silent
colony of canal boats off Jeanette park the
boat shot along awhile, then halted.
Slowly and silently the men padded close
to the outer edge of the feet. On one of tho
furthest boats could be seen man handling
a long hawser. They watched him, satisfied
themselves that he was all right, then rowed
away. They crept closely to the edges OF tho
wherves and piers, hiding in the friendly
shadows SO as to spring out unexpectedly on
any crooked work that might be going on.
They rowed among the fishing smackS at
Fulton Market basin. Baskets, coils of rope
and hawsers lay around in the bright moon
light. Not q soul was On guard. 1t seemed
strange that none of the gangs came around
to steal until you remembered the constant
fear they are il OF the harbor police. The
river was as quiet as q country graveyard on
q stormy winter day. A Catherine ferry
boat stole with noiseless wheel out of her
slip. Not even the warning whistle was
sounded as she silently started out.
Into the basin between the twin "Dover
docks crcpt the police boat. Giant floats
laden with freight cars rose and fell slowly
with the tide, ike sea monsters asleep A
sh2nty on a small float was visited. There
wasn't a sign Of life about it. "Old Mo
Donald isn't doing any work tonight" said
one. Hes a 'speculator,' and sometimes
people come here TO sell him things between
midnight and daylight" McDonald's dumpy
looking rowboats were moored close by.
They bobbed up and down and made queer
noises when the little waves broke On their
sides as if they were guying the officers for
not finding any one to arrest.
Foul, pungent and mysterious low tide
odors suggestive OF old, dank tombs, hoated
cut from under the pier. Slowly the men
rowed their boat up between the Shiny, gray
timbers Jose flashed the light through the
dim recesses and scanned every Granny with
care Sometimes they hide boa. or two
in there with nice little jag of sugar." he
said, end snake II out lively when they
think we're not looking" There was nothing
to be seen this time, though Up past the
bridge the boat SKINNED, each man keeping
his weather eye lifting" for amphibious
crooks. The vast roadway in the air hung far
aloft, like some fairy creation of silver Its
stout cables and heavy guy ropes looked like
unsubstantial cobwebs from the river
Through and under all the open piers tho
police boat threaded its way. Ships and
barks and brigs lay at their moorings on
every hand with not man on guard on
their decks. And whyi Because ship cap
tains in this port know that river piracy is
thing Of the past. The harbor police and
Recorder SInythe have made this charming
style of crime so costly that the tough gen.
tlemen who We're addicted to it have sworn off.
In the past three years the remainder Of the
once active gangs that infested this city have
been sentenced to some 100 years imprison-
Inent in Sing Sing. The Border Gang" or
Hook Gang" used to operate from under the
long wharf at Corlear's Hook They are all
gone now.-New York World.