The morning call., 1890-09-01
WHARF-RATS CAUGHT
Clever Capture by the Harb0r
Police Yesterday.
The Gang Break Into Two schooners, and
Among Other Things Steal safs-How
the Capture Was Effected

The HarbOr Police made a clever capture
of waterfront rats at an early hour yester-
day morning, which will probably have the
effect of breaking up notorious gang of
thieves who have for months past been COM
uniting depredations along the docks. AL
though they have been closely watched and
followed by the police they had so many
hiding places under the wharyes, so many
harbors OF refuge, and so many avenues of
escape, that their capture seemed almost an
imrossibility, and the police are highly
elated that some of the gang are at last in
the tolls. The gang knew the comings and
goings of the crews of every vessel mOored
at the docks, and wherever vessel was
known to have no one on board raid
was sure to be made on her.
Late on Saturday evening the captain of
the schooner Frank Lawrence, which is ~
ing at Howard-street wharf No. l, reported
at the South Harbor station that during the
absence of the crew, between 6 80 and II 80
o'clock, his craft had been burglarized. The
thieves had taken away everything they
could lay their hands on, including a guam
tity of clothing, a pair of marine glasses
and last, but not least, safe, weighing be-
tween 400 and 500 pounds. To get The lat
ter the bold thieves had rugged a derrick and
tackle, hoisted the safe out Of the cabin and
then lowered it into their boat.
GOING IN PURSUIT.
When the robbery was reported Patrol
Sergeant James w. Helms determined to
go at once in pursuit of the thieves. He
took with him officers Cullun and Feusier,
and the trio made tour of the wharves at
the south end. At one point they heard
voices under the dock On lying down and
placing his ear to space between the
planks Helms soon ascertained that the
voices emanated from some men in skff,
and that they were discussing the robbery
that had been reported short time before
at the station. He then knew he was on
the track of the thieves. The Sergeant
then sent Feusier on his beat, ard detailed
Cullum to go out on the bay in boat and
head them off if they pulled out from under
the wharves.
The skiff was moved along slowly under the
dock, and Helms followed it. being guided by
the voices OF those in it, All of a sudden the
skill shot out from under the wharf, and
Helms saw that there were five men in it. He
surnilsed that they were making for the Har-
rison-street steps, and making his waythere
quickly, he lay down to await developments.
lie was right in his conjecture, for he had
only been there few minutes when the Skiff
touched the steps, and big, tall young man
came up to the dock.
TIE OFFICER COVERED HIM.
AS his head appeared above the dock
Helms rose, and, covering him with his re-
volver, said, Stand STILL" The man did so.
and Helms placed him under arrest. Three
men were then in the skiff aud onother one
was mounting the steps. The men in the
boat, as soon as they saw the officer, Sprang
overheard ard swan away under the dock
and escaped. The man on the steps jumped
back into the skiff. The officer fred shot
into the water to intimidate him, and then
ordered him to come up on the dock.
The man did as he was told, and
Helms marched his two prisoners TO
the South Harbor Station. They gave their
names as Sands and Mofitt respectively.
Sands and MOtfitt are about is years of age.
They were both very stubborn, and no
amount of questioning could elicit any infor-
nation from them about their pals" Later
in the day they were taken to the Central
Station and their names placed on the small
book
THE CONTENTS OF THE sKIFF.
After the prisoners were locked up. the
officers visited the skiff and made quite a
haul In it were found new oyerc9at two
pairs Of marine glasses, some pairs of gum
boots, shoes, several suits of clothes, a guam
lot OF burglars tools, including three sledges,
q Jimmy s6illf drills s. bits aid dgdrs aud
coal chisel. The property was taken to the
station as evidence, and the skiff was hauled
up on the dock.
1t was afterwsrd ascertained that the
thieves had had two skiffs. The safe stolen
from the Lawrence was placed in one, and
by some mishap this was capslzed and the
safe sank in twenty feet of water. 1t has
been located. but it is not known if it con-
tanned anything of value. Tie upturned
skitf was found made fast to pile under
the wharf, and by Helms orders was scut-
tied and sunk. The officers found that the
three men who jumped overheard had
walked under the wharves and emerged
through hole in undergrad on Spear
street.
ANOTHER SCHOONER ROBBED.
Yesterday morning the officers ascertained
that the schooner Paul and WILLIE lying at
Folsom-street wharf had been burs!arized
during the preceding night and a number
of articles stolen. Some of the things were
among those found in the skiff Last even
ing officers Dillon and McGlynn found I'M
der one of the wIarves a large coil of brand
new manila rope that had been stolen from
the Paul and Willie.
The police think that large number of
robberies that have occurred recently on the
front can be traced to the prisoners, and will
spare no pains to get the whole gang behind
the bars.