The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-21
ATEARFUL BAND VI ROBBERS
FIVE OF THEM UR '.,fsED IN A CAVE
BY LONG IIAN CfTY POLICE

The Oldest wn "a cen, and All Were Glad
to he Sentei eed o Return 70 s,chool-The
Long leland n abroad tho Chief Sufferer.
Juvenile bandits with secret caves are be-
coming common In Long Island City. "A week
ago band was discovered who had two caves
besides the room OF pleasure club in which
to hide and secrete their booty. Four OF this
band were taken into custody and three arc
now In tho county jail.
Yesterday another cave was discovered, and
five urchins were captured inside This cavo
Is In Van Alst avenue back Of the Long Island
Railroad tracks ut tho foot OF Sixth street.
There is n hill here, half OF which had been cut
OF and carted away for filing. It was In the
perpendicular side Of tho remaining half OF
this hill that the cave was found. The Long
Island Railroad side tracks Its coal cars here.
and for months coal has been pilfered from
different cars In small quantities.
Finally Detective Searvis OF the railroad
company surprised schoolboys carrying of
the coal to the embankment short distance
away. where thoy disappeared through a
small hole In the ground.
The Long Island City police were notified.
and yesterday morning Sergeant Roulette.
with Policemen Cameron and Dunn and De-
tectives, Searyis and Har OF the railroad CON-
commanded, view OF the place. and awaited
developments. Sergeant Roulette says the
boys cam came in small groups to the place and
IN the mysterious hole in the side Of the hill
About school time the place swarmed with ac-
ing coal from the cars and carrying it 10 the
hole In the hill. Several other boys were bent
on Catching tive small mall pigs which hapessy
There were SO many boys, Sergeant Roulette
says. that he dared not move for fear Of dis
chase Of the pig and in gathering coaI two q
the policemen crept over the back OF the hill
them were caught in the hole. which turned
The entrance was SO small that the police
couldn't get in. They were afraid to tear the 1
the set n 70 so sns II
were scHeoiboys. they were taken in alb a bunch
to the police station. -
faced police sergeant not one Of them wanted
70 be bandit and all were in tears They gave
old. Of % Prospect street. Dutch Kills: William
Hanning. II years old, Of Jackson avenue:
and JOHN Read Il Years %. DID, 81 E9
nue.: They were all accused OF disorderly con- |
%en shsdiseb eol ae
5acE to School They were lectured and dis
,troyed the cave It was strongly made. and
{ was more than an hours work to demol- |
,arth back into the steep hill about feet long,
feet vide, and feet high. They then board
The roof was made Of sheet Iron. covered with
,ilcloth. Dirt had been piled ON tho roof until /
came up even, with the hill
70 that the place was almost hidden |
rom view. One could walk over It and never
Inspect the existence OF q cave beneath. A
,iece of canvas served as a screen ut the mar
ow entrance. and the boys had to get down on
ii tours to crawl in and out
The floor was boarded. and in one corner a
orty- eight-gallon milk can. with the bottom
nocked out. did service as q stove. There was
bright fire blazing in It when tho raid was
made.
In q corner were bags filled with husks.
'hich apparently had served as beds.
seth and growled at the invading policemen.
big pile Of coal In the rear OF the place show
d that the boys had been laying in q stock for