Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-08-12
BOAT BURNERS CAUGHT.
The Men Who Fired the r. @.
Young Neatly Captured.

&Nsa1AS S'N0SfJ OeePooAOos
When the little river steamer II.
G. Young was burned few weeks
ago at Doves landing, short dis
tance above Salem, a slight rumor
was started that something might
prove to be wrong about it. lhe
boat was doing poor business; had
been sunk but short time before,
and was heavily insured; besides
owing $500 for her machinery to
the Salem Iron Works. Nothing
more was said or heard about the
matter, until few days ago re-
preventative of the Fireman's Fund
insurance company appeared from
San Francisco, ostensibly to settle
up the loss. The man was Thos.
Nc Carthy, and while he played the
part of an adjuster, was in reality a
detective employed by the under
writer's. He met the men Capt.
John Dove, David Young and G. A.
Pyburn at the Hotel Willamette
Wednesday evening, and after
taking their testimony stated blunt
ly that he believed some one bad
burned the boat, and that being the
case he proposed having thirty men
on grounds the next morning early,
to hunt for tools and other plunder
that the perpetrators must have
stolen and hid. He had already
located the tools and had a man on
the watch. His ruse worked, and
started the men post haste for the
spot to sink the tools in the river.
In the meantime Sheriff John
Knight and Deputy Sheriff Wright
man had gone to Doves landing by
way of Halls Ferry. The ferryman
was posted as to who would follow,
and helped the men by secreting
their horses and buggy. He took
them over the river and they went
afoot to the spot. Next Mr.. Nc
Carthy appeared at the ferry and
was treated likewise. Shortly after
appeared the three victims, when
the ferryman shouted out of his
chamber window, ferry your
selves" which they did. The three
men arrived at the clump of brush
where the tools were hid about half
an hour later. Dove remained in
the buggy, while his accomplices
went out to get the things. He was
Immediately covered, and was COM
PEELED to call to the other two:
Hurry up; come in quick" This
had the necessary effect and brought
them to the spot, where they were
arrested at once. The officers hand
cuffed the three together, and lodg-
ed them in the county Jail in Sa-
lem at $50 Thursday morning. The
sack of tools was also brought.
The men were not allowed to talk
enroute, and on arriving at Salem
were each put into a separate cell,
where they could not communicate.
1t was still believed that the boats
compass must be hid in the brush,
so Deputy Wrightman went out
yesterday, taking Pyburn along in
irons, and after long search found
it near where the other tools had
been hid. Thus the men are lodged,
and a good supply Of evidence to
convict them is secured.
On the day of the fire Kemp, the
boats engineer, was taken to the
logging camp up the river by Capt.
Dove, as he could not be trusted
with the scheme. Doves family al
so left the boat at this time, and be-
fore Dove returned the boat was
burnt, no one but Pyburn and
Young being present at the time.
Pyburn, the fireman, is believed
to be the man who struck the match
that made the fire that burnt The
hoat that caused the arrest that will
give Oregon three additional brick
makers.
District Attorney Mccain arrived
this afternoon from McMinnville,
and is in conference with his deputy
A. o. Condit aud Mr.. Mccarthy. A
preliminary examination will not
be held before tomorrow, but the
insurance company expects to push
the prosecution TO the end. On the
whole, this is the neatest and most
effective piece Of detective work
ever carried out in this section. 1t
without doubt confirms the ver-
diet of many citizens, and reflects
great credit npon the officers who