Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-02
BROKE UP THE GANG.
Pegleg Collins Makes a Confession
to Fish Warden Hague.
MANY FARMERS ARE IMPLICATED.
Another Successful Raid Is Made Up the
Allegheny Valley.
INFORNATIONs TO BE MADE AT ONCE

"Pegleg" Collins, the alleged ringleader
of gang organized along the Allegheny
river to seine and catch fish illegally, is to
be arrested by Fish Warden ]. w. Hague
His arrest, it is thought, will break up the
organization and leave the river free.
Monday Mr. Hague and deputy made a
raid on Collins. He lives about two miles
above Freeport on the Allegheny river
His dwelling is a slab cabin 10x12 and
nearly concealed by the dropping leaves of a
great maple tree. Collins practically con-
trolled the river from Oil City to Acme
tonia-
''He had quite a number of people under
him" said Mr.. Hague, ''and on his list of
deputies could be found some of the most
prominent farmers of that county. With
Pegleg' as a leader they felt safe, and
openly boasted that no man would dare in
terfere with their chief 'Pegleg,' too, had
declared he would shoot the first man who
would try to put stop to his manner of
earning livelihood. q For a number of
years Collins and his gang have had full
sway. So well have they worked the river
that person with hook and line got but
few bites.
Pegleg Kept the Fancy Fish.
''The business was quite remunerative,
and the terms between the members of the
organization and its chief were decidedly in
favor of the leader. The farmers and the
lesser lights in the gang got the common
fish, while 'Pegleg' took charge of all the
game catches These he sold to parties
owning fishponds at good margin
The Fish Warden had been notified of
Collins depredations. and on several oc-
casions he had tried to get his hands on
him, but, as slippery as the fish he en-
shared, Collins eluded him each time. Mon
day Mr.. Hague's visit was unexpected to
"Pegleg," and when the raiders ar
rived at Collins shanty they found
him within. The reception re-
was not too cordial. When Mr. Hague
made known his business Collins acted very
ugly. Although the fellow has pegleg,
he is big and powerful man, weighing
over 200 pounds As Mr.. Hague told him
he was there to destroy his appliances for
illegally catching fish, the big 1ellow made
move toward his rife, which was hanging
on the wall. He was quickly interrupted
and forced to give up.
Hague Burned Up the Seine. !
On the wall was hanging a net over 60 |
wards long The Fish Warden asked him |
if it was his, and Collins replied that it |
was, but said he never used it. An exam
ination of the net proved the opposite Mr.
Hague took it from the wall and procuring
hatchet chopped the net into a hundred |
pieces He then built fire and burned
the thing.
BY this time 'tPegleg" saw he was get
ting the worst of it and commenced plead
ing for mercv. He confessed to having
been engaged in the seining business, but
promised that if he was not arrested he
would turn his labors in some other direc-
tlon. Collins house was searched, but no
other seines or tackle could be found. The
big fellow finally owned that he had other
nets, but they were now in the hands of
some OF the members of the gang, and Just
who had them he did not know. He gave
Mr.. Hague a list of all the people who
were engaged with him in illegal fish catch
ing and confessed to having some interests
along the Monongahela river.
Will Prosecute All the Members.
The Warden did not arrest him, but after
he came home he thought it would be bet
ter to do so and made information against
him. He thinks if Collins is arrested the
gang would be broken up. He intends,
however, to proceed against all the mem.
bers. There is a trammel net at Freeport
he has not gotten yet He expects to go
after it IN few DAYS. There is also a
seine at the soda works further down the
river he intends getting With all these
appliances out of the road the fair fisher
man will have good show.
The Warden was at Logansport on Mon
day also. Near there he found three-fun-
neled ive-hooped net hanging on the brush
drying He cut it down and burned it,
The net belonged to man named Miller,
but he could not be found He is mem
Der of ''Pegleg's" gang.