River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-11-02
loNpoN's DOG THIEVES.
Headquarters at Which These Gentr
NinhtIv ConRrerates

Headquarters at which These Gentry
Nightly Congregate.
Once in my life consorted with pro-
tessional dog thieves says writer.
wish it 70 be distinctly understood that
never stole dog, although ! am free
TO confess that | have been tempted,
and have told the story of how ON one
occasion a dog stole me. But to re-
turn to my thieves In the northern
part Of London. which you will reach
by passing through Fetter and Leather
lanes continuing pas. the quaint Italian
Quarter with its cathedral, the interior
of which is beautiful. although the
building is but crude externally, you
will find yourself In close proximity 20
the rendezvous of the London dog
thieves. Near By is place called
Hockings-in-the-H Hole 1t is well named,
being situated in a decided hollow IN
one of the worst quarters of the great
city. Those in search of fine, creepy
feeling should visit it after nightfall. as
did. then found myself in the bar
Of q small, old-style public house of
very doubtful character, or perhaps
shall express myself better if i say that
its character was not at ali doubted.
was eyed curiously by the loungers as
l took some refreshment at the bar. l
then quietly gave the countersign 10
accordance with the Instructions with
which | had armed myself The pow
fal and heavy-neclxed publican changed
his demeanor at once, and ushered me
through a side door and up a creaky,
tortuous and dark staircase. At this
period the creepy feeling was at its
best-or worst. A door opened and we
entered long ROOM the ceiling Of
which was very low. Yellow gas jets
hickered here and there.
A curious sight met my gaze. The
room was full of men. three-fourths Of
whom held dogs Of every degree. The
men were mostly of an ,incouth descrip-
ton, clothed in great part in corduroy,
surmounted ~ith the conventional caps
that are worn by the London coster-
monger. They resembls IN general ap-
pearsnce the touts and welchers OF the
English race tracks Most of them
smoked short pipes. The dogs yelped
and whined amid the general hum of
Conversation that came through the
amber haze. My appearance excited
no comment, and for this reason; 1t is
quite a common thing for ''swells with
sporting blood in them" to drop in upon
these gentry and pick up good dog at
a nominal price. The morality OF the
proceeding is very questionable. but
the fact remains. Gin, the favOrite
drink with the low class of London,
was brought in 2 jug and served IN
small wine glasses. ! accepted the hos
pitality of my friends, the thieves, as
| saw at once that il was expected
Then J conversed with various mem
bers of the party concerning the points
of the CANNES in their possession.
They took my presence there as a mat
Ter of course and talked with perfect
candor Had been able to forget the
company was in, / might truthfully
record that ! spent a pleasant halt
hour at Hocl1ings-in-the Hole.
These men are not all thieves. Some
of them are dog brokers, who sell dogs
for others or pick up a bargain to sell
again. None of them openly admit
that they are professional thieves. al
though. Of course. il is understood per
fectlv. They find lost dogs or else
they are commissioned to sell dog
that belongs to friend. Not a small
part of their income is obtained through
receiving rewards offered for lost dogs
which they have been fortunate enough
TO find" During my visit 10 them
their demeanor was perfect They
might have been an assemblage Of
farmers at a cattle show.-DonahOe' g
Magazine.