New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-12

LONG ISLAND SOUNDS FAMOUS BLACK
SLOOP" IN CUSTODY.
ONE OF HER CREW ARRESTED AND LOT OF
PLUMBER FOUND Oh BOARD - \ FULL
confession PROMISED.

ONE OF HER CREW ARRESTED AND A LOT OF
PLUMBER FOUND on BOARD A FULL
Confession PROMISED
The black boat. which has figured so promi-
nently in the recent robberies along the shores
IF the Sound is at last in the grasp Of the au-
thorities So is one Of her crew, and in addi-
ton. a large amount OF plunder. The capture
was made yesterday. and the history OF the
notorious craft will be made public to-day by
the man in custody.
The boat began operations early last summer.
Those who saw her described her as sloop OF
ab,u: twenty tons. Her hull was painted
black and she carried more sail than most boats
of her size and rig. They said there were
usually seven or eight men on her. and when
seen she was usually drifting slowly along. Once
or twice attempts were made to overtake her
- obtain closer view. but the crew would
hois, the wlle-sprcading sail. and easily slip
away from any sailing craft.
The stories about the boat came from almost
every point from City Island east to New-London,
Rye. Port Chester and the other villages in
Wcstchesfer reported the doings Of her crew.
Then she would be heard from along the Con-
necticut shores. Her visits to the Long Island
shore usually alternated with those To the north
shore. In every case "A robbery or two followed
her appearance in the waters OF any harbor.
Often as she was reported no one ever seemed
lucky enough to catch her. She had n habit OF
dropping into a bay after dark and then putting
10 the open again at or before sunrise. So II
was she was often seen but never captured.
For months the craft journeyed up and down
tn" Sound making n landing almost every night
and always with rich results 10 those who sailed
In her Since the coming of cold weather the
visits Of the craft have not been so frequent. and
the boat had recently dropped somewhat out of
mind. Although not working as often as during
the summer months. the pirate craft was not
idle. for there was hardly week when two or
three burglares were not committed Last week
thor" We're few small affairs along the Con-
nccticut coast.
Yesterday afternoon black soop anchored
off Milton's Point not far from the American
Yacht club Station. After time a boat with
two men I'm IL came ashore and after hauling the
roWboat mp on the beach the two men went 10
the station AZ Rye They had with them two
bags and shipped them for New-York They
then disappeared While they wcr" here some Of
the men and boys living at the Point became
curious about the strange craft anchored off
shore and put off To- investigate. What they
I'm the boat made them suspicious. closer in
vostigation showed she was a trading boat, for
there was lot " stuff aboard which would have
stocked a fair sized country store. This was re-
ported To the local police. who at once started 10
nnl the men. and one Of them was taken into
custody Tho other had started for New York
The two bags Of stuff were seized by the police
acting under orders from Justice Baruch
The bags were found 10 contain 4 mixed as
Sprtnrnt Of goods. Tnere were boots ana SHOES.
cloths of different kinds spools Of cotton. spoOls
Of silk and many such articles. These correspond
with the goods stolen from Fort SalOnga. l.. l..
last Wednesday. The prisoner who was taken
gave some important information. and promised
- make full confession to-day. He admits
that the craft now I'm custody Is the one which
has been seen 50 often along the coast. He says
there were nine men I'm the gang Who they
were and where they lived he would not say. but
promised 10 make all known to-day. His name
is not known definitely. He has given several
aliases.