The evening world., 1894-02-12
ON A PIRATE HUNT.
Police Along the Sound Looking
Ter the Sarah's Captain.
0'Harran, the Man Under Arrest,
Seems to Have Been a Dupe.
The Famous Black Sloop Is Aground
and Half Wrecked.

RYE, ". Y, Feb. l2.-The famous pi-
rat!cnl black sloop Sarah is ashore off
Milton Point. two miles from here.
Dennis O'Harran. who, with the cap
tain, was the only one on board the
sloop when she came to grief. Is occupy
ing a cell In Rye's little lookup.
O'Harran is an unintelllgent sailor, who
was evidently the dupe of the captain.
as he was only engaged for the Winter
months. when there is little opportunity
for stealing along the Sound.
lie went on board the Sarah about
Nov. /. and says that since then he and
the captain have lived on their plumber.
but OF the midnight adventures last Sum-
mer, when fine yachts and the residences
OF the wealthy we're robbed by the crew
of the black sloop, he claims to know
nothing.
He Is certain, however, that the sloop
would never ave fallen into the hands
Of the police had she not been run ashore
while the captain was steering away
from an oyster boat.
All day Saturday and yesterday the
sea, beat against the black craft, SO that
to-day she is nearly a wreck.
The piunder that had been on board
has been confscated by Justice Baruch.
In the hold that has held thousands of
dollars worth Of stolen goods there Is
nothing but sand and water. The scoop
is about thirty feet long and was rugged
as an oyster boat.
The principal feature about her is the
black coat of paint that enabled her to
In the Summer months 1t was the espe-
cial delight OF the crew to rife yachts
Mt anchor In the Sound either left alone
or guarded by a sleepy Waterman. Cases
ferred to the hold of the black sloop,
but no one ever heard of rcvelry among
the robber crew in consequence,
In fact 1t is claimed the pirates must
have gone about on land as quietly as
spirits from another world, and their
craft. so mysterious In its movements,
has been referred to often as the phan-
tom ship.
Stories about it among the residents of
New London. Rye. Portchester. Say
brook and Stamford are as numerous
crew.
While the crew Of the black sloop
have been daring, they have likewise
been cautious. Landings were usually
made alternately on northern and south
ern shores OF the Sound, and robberies
were carefully planned and executed.
Occasionally. hen-roosts suffered, but
sought In the homes OF wealthy Summer
residents. Since Winter, the captain has
apparently done little but steal the ne
ttESllltS v tNlsttlCt.
After the accident to the craft, O'Har-
ran says they packed what plumber they
could in four big bags and had them
hauled to the freight station.
The greater part OF this plumber was
from the store of Lewis Smith. OF New
Northport. L.. l. This place was robbed
last Wednesday night. O,Harran says
ported in THE Evening World"
The police at all the points along the
Sound are hunting for the captain OF
When Justice Baruch heard Of the bags
OF stun being taken from the black sloor
he made an Investigation and ARRESTED
o,Harran; The saptain had in the NEAR
He had ordered the goods sent TO j
Fitch. and they will he shipped to-day
and II the captain calls for them he will
Justice Baruch says Fitch is not thu
captains correct name, but he will no
tell what 1t Is.
have seen him as IA middle-aged unconti
sailor. with a shaggy red beard. anc
manner as gruff as that of pirates
described in yellow-covered literature;
railroad agent for a ticket to New Yorl
and said he was going to Cazenovia OF
the Harlem River branch.
detective. left for New York to-day il
hope of catching the captain of tn
sloop or some of his confederates.
The interest or the residents all aiOn
the Sound in the black sloop Is mad
evident by an adventure Henry Blucher
steward Of the American YACHT club
says he had with the pirates When the
first landed. Butcher knew from the au
pearance OF the sloop that it was tn
r famous piratical craft. With a loade
shotgunt. he says. he went forth to cap
ture the robbers. lie met them whe
, they landed, and says he captured then
locked them w in the club celia
: but was Obliged 10 let them go because h
could not leave his duty.
Citizens say that Butcher is a ruthf
man.
No one in CaZemora or Port Morrl
knew Il captain OF II Mr.. Fitch, and II
one had seen the Sarah.