The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-28
RIVER THIEVES SURPRISED.
One of Them Captured and the Other
Escapes.


Early yesterday morning, when the
clouds were tossing and tumbling and the
sky was black as pitch, officer Seafeldt,
while cropping about the water front In
the rain, captured prize that is likely
to prove Of value in more than one way
probably be the means of breaking up
the notorious gang Of water front thieves
that has infested this city for the past
few years
Several days ago Chief Of Police Lough-
cry received information from the Port
land chief that several skiffs had been
stolen from that city and directing that
sharp lookout be kept for them. satuF-
day a strange skiff was located under
the old Parker dock, and from the time
Of its discovery a constant watch was
kept on the frail craft, for 1t was expect
ed its owner would call for 1t sooner or
later. Saturday morning about l o'clock,
Officer Seafeldt was on the watch, sit
ting quietly in the old coach back of the
warehouse, and dlrecly opposite the skin.
He had just relieved Chief Loughery,
who had been standing watch for a while,
and had only settled back comfortably
when he heard q noise under the dock,
and slipping out in the darkness, peered
over the edge of the dock. He had not
long to wait, for shortly boats bow
came out from under the dock, and in 1t
was standing a man. Either slight
noise made by the officer, or a glimpse
Of his portly form, caused the man in the
bow Of the boat to jump head foremost
into the water, where he was lost sight
Of, evidently swimming ashore under the
dock and making his escape. The officer
instantly whipped out revolver, and
lying fiat on the wharf commanded the
remaining occupant Of the boat, who had
by this time appeared, sitting In the
stern, to throw, up his hands. So surpris-
ed was the fellow, that he jumped up
and went over backwards into the boat,
arising at once with both hands in the air
but not until the officer had taken shot
at him. He was soon secured by the
officer.
Now when watch was put on the
skin under the dock 1t was not expected
that 1t would lead to the capture of
far more important parsonage than an
ordinary boat thief. but 1t did, for when
the sklff out of which the prisoner was
taken was examined. It was found to
contain five bales of twine, marked FL
more, Sanborn & Co This was an Inn
pprtant haul, for the bales, which weigh
ed 14i pounds EACH were. 1t was after
words ascertained, valued at SEQ. Word
was Immediately sent to Mr.. Elmore, and
upon his arrival an examination of the
warehouse was made. It was found that
the thieves entered at the north door by
nrying off the bottom cleats, and entering
by swinging the door outward, unfasten-
ing the lock from the inside. After this
was accomplished the task of removing
the bales of twine was an easy matter.
It iS thought the fellows intended to make
another haul, after having slowed the
first load away somewhere.
At the station the prisoner gave the
name Of Henry Gllbertson, and claimed to
have come here on the sealing schooner
Kate and Ann. He said he could not re-
member the name Of the man who jump
ed out of the boat, as he had molly met
him earlier in the evening, and did not
narticlnate in the robbery. etc.
As soon as possible and inventory was
taken of the stock, but 1t Is not known
as yet with what results