The sun., 1897-09-07
SOUND PIRATES ARRESTED.
THREE WATER THIEVEs CAUGHT AT
OYSTER RIVERS MOUTH

They Had Just stolen = SniIboat ana Were
Beating Out 70 tho sound with It when Two
Parties OF Pursuers Closed In on Them and
Mado Them Prisoners Amor short Fight.
BRIDGEPORT. Conn, Sept. G.-The mon who
have been sailing along tho shore Of tho Sound
In this nolghborhood all summe- robbing cot
tages left unguarded and stripping yachts
havo been captured. Tho capturc was mndo
last night by u party OF Woodmont residents
after lively chase and struggle with tho rob-
bers. Last week John Ham, who has q cottage
at Woodmont near Oyster River, lost u fne
snilboat. II wns suspected that 1t was the work
of tho Sound pirates, rs they have been called.
Since that time Hall has been on tho lookout
for his boat and also has kept q sharp eye whom
any strange craft have been In tho neighborhOod.
Yesterday, just ut dusk, II soop cast anchor
about q mile Off tho mouth OF Oyster River.
There appeared to bo thrco men aboard OF her.
With glasses tho men aboard the slOop surveyed
the shore. At night various lights were dis
played board the strange craft Tint was
sufficient to arouse tho suspicion of Ham. He
told Benjamin Lindlay and Harry Trowbridge
Of his suspicious. aud they decided to watch tho
strange boat. About midnight they saw small
boat with three mca in It leave the sloop. They
pulled quietly along and up Oyster River to
whcro tino new saiiboat belonging to Harry
Waddiugham lay anchored in q littlo cove.
Hum and his companions had armed them
sclvos Lindlay With n shotgun and tho two
handy, and when tho men from tho sloop rowcd
up tho river the watchers embarked In their
1t was bright moonlight, md Harry Wad.
bingham, who had learned OF tho presence OF
The strange craft had bGgn watching h his his boat r
up the river and leave tho rowbpat and jump
aboard his boat and hoist sail. lie summoned
two ncightor' md hurried 10 tho river and,
jumping into Il rOwbunt, pullCc up tho river to
where tho robbers were Ham and his COM
e,t'', got aboard I'd Waddinshams boat. They pulled
along the shore In the shadow MS near the
stolen boat as POSSIBLE. They were not nor, morn
Tho pursucrs called for the robbers to stop and
Ham and tho Others pulled with, all their
strength; but did not gain on the sailboat, and
II looked as If the robbers would set out or iEe
river and in the sound, where there was quite
q fresh breeze. and thus make their escape.
now state of affairs confronted the rob
bers, however. when they were near the mouth
OF the river. Waddingham and his compan-
ions were rowing up the river. They were right
on the robbers before they, were discovered.
Their escape was impossible. The men on
the sloop boat seemed to lose their head, and
tho craft was Hlmos, at standstii d l. as The , two
When within a fcw feet two OF the men jumped
overheard and endcavored to escape By swim
The men did not offer any resistance as they
were dragged over tho side Of tho boat almost
exhausted. audlnHnhm ana MS companions
boarded the boat, which contained the lone
robber. He stood in the stern with an oar
held In tav air. 1t was three TO one, and he
was quickly overpowered. The threo robbers
were secured. and an hour afterward were
locked in Milford Jail.
The craft which the robbers left at the mouth
of the river is ali old ono and worth little. 1t
was well provisioned. There was no nane on
II, nor was anyth ng found aboard TO tell who
the owners occupants were. No stolen prop-
erty was found aboard Tho captured men
refuse e talk. The boat tho robbers had Is is
still held at Woodmont. Tho prisoners will
be charged with the theft OF WRddingham 5
thefts on them.