The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-28

Petty Sneak Thieves, Others Desperate
Mcn-Junk Dealers Their Allies.
Whom night settles down over tho docks
and tho murky Chicago river, the Ish-
naolitos along shore begin to lift their
heads and show their fnces From tho
snloons and haunts near the river they
come, and their mission is theft They
shun even the moonlight and work most
ly in tho darkness. They are like the rats
that glide about among the gloomy tim
bers of the piors, and particularly in their
preference for tho shadows
Tho black current of the stream, the
hooks under the bridges whore the boat
builders have their shops and the docks
are part of tho territory covered by tho
rivor thieves. The vessels and the ways
leading to tho piers pny tribute to them
also. They arc of difforent kinds and do
Rreo. Some are petty sneak thieves, others
desperate men who would not stop at
throwing victim in tho river rather than
risk capture.
They nrc not so numerous now rs in
former years, but may still be found, says
writer in tho Chicago Chronicle. Occa-
sionally some daring members of the fra
ternity will make rnid along tho river
in brond daylight, but as rule they
wa!t until after nightfall.
There are tho "hold up'' thugs who Turk
about around the bridges and docks on the
lookout for drunken men and strangers
10 this class may DO traced moro than one
foul crimo TINT tho mystery of tho river
has Kept UNPUBLISHED. Men have been
thrown from tho bridges and docks with
their money gone, and the lapse of few
days and its resulting effects have raised
the question Of whether tho death was
screws of tho propellcrs and tugs whirling
in tho muddy river bring bodies to the
surface that tell of foul play, but tho secret
is usually with tho dead. If there arc
cuts upon tho body or bruises tho COM
mon accoptation is that these woro given
by the passing boats. Only where tho post
morton shows - pistol shot or Il stab does
tho puzzle assume IL ghastly shape.
Then it means either murder or suicide
And among the ranks of the river thieves
arc mon who could tell. The river high
waymcn are particularly attracted to the
'drunks" WHO drift down in the summer
nights to sleep on tho piers Often these
victims can be robbed quietly whilo they
arc asleep, but If they arc awakened they
generally resist. 1t is then that they are
in danger of being tumblcd into the river
When resistance is made, tho thief is in
danger. If an officer should hear an out
cry and como to tho rescue, it is case of
being caught In tho act, but If a man is
pushed into the river then his cries only
show That ho is struggling there and do
not benr the enrmarks of u crime.
If he can swim, he may get out. If not,
he goes down, and there Is seldom any
thing to show that it was not an accident
The docks and piers hnvo seen these TRACE
dios, and tho coroners' inqucsts record
them.
Another class OF river thieves arc the
ones who go upon the vessels ut tho docks
and sneak anything that may DO lying
around. They are petty thieves, some
times getting watch or little money or
some article they cnn sell Mt the junk
shops. This kind of thicvery Is annoying,
but not SO extensive or aggravating as
the water rat thieves aro prone to. This
last class uso boats to conduct their opera
tons in.
They prowl along the river after dark,
and anything portable Is picked up by
them. Sometimes it is coil Of rope or
tools from the carpenter shops under the
bridges. Clothing, sailoloth, vessel in
strumcnts. ours, boats chains and any
thing thnt can be disposed of cheaply for
cash, nro carried away Ivy them.
They Will raid one part of tho river and
f' w dHONhci puIb W SpCHQ UUC luOn5y
they make from the sale of the plumber
Their tastes run to cheap whisky and
questionable associations. Sometimes they
will work little, and almost always their
hands arc Drowned and hardened from OK
posure This stands Thorn in good stead
when they nro brought in before the JUS
tlces of the peace. These petty Soiomons
have way sometimes Of inspecting the
hands of offenders claiming to be work
ingmen or sailors. Tho river thief can al
ways pass this ordeal successfully His
paws look ms though they had been soaked
for years in Il solution of oakuln and pol
ishcd off with marlin spike.
He will hold up these Units" to JUS
ticc, and tho combination of bumps and
tan usually secures his discharge il he has
not been actually caught in the commits
sion of crime. He is one of tho most
horny handed" persons imaginable.
The river thieves dress in the dark
clothes commonly worn by other river
characters and to most people would pass
Cor sailors or deckhands They seom to
coniino their stealing entirely to the river
and its vessels and docks. Most of the
vessels havo II dog on board, and when the
GOATS tie up to the docks nc strangers need
attempt to prowl about decks. But the
river thief, with his rusty Clothes can pass
unnotioed In his dingy boat and CLEAN
bit of harvest here and there for the junk
shops.
If it were not for tho junkshops, the
river thief would find it hard to dispose of
tho stuff he steals. AS tho quantity Is
usually small tho risk of detection is
lessened for tho junk dealer. He makes
inquiry of the seller, but not too searching
mn inquiry If the price asked is satisfac-
tory. If the booty Is iron, it is broken up
rs soon as possible and its identity de-
stroyed. If it is TOOLS they are taken to
some secondhand store and sold, the thief
l..1ax,s .a4il IL