Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-07

wear. For s length and breadth there
is no river . world over where $50
much shipping wealth is constantly
concentrate. and when it is remember
..H.. The ual population of Lon
don is something gigantic. some idea
cam .e -auei of the potency of the
police n protecting the one from the
clutches %. the other.
Brt t has taken q century of inces-
SAINT work. 1 bring about this happy
condition - affairs. In former years
river thieves ON the Thames were ter
riH.r abundant a century ago when
. shipping did not amount 20 one
fifteenth of The sum it yearly repre-
nowadays. the West Indian mer-
chants alone lost S1.250Co0 worth OF
goods by The depreciation of the robbers
ae year I7g1 III the losses oil all
PHI. shipping merchants had been total
.# rD in chat year Che aggregate would
have been between two and a hall and
three millions.
ST. that time nue-tenths of the YES
-..s discharged and took ON cargoes by
means of barges and lighters. as the
dock system was very small and in-
.ra-trvrh of the vessels i'm the river.
These conditions made the work of the
river pirates comparatively easy and
their large profits attracted great num-
1.rs to the calling.
WE'LL ORGANIZED PIRATES.
So extensive were the robberies that
small number Of astute leaders form
The hundreds of river thieves into
VaU Crganized and ably governed
beds. AtaU times there were between
two hundred and five hundred vessels
tr The river. and 20 do fun and eNpedl-
tCgs Justice 90 their rich cargoee Jhe
pirates r1dnl 70 advisable to split mp
main body into several divisions.
h division performing certain
branch of thievery. I'm this way lNt
whole field was thoroughly covered
ODD. of these divisions was known as
Light HOrsemen Another was
The Heavy Horsemen. third
Game Hunters. aud q fourth me
Seville Hunters The Light Horse
mons always acted i'm concert with as
honest officers of the ship they intended
..rr They would go ON board at
taking with them am assortment
.Vla~s. ADDE'S. shoyels and bags.
g.orld be unEeadcd the contents
F in the haas and the stun roWed
4 nights work Of this kno
ncucd less than $1,000.
ruE CAPACIOCS JENNY.
Tic Heavy Horsemen had . work
r. but their profits were conslo-
.. They worked as Jumpers az
Unloading and loading vessels and wore
-aas undergarmeut known as
emmy" This robe was nothing
han a mass of pockets and poUcA-
Is r-o which Jumper dropped sugars
81 .s and other items of merchandise
midday when the workers Went
for dinner. they unioaded tne
and at evening. on conclusion OF
DAYS work. they carried another
ashore DO is ON record that one
.... Has robbed of $4,000 worth OF SUI
u this way.
The Game Watermeu adopted the
simple method of pure bribery
N-rr0uh.e officers of q ship were Civ
.. 11e-ha,f of the proceeds OF whatever
SLOWED the pirates Co steal
Seuine hunters GOT only the
of .he business. They were per-
- Hr their chiefs tO wear an apron
WIEN or5fng at unloading vessels and
Whatever they could smuggie ashore
rr.r profit
e.sIve was tle robbery system
many proprietors of marine stores.
rapuyed rcspectability I'm bust
and social circles were banded
.. -he thieves. They received the
merchandise. paying one-balf
market price and. of course. selling
nm immense profit Tho riches
1eea business mon piled zap az
- rate and they cXerted a potent