The evening times., 1898-09-14
PIRATES PLY THEIR TRADE
Long Island Sound Infested
With Daring Buccaneers.
ARMED YACHTS In PURSUIT
Vessel Owners Suffering From Their
Depredatfons Organize an EXpedi-
Washington Mans Steam Plea, ure
Boat Takes Part in the Chase.

Greenport, L. l., Sept H.-Yacht owners
whose craft lay Monday night in Deer
ing's Harbor suffered heavy losses through
the depredations of daring Sound pirates.
Sails, ropes chains, anchors and other
movable articles were stolen by wholesale.
So incensed are the owners that three
expeditions went out yesterday in search
Of the thieves, who, it is believed, were on
a sail boat. Sound men, on steam yachts.
patrolled the surrounding waters, and had
the pirates been overhauled they would
have had 10 surrender or fight.
Scores of yachts are anchored in the
harbor during the summer season. On
some of them members OF the crew sleep
at night, but others have no occupants,
their owners having homes on Shelter Is
land. II was these latter that the pirates
visited, showing that they had studied the
habits of the yachtsmen. No alarm was
given during the night, and il was not
until yesterday morning that the robberies
were discovered. Then there was the
deepest Indignation on the parl Of the
owners
Thieves DismantIe the ships.
Charles II. Otis. of Brooklyn. a member
Of the Shelter Island Yacht Club, found
that the mainsail and jib Of his sloop
yacht Hermes had been carried away, and
from his catboat Sito the mainsail was
missing. From the catboat Marula, own
ed by Mr.. jenkins, of Brooklyn, the
mainsail was gone and sharpie and
sail, owned by Piel Brothers, was taken.
A yawl belonging 10 the Shelter Island
Yacht frlVh which NO 70 -
clubhouse float at Chequit Point was
taken. Brighton Brothers sloop Nueva
was stripped Of blocks and tackle. and her
halyards were slashed right and left.
Brass oarlocks were stolen from the
Pigeon, owned by Mr.. Eitlake.
The depredations We're not confined to
the Shelter Island side alone. The pirates
crossed over 10 the Greenport side and
stole about 800 worth Of property from
DIR. T. l.. Ireland's sIoop yacht Media. in
Guiding suit Of clothes, bedding marine
glasses, brass lanterns, anchor cable and
many other articles Anchors and cables
were stolen from the Avis owned by
Capt. Louis Swift, and from a boat owne i
by Capt. Wallace Reeves.
Pleasure Cruisers In Pursuit.
When the extent of the robbl cries be-
came known expeditions were o ganized
TO pursue the pirates, but there was some
delay in getting started. A sailing vessel
painted black was seen stealing out of
the harbor at dawn, with all canvas set.
and il is supposed the thieves were on
her. The stolen property could not have
been carried away except by a craft of
considerable size.
J. l.. Hutchinson, Of Washington, D. c.,
summer resident of Shelter Island, Of
fered the use Of his swift steam yacht
Vanish for the first expedition. Constable
Reeve, with several citizens. all OF them
well armed cruised in the Vanish through
Gardeners Bay, but returned without sue
cess.
Commodore Edson's steam yacht Clay
more, with Constable Howard and several
men, started at noon. She returned late
in the afternoon, after covering a wide
stretch Of surrounding waters, without
discovering a clew to the pirates
Deputy Sheriff Fred Booth, of Southoll.
headed a third expedition in a naphtha
launch.
Among citizens as well as yachtsmeu
there is feeling of anger over the rob-
berries. The harbor last night was closed
and a guard set TO prevent the entrance
of any unknown craft without explaining
satisfactorily her presence.