Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-30
STEAMER BOLDLY ROBBED.
The Safe OH the Thomas Clyde Looted by a
Clever Thief,

l
| Philadelphia. Pa, Aug. IS, Some
time between IL o'clock Sunday night
and o'clook yesterday morning the
sum of 50, ls9S6 was stolen from the
safe in the rurser s office OF the steamer
Clyde, which daily makes the trip be-
tween this city and Woodland Beach,
and which was tied at the Arch street
| wharf. As soon as the robbery was
discovered, shortly after o'clock yes.
terday morning, the police wsre notified,
| and Special Officer Redding of the
Fourth district and Detectives Hamn,
and Wood we're assigned 10 the case.
Although the officers worked until II
O'Clock last night, no arrests had been
made, and the mystery had not been
penetrated.
Contrary TO his usual custom, Man
ageI James Il. Otis Of the Clyde oocu.
pied bet th on the hoat Sunday night.
Shortly after o'clock the manager
was awakened by Purser job s. Smith,
who complained that his wife. who
acted as stewardess of the Clyde, had
gone to market and taken the Office key
with her. As the purser said he as
anxious to make ready some way bills
he asked Manager Otis to bring his key
and unlock the Office.
This was done, ard when the two
unlocked. the door and stepped inside
they found the safe door swung wide
open and the contents gone. The rurser
then made an examination of the room
occupied by himself and wife, and
found that gold watch, a revolver
and a pair of trousers had been stolen.
There was nothing whatever that would
serve as clue to the perpetrators On
the boat at the time of the robbery
were the sleeping crew of So, the purser
and his wife. Manager Otis and Night
Watchman Daniel Sullivan.
The latter stoutly maintains that he
kept faithful watch all night, and
that it was impossible for anyone to
have gone IN or off the boat without
his knowledge. The statements made
by watchmen on the wharf bore out the
assertion of Watchman Sullivan, and
this served to further deepen the mys-
terry. Mrs. Smith, who was the first to
leave the boat in the morning to 60 to
market, returned at the usual hour,
and was much shocked at learning of
the robbery.
From what could be learned by the
police, it was apparent that the rob-
ber had entered the room occupied by
the Smiths, had stolen the watch, the
revolver and the office key, and had
afterward looted the safe. After leaving
the offioe it was carefully locked. The
detectives, who remained on the boat
all day, making the trip to Woodland
Beach and return, declare that the thief
must have had accurate knowledge of
the interior of the office, because Man
ager Otis occupies the room adjacent,
and is a very light sleeper.
Manager Otis explained that the
money taken represented three days
receipts for the Thomas Clyde, besides
$50 belonging to the crew and $3.50
belonging to Purser Smith and his wife.
Manager Otis felt keenly tte loss of
the money, because heretofore he has
received the receipts at the end of
every trip, and on this occasion he ma
elected it, having gone to his country
home on Friday Those interested re-.
fuse to talk about the robbery, but the
Lolice intimated that Important de-
velopments would result today.