New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-06

The DAY Of the river pirate in New-York has
zone By" said the ole policeman OF the HarooI
Squad, speaking Of the exchange OF pistol shct.
last week between some members OF the SOUS
and coal thieves IN the XII Won Kuh The men
who made small fortunes IN rowboats on the rivers
twenty years ago are either dead or oct OF the
business II doesn't pay any longer 10 spend
nights IN rowbosts along the waterfront II Is
not entirely the credit of the police, either uat
e river thievfnF lac ceased 20 pay"
p .'he old policeman spoke the truth The palny
days, or nights % the river pirate ended several
years ago. when the transportation companies
owning waterfront privileges followed the city 5
example in building improved piers, which are
like huge safes closed at night IL was in the
time o. the open piers when any thief who owned
q rowboat could steal up TO unguarded treasure
on a dark night with good prospect OF getting
away with a loaG OF plumber. The business OF river
thievfng was prosperous for many years. II led
many desperate men 20 band themselves together
IN small boat crews and risk their lives almost
nightly on the rivers. II was encouraged by
crafty fences" receivers OF stolen goods OK an
2 DESCRIPTION who kept their shops and warehouses
conveniently near the watertronts and bought the
plumber o. river thieves.
In those days the police had no swiftly moving
launches IN which 20 pursue the pirates Patrol
men OF the Harbor squad learned TO be experts
with the ca as well with the pistol Three
men IN n rowhoat was the police rule. Each man
took his turn at the on a tour OK night duty
I along TIE shore When one was rowing another
was sitting On the stern OF the boat with ready
ristol while the third in the bow, peerng INTO
The darkness and occasionally throwing CLEAN
, from a dark lantern upon some pier or lighter
The police played a game Of hide ana seek Win
the river thieves then and were often outnA'oHe1-
River pirates used dark lanterns ana pistols, ana
thew knew many secret recesses under piers to
which the could row their boats and from which
thew could crawl 10 land when pressed closely.
They were cunning and crafty. and some OF them
seemed 70 ne gifted with senses so hne that they
could detect the approach % a police boat nun
cred wards away on the darkest night
There were specialists among the thieves, TOO.
some were mostly after cotton and stole many a
hale from lighters and wharves. partly because
tbev had fences" 20 whom they could sell their
hooty II fair prices There were tho coffee pirates
vho hunted after bags OF coffee stored on unpro-
tectcd piers There were regular purveyors Tor
iunk dealers who were specialists in lead pipe ana
brass castines and they were rarely caught Win
their thunder because il would sink when II was
thrown overheard at the approach OF ponce
boat.
.,soype.imes" said the old policeman. we would
make ND 10 a rowboat noticed sneaking ATOMS
shore that seemed to be weighted down well. and
here would be a splash or two before we got
81 near enough 70 throw the lantern CLEAN into the
boat Then we would find two or three tough look
inR feTovs in the boat, and nothing else They
were Just out rowing for pleasure, OF course ana
n was useless 10 arrest them. so We let them 60
Dd they lose their booty? Not a bit Of IT, Ihey
went back after Il when the coast was clear no"
= aid they find &? Easy enough. When they got
near the place where they dumped their 'swag
fhev would row inshore and tie the end OF a stout
niece OF Irvine 70 a stringpiece bit OF spiling.
taking care to fssten it about foot under wafer