New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-06
PALMY DAYS OF RIVER PIRATES PAST.
LITTLE CHfNCE FOR THEM OFF THE WHARVES OF
NEW-YORK TO-DAY.

Then they would row out again TO a point nttlo
further out than that al which the plumber was
sunk. letting the tHine unwind from spool IN
the boat Then the Irvine would be pulled tight,
about a foot under the water and the boat would
be rowed a short distance up or down stream, al
ways in the direction opposite 10 that in which the
tide running.
when the boat was turned inshore again and
the string gathered up carefully there would
be other strings. each attached to a cork. dragged
up with st. Corks float. you sxnow. Each string
with cork TO il would be pulled until IL brought
up the end Of a rope. and when the rope was
pulled up would come piece OF brass casting. a
coil OF lead pipe some other junk that
worth saving. Why didn't the police recover the
'swag'2 Oh. It a long time before ever
suspected the thieves took the trouble TO hitch
Irvine around corks to their plumber before they
dumped the stuff overheard"
There was gang OF river thieves years ago
who made speciality Of stealing choice liquors,
particularly such were imported in casks and
barrels. They stole many a barrel or cask OF
liquor from open piers before their peculiar method
OF operation was detected. Let the cid policeman
tell the story:
1T a mystery for a long time how a couple
OF men In a boat could remove a cask OF brandy
a pier where a Waterman was on duty without
making noise enough TO attract attention. The
mystery might have remained one longer IL some
OF the thieves had not let a cat out OF the bag
by leaving the cask on the pier after they had
and examination showed that a hole which had
been bored in Il went clear down through the
wooden noor OF the pier. The thieves had bored
up through the floor into the cask. letting che
brandy run o1t into pals in their boat. In ether
cases they had stolen the empty cask easy
JOB, and had filled IL again at a safe distance the
hole N the pier hoOr being concealed by rubbing
lined now. SO Ihat no river pirate can bore holes
Pistol shots along shore at night were not un-
common In the times OF the river pirates greatest
activity. and they did not ALWAYS mean mat the
police were shooting Private watchmen at some
away men in suspicious rowboats. and sometimes
they mistook The police for thieves and blazed
away at them before recognizing them. In fact
the police were more In danger from watch
men than from the pirates who were too crafty
TO shoot unless they were brought 20 bay. Most
ever and Il was not often that the police reported
the actual shooting OF anybody. There never was
counters. Occasionally a thief who tried to escape
after warning was crippled by bullet. and nov
az J rsr Ihe p0Se seFoFted the disaRgearaRSe
quent finding OF a mans body in the water with a
bullet hole In It, was not inquired into too care
The police and the river pirates were rivals in
the search for corpses In the rivers particularly IN
the early spring. when bodies which have been
rise 20 the surface. Many persons commit suicide
by throwing themselves into the rivers IN the
the weather gets Many articles of iewelry
and considerable money found in the clothing
time The police. when body is found can tell
II il has been the hands OF river thief before
they get It. The pockets are always empty and
turned inside out IN such case.
Police Commissioner McAdoo is preparing TO add
six steam Launches 70 the small feet OF police
launches WHICH ply the rivers within the eitys
Is past the patrol Of the waterfronts is TO be
made more easy and comfortable for the police.