The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-04

matchless pen pictures which are to-
be found in many of his novels. But
thieves and freebootcrs arc as numerous
as ever, these river vermin specializing
in their various departments of dis
honesty lust as thieves do on land.
There are still "tier-rangers men
who climb noiselessly on board vessels
lying in the Pool at night, while the
watchman is asleep, and help them
selves to any portable articles, often
descending TO the cabins when they
find the coast is clear.
Then there are "lumpers, who,
while engaged in unloading vessels,
carry off as much valuable property rs
they can cram into the capacious
coats, and often assist the crew by
smuggling goods ashore. "Truckers "
arc smugglers in larger way of busi-
ness, engaged in landing heavier par"
cells of goods than the "lumpers' can
manage. There are also still drcdger-
mem who, under the pretence Of
dredging things from the bottom of the
river seize their opportunity of throw.
ing overheard any article from the
decks of barges or other exposed craft,
in the hope of being able to dredge 1T
TO the surface when the vessel has left
! its mooring,
"Toshers' confnc themselves to
stripping from the bottoms OF ships
the protecting copper, Thus endangering
the llyes Of those on board Another
set Of specialists watch their chances
for cutting boats loose from their
moorings. so that they NAV afterward
claim rewards for Saving them.
For the watching Of this criminal
army a police force numbering nearly
25O officers and men, is stationed along
the river. the main divisions being at
! Mapping, Blackwell and Waterloo. The
head depot has been AT Mapping ever
since the government took over the
force from the East India company in
J 1879, and for many years the men were
housed In an old gun sloop, moored with.
in few hundred yards of Mapping Old
Stairs, which still survive. Now a new
and palatial building has taken the
place Of the old police depot with ac.
"omnodatiou for nlnetv-two men, living
rooms for the inspector. n spacious dry.
ing room for the men 8 coats and a
series of cells for the prisoners they
bring in.
Day and night the patrol boats Of
the river police, manned by two con.
stables. and steered by sergeant, may
be seen gliding up and down the river,
nolselessly threading their way between
the tiers OF craft, whose valuable car.
goes they are charged TO protect No
riNcr tbIet can tell when patrol may
pounce upon him, for each boat takes
course chosen by the sergeant in
charge. The prevention or detection
j of thefts forms by far the largest part
Of the duties of the Thames police.
though frequently they are of n more
! gruesomc character. AS when engaged
IN dragging the river for missing per.
sons. who have met with death through
8 accident or violence,
/, The floating police depot moored Just
i below Waterloo bridge has dealt with
more eases of suicide than any other
j along the river. or some uncxplai ed
. reason Waterloo bridge is generally
' chosen by those bent on drowning them
selves, III preference TO amy other. and
oddly enough they almost invariably
I jump over the downriver side, prob
ably with some hazy idea Of floating out
l to sea.
81 believe, suid an official. '"tbat
| one of the chief reasons why Waterloo
| bridge has so many suicides is that
there are seats in the stone rocesses
| formed over the piers, and the unfor
tunates SIT there broodlng over Their
4 troubles unit! they come to the desper
ate decision 10 drown themselves. They
have only to Jump on the stone seat
which forms an easy step TO the para
| pet. and they arc over in Il ilffy. -
But there is always n watcbful eye or
the floating stage below, noting theil