New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-22
'Craveyard'of
Stolen Autos
In East River
Dredge Brings UpMachine
Which Disappeared in
July, With Parts Gone,
and Pieces of Others
More Cars Believed
Be Under Water
Bandits and Thieves Held
to Have Disposed of
Evidence in Harbor


Police Of Harbor A yesterday proved
yhe existence of reported graveyard
for stolen automobiles in the bed of the
East River off Tiffany Street, the Bronx
One machine and parts Of others were
rsised. The police believe that at least
\ dozen automobiles are in the river
.t this point, where the water is thirty.
FIVE feet deep at low tide.
The discovery Of the New York grave.
card of automobiles followed a similar
discovery in Chicago, where twenty
four machines were recovered from
under eighty-fve feet of water in an
abandoned quarry. In Chicago the po-
lice were reported to believe it pos
sible some of the machines had been
submerged that insurance might be col
lected.
Merchants Car Recovered
The first machine raised in this city
With graphing hooks and tackle by the
police boat John F. Hylan, the crew of
which worked nearly all day, was a
touring car. 1921 model. and bearing q
1921 license plate. The licensee was
traced, and the machine was found to
belong to William Steiger. merchant,
Of 1902 First Avenue. The police rec
ord shows the machine was reported
STOLEN July %.
The car was stripped Of tires and
many valuable accessories and covered
With seaweed. 1t is held at Harbor A
police station, the Battery, where it
vas viewed late yesterday by it's
owner.
"The machine was brand new when
1t was stolen from in front of res
taurant on First Avenue, between
Seventy eighth and Seventy-ninth
streets, where left it on the evening
Of July o." Mr.. Steiger said. at was
worth at least $1,000 and the insurance
carried was only S400, which, of
course, did not at all compensate me
ios its loss''
Insurance Companies Interested
Agents Of the Liverpool and London
hnd Globe, in which the machine was
insured, also said the insurance did not
cover the loss. They are taking a deer
interest in the case, hoping the dis.
covery Of the graveyard will help ir
the detection of automobile thieves.
The discovery Of the submerged au
tomobiles was made when one of {
sso1? OF boy swimmers dived off the
Tiffany Street pier and struck his heae
against an obstruction. Other boys
0Ted to investigate and reported thai
they could see a number of automo
r-es at the bottom Of the river. The
police investigation followed.
captain Andrew Hines and Marine
Inspector James ". Hallock directed
sae dredging yesterday and the inouir,
sor the owner of the car recovered
Dredges were brought into play late
yesterday Afternoon to lift the sanf
snd debris at the bottom os the rive,
ENG expedite the search for the auto.
mobiles The police believe that the
graveyard is only one of several which
EAST around New York. 1t is believed
i'ssioie that an organized gang of au,
lsmoo,ie thieves has taken this means
p olsposlng Of cars which would have
psen TOO easily identified and waich
parts. N~0'S
Uther Places To Be Dragged
., folce Of Harbor A said that the
esosest investigation will be made Of
.I.s - recovered off Tiffany Street, and
sne aaroor bed near other open piers
sl nva'o De dragged. Should it be learned
s"a' any OF the machineg we're sub
sssseo with ideas of collecting insur.
~ sacs, II was said that prosecution
ss..a proceed on charges Of receiving
n.Hey under false pretenses, swindline
saa other charges.
IS believed possible that machines
T. me rlver nave been used in some
Instances ss BY grnmen to make their es-
ys AFTER committing crimes. II is
ssJ sJssso thcy ray have driven to piers
r., ,s'afted an empty machine over
- ana then have hidden under
s,s,as sas Until danger of pursuit had
sss On June 20 Astoria police dragged
sss slver bed at Hallett's Cove. wher
a&a reported he had seen a chauf-
ayn. !unp from truck and let il gc
tes.:,.ne we edge Of the pier. In this in
~ s'senon tho truck was recovered
so's parts OF other machine were