New-York tribune., 1922-03-27
furnishings and Supplies
Of CreatShipping Board
Fleet Taken Ashore
When River W as Frozen
500 on Board While
.'illaging Went On
Work Done With Conniv.
ance Of Some of Grew
and Light Is Thrown on
Murder of a " atchman

A feat OF 164 United States SHIPPING
Board steamships anchored in the Hud-
sen River at Peekskill has been looted
b river pirates during the winter Of
furnishings ard supplied valued at
-ore than 100000 and perhaps twice
.hs. figure, II vas revealed yesterday.
Evidence has been obtained by Secret
ssryice men at work on the case that
yybberes began when the river frozc
and tina: most of the loot was trans "a.
isrrcd between dark and dawn over the
! :e. According to statements made last
light by those Investigating the whole
sale robbery some vessels have been
practically Stripped Of furnishings.
Nearly ali units of the anchored feet
sere fully equipped and ready for
service
Chief Of Police Henry Burke Of
psekskill and Sheriff George II. Brown
81 Rockland County refused to discuss
b. lootine in detail, It vas said or
asrs had been received from the Fed
s'al authorities to refrain from dis
tsssng the situation pending action
y william J, Burns, chief Of the Fed
sfal Secret Service. 1t was said at his
home IN Scarboro that Mr.. Burns
let for Boston yesterday.
More Than 500 Men on the Ships
Among the articles of which MANY
ships are said to have been stripped
l!e brass deck fittings, engine room
Arass and copper, table linen. silver
Hsre and large quantities of bed linen,
IS we'll as ships stores OF various
7rts The robberies are believed to
'Ye been carried or over period Of
iere than five weeks.
1t was said last night that the au-
heritles Of Rockland County had Sc
erred evidence of participation in the
piracy by members of skeleton crews
Stationed on the ships. There are be-
tween 500 and 900 officers and men at
ached to the feet, which, with its
Hglpment, is valued at S25O,000 coo.
secret Service men at work or the
looberies are said to be proceeding on
tEeory that the entire plot was en-
shtered from inside the feet itself. as
rs said to be impossible that pirates
arld have boarded and looted the yes
Rs without connivance Of certain
ntches aboard them. The investiga
Ten IS said to be proceeding on the
aeory that members of the night
sstches On some ships had been cor
rnted
It was learned in Peekskill last night
lat watch has been maintained for
sore than a week on fifteen or more
aen believed to be implicated in the
'otberies. The loot is believed to be
Eored on both shores of the Hudson
River and it is hoped the suspected
persons will endeavor TO remove some
Of it to safer storage since exposure
ef the thefts has been made. Accord
lng TO d statement OF one official more
pected soon in connection with the
pirate raids.
Murder Figures in Case
In some instances, it was said, ships
supposed to have been guarded by
skeleton crews were left unguarded for
Gays at time and robberies may have
Nken place during periods when those
responsible for them were aware that
tse crews assigned TO certain vessels
were ashore Quiet search has been
made OF several houses and outbuid-
'ags which were suspected OF being
used 10y members of the gang, but so
iar none of the loot has been found
nor have there been any arrests.
lne killing of Charles Dime, watch
haa on one Of the looted steamers,
VINO was found dead o0 the river ha, Il
Tome weeks ago. is being investigated
"a connection with the piracies. The
MpseHory is held that Dime may have been
s!Ied u because of fear on the part of
tae Pirates that he might betray them,
81 on etort is being made to establish the
,,aleentity Of Dimes associates in Peeks-
Inc vessels were transferred four
nponths non ago from Jamaica Bay to
ifeekskin. Only the mother ships have
Aepi ire IN their boilers, but crews
from four to six men have been
maintained OH all vessels.