New Britain herald., 1925-11-24
RIVER PIRATES IN
ALL PORT CITIES
Brazen and ReSOurceiul, They
Are Bane Of Police

New York, Nov. "a R-River
pirates today are a big factor in the
crime situation Of practically every
port city.
Their depredations here have be-
come so audacious that steamship
companies. railroads, detective agen-
cies and the police are cooperating
against the waterWise bandit.
Classed as the boldest and most
resourceful OF the extensive family
Of crooks river and harbor gangs
are levying a toll Of millions of
dollars year.
Their membership ranges from
The cabin diver" who works his
way into the cabins OF steamships
and steals everything in sight, to
the junk boat man who turks be-
meath a trap door in a pier and
receives goods pushed down to him
by companions above.
There Is nothing the river pirate
VIII not attempt" said one head of
a detective agency which makes q
speciality Of combating this class Of
crime. II know Of ono instance
where they stole a. tug, got up
steam, boldly ranged alongside OF a
lighter loaded with a valuable
cargo Of crude rubber, and steamed
away with tug, lighter, rubber and
ALL"
Recently two men strolled out
upon pier where q valuable cargo
was awaiting orders. They pre-
presented fake bills-of- lading which
fooled officials. The bandits then
proceeded to sell the entire cargo to
D. fence" right under the eyes Of the
guards, detectives and authorities.
Later, when the fraud was dis
covered the cargo had been trucked
away and all track was gone.
-. The first trick which authorities
encounter is that practiced by the
crooked junkman. He arranges
with sailors on a steamer to supply
him with anything of value they
can get, While the ship rests at
her pier the pirate on board will
collect his loot and lower II through
a port hole into the waiting junk
boat which speeds aWoy.
Then comes the longshoreman
who has connections" Lines of
men are passing in and out of the
ship shold with hand trucks loaded
with all manner Of merchandise.
This bandit watches his chance,
fans in line with truck, gets a case
to his liking and after having it
checked by the Checker" wheels it
off TO remote part Of the pier
where he hides it, calling for it
Ia err.
The pirates who work In the
!, holds also reap a rich harvest.
. Many of them have specially con-
r"aled pockets and they steal any,
thing from coffee and sugar to bolts
Of silks and Satins and bars of
4 aI'uniluin. They wrap the cloth
around them under their clothes in
such way as to defy detection
while the bulkier packages are
concealed in the secret pockets of
coat which is not worn but car
I'd over their shoulder when the
pirate leaves the ship.
But the pirate who works with a
truck and piece of canvas about
six feet square is the real artist"
You see a case of expensive cheese
or mayb" it's typwriters. The
pirate throws his canvas cover over
the case and apparently it dis
appears into thin air.
Sometimes a trap door will be
found whore the case used to be,
while at other times it will be dis
covered, too late that truck which
came on the wharf with five cases
Of hardware 10 be delivered to the
snip, left with six cases of glass
Yes hidden beneath the innocent
cooking canvas cover.
Authorities take every possible
precaution. WatChmen and dctec-
tves are stationed everywhere.