Evening star., 1926-06-13
POTOMAC PIRATES
TEST POLICE SKILL
High Degree of Efficiency De-
veIoped in Protecting Prop
erty Along Shore.

mentioned IN news dispatches, tic
average Washingtonian does not as
sociate the words with anything close
to his home. Rather. he conjures up
pictures of bloodthirsty, long.queued
brigands in remote China. He has
little realization that wharf rats
infest the Potomac as well as the
Yangtze- -kiang. Yet river pirates
do frequent the urban reaches OF the
Potomac. and with ever-increaslng
impudence.
OF recent months the waterfront
thieves have been a renewed anu
constant source of annoyance in the
District. Robbery of yachts and bun
galows has continued with elusive
audacity and cunning. But the dep-
relations are being gradually cufp-
ed with the daily apprehension ana
punishment of the guilty ones. nun
dreds of dollars worth or property
had been filched by the mud-tiat bur-
glars before launch and cottage own
ers secured any redress.
Tracking "river pirates Is one OIL
the favorite and absorbing pastimes
of the harbor police in their fleet OF
swift patrol boats. Once a person has
become a suspect, he is trailed mercl-
lesslv through the shacks and under
brush in the secluded hooks OF the
tidal, inlets AS the culpr!t usually
turks in the vicinity or unoccupleo
cottages and launches only under
cover of night, the harbor police stalR
their prey with doubled vigilance anu
the uncanny intuition born OF expert
pilotage.
Police Explore Haunts.
Bv da.-, the thief lies in his swampy
fastness, or else leaves the scene OF
his thieving entirely, either to dispose
Of his loot, in case he does not moe II
in his private cache, or TO escape
observation by river folk. The police
in turn explore his likely haunts,
either on foot or in q bateaux toWeu
behind their launches, to use IN sKlrt-
ing the shallow estuaries of the river
All the ramif1cations of the uhder,
world trade are minutely scrutilllIea
by the police, who make unexpected
visits to the various fences or mid
dlemen for stolen goods.
At night, with the turn of the tlde,
the river pirate sallies forth in his
skiff with muffled oars, from his place
of concealment, feeling his way To-
ward a probably predetermined goal,
for he employs confederate, no
doubt, who does his "spotting' for
him in leisurely fashion. Perhaps the
companion in crime has ferreted out
the river which the owner has mad
vertently left with insecure door or
window fastenings. Or else the thief
will glide to one of the hundreds or
amply provisioned and equipped
pleasure boats moored along the river
and Chamber stealthily aboard in the
belief that the watchman is asleep or
the police launch out Of earshot
around the bend of the stream.
Woe betide the prowler if the har-
Dor police are in the vicinity. when
they pop up at unexpected Intervals
for powerful searchlights rake the
river surface and boat decks for un-
wary trespassers, backed up by
challenge of automatics to bring the
thief to bay. The harbor police mem
bers to the last man are veterans at
the game of hide and seek. They
know every type of craft and her own
ers' habits intimately. Just as well
versed are they in the wiles and ma
neuvers Of the river pirate.
Have Wide Jurisdiction.
For this reason, as well as several
others, the harbor police precinct is
one of the most important of the Dis
trict of Columbia over which the
Metropolitan police have jurisdiction.
It's Headquarters are on Water street
between NJ and n. The authority OF
the harbor police extends over Is
mile area of Washington embracing
river-front territory from Chain Bridge
to Jones Point light, along the East
ern Branch of the Potomac to the Dis
trict line, through the Washington
channel at Haines point to Fourteenth
street and along the south side of
Water street.
;,> nd of ha
police, and also District harbormaster,
is Lieut.. H. r. Lohman, who has 30
experienced men under him. to per-
form the various specialized duties OF
their waterfront routine. Although
they might aptly be nicknamed the
corpse squad" because of their frer
quent rescue and search parties for
drowning rrsons, the sailor" patrol
men execute many other errands of
assistance and regulatory super
vision.
The harbor police force, which is
divided into three boat crews" or
shifts, operates four patrol boats
which go out on schedule every after
noon at o'clock and are on duty
until midnight. Other trips are made
as the emergency arises, and steam is
kept up constantly on a tug for
service in case some vessel in distress
requires assistance. A new 20-knot
launch, the Major Edwin B. Hesse,"
is just being placed in commission to
augment the present fiotilla. consist
ing of the Major Sylvester the
mo. 3" and the "Skidoo.' the last
named being stationed in Georgetown.
HarbOrmaster's Duties.
The duties of the harbormaster, in
cumbent upon the officer in charge
Of the harbor precinct, consist of the