Year: 1872

1t is q singular fact that thieves like carrion
crows, flock most where disaster and death most
general. 1t would seem to even the most hardened
that men could have found employment in some
way during the morning of the Metis disaster
ut Watch Hill In saving human life instead OF
cising their thievng propensity. Yet such is not
the fact, and this appalling tragedy cannot pass
without Its accompaniment of sinister stories OF
robbery


Yesterday morning Superintendent Odell, OF the
New York and Providence Steamship Company,
received message from the captain Of the
Narragansett that he was Immediately wanted
at the boat. Mr.. Odell fastened to
the Narragansett to learn the cause of
this sudden summons, and found that the captain
had charge OF an Italian named Antonio BacucolO,
whom he stated he suspected Of having in his pos
session goods belonging to the Metls. 1t appears
that BacuciOO got on board the Narragansett at
StoningtOn, having with him


LARGE CASE,


which he stated to be full of merchandise belonging
to himself, and which he was desirous of getting on
to New York as as possible The captain
thought there was something strange in the con-
duct OF the man, and watched him. When In New
York Mr.. BacucolO ordered a carman on the pier to
take his case OF goods to 81 Crosby street. The
truck and wheeled or the boat The captain
| watched 1t it went or and noticed that


water was dripping from the case all the time This
struck him as so singular that he ordered the re-
mOva or the case to be stopped At this the Italian
waXed very wrOth and threatened the captain with
dire vengeance If he interfered with his goods
The captain said, however, that he would not let
the case go until Mr.. Odell was sent for In this
way matters stood when Mr. Odell arrived on the
ground. He Immediately ordered the case to be
opened and examined. on the very top he found
number OF napkins and towels marked Mctis I'm
the corner OF each. There was also sheet marked
Metis wrapped round quantity of goods When
THE SHEET WAS TAKEN OFF


then pile OF SILK velvctS was found, the value OF
which was computed ut about three thousand dol
lars. When all this was discovered the Italian
grew very much frightened, and begged to be let
on. At first Mr. Odell ordered hlm to be arrested,
but when he found that in that he would have
to allow the goods to be placed in the property
clerks hands at Headquarters he objected strenu-
0usy, saying he preferred losing the prisoner to
losing the goods. Finding that 1t impossible to
make the arrest otherwise, Mr.. Odcll said he would
take charge OF the case of goods and let the
prisoner CO. BaccuciOO then mad the impudence
to demand his share OF the goods SALVAGE
Mr. Odell told him he could for it II he pleased
otherwise he should certainly not get any "sal-
vage.''


II is still mystery how these goods came into
possession OF the Italian 1t Is supposed he at
Watch Hill at the time OF the disaster to the Metis
that the goods were washed ashore, and that he,
picking up all he could, packed them in case
and speedily carted them to St0ningt0n. Mr.. Odell
says that the residence BacucOlO gave 81 Crosby
is wellknOwn den Of thieves. Many Of the vel
vets IN the case were not at all damaged, and al
together it is valuable little property to recover.