CRAFT ROBBED, THEN IS SUNK

SNYDER

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 7/6/2004 at 15:03:26

Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Front page, Sept. 7, 1908

CRAFT ROBBED, THEN IS SUNK

Valuable Launch of Charles Snyder Is Stripped of Engine and Trimmings.

IT WAS VALUED AT $600

Boat Is Filled With Rocks, Then a Match Starts the Finish

Sometime during the night Saturday, the launch "Myrtle", a craft belonging to Charles Snyder of this city, was taken from its boat-house at East Dubuque, and after being stripped of its engine, propellor, steering wheel and other trimmings of value, was set afire, loaded with rocks and sunk in the Mississippi.

To complete their work of destruction, the vandals bored two holes in the bottom of the craft, to make sure that the boat would go to the bottom. The "Myrtle" was finished a little over a year ago; it was valued at about $600, and was considered one of the trimmest crafts afloat upon the river at this point.

Suspects Are Trailed.
On Monday, it was given out that suspicion had directed itself toward certain parties, and the daring deed is being investigated in its every detail by responsible persons. As yet, however, there are no developments for publication, although those on the trail are confident that it will ultimately lead to the detection and arrest of the guilty parties.

Mr. Snyder had planned on spending Sunday and Monday at points along the river, and everything about the launch had been made ready for an early start on Sunday morning.

Upon his arrival at the boat-house Sunday, Mr. Snyder's suspicious were at once aroused when he discovered that the lock of the door had been tampered with and he needed only to enter the structure to reach a confirmation of what he had suspected.

Took Their Time.
From all appearances, the thieves took their time in stripping the launch of everything valuable about it, as it was done so cleanly and neatly that the operation must have consumed at least several hours.

The launch was discovered Sunday morning at a point near Round Island; just the nose of it was above water and it was completely overturned when discovered by parties up the river in a boat.