The Card Sharps Who Picked the Wrong Captain—and Sailed to Peru

Last Saturday two gamblers left this city for Port Townsend with well-laid plans to fleece Captain Rothery of the British ship Dimsdale, but the wily captain shanghaied the men and the following day set sail for Callao, Peru. By this time there can be no doubt but that the gamblers are getting the full benefit of a sea voyage—swabbing the decks, climbing aloft before breakfast, greasing the mast, and attending to other equally obnoxious duties. The gamblers who are thus taking a long sea voyage against their will are Jack Perry and Joe Galloway, both well known in Seattle, where they were always recognized by the profession as “mighty smooth people.”

A few weeks ago the Dimsdale sailed into port with a Turkish crew, excepting the captain, who is an Englishman. Upon the arrival of the vessel on the Sound the captain was spotted by Perry and Galloway, and it was ascertained that he was in possession of a good deal of money—partly his own, some belonging to the owners of the vessel, and a good amount the property of the crew, who, being a saving set of sailors, had induced the captain to keep all their wages until they should return to an Oriental port. It was reported that he had about $3,000 in cash, and, what was more than welcome news to the gamblers, that he was susceptible and would be “fruit” if properly worked. There was no opportunity to work the captain for some days, but the two designing men cultivated his acquaintance and waited until the last minute without a favorable opportunity presenting itself.

Finally, last Saturday, they decided to take the bull by the horns and make a bold attempt to get the money by any means, and with this intention they went to Port Townsend. That evening they met the captain on board his ship, and, if rumors are correct, succeeded in winning a good deal of money from him at cards. What really took place cannot be ascertained because the principal actors in the drama are now at sea, but the gamblers came ashore that night late and were very much elated, while the following day the captain looked anything but happy.

Sunday afternoon Capt. Rothery was warned by an emissary of Joe Turk, the Tacoma sailor boarding-house keeper, that the men were professional gamblers and confidence workers and had been camping on his trail for the purpose of getting his money. This information caused the captain to become highly indignant, but he was equal to the emergency, and for the time being choked his wrath. He found the two men again and invited them on board for another little game, and they, delighted, went with him. Since then they have not been seen by their friends, but Patsy Corrigan, the Tacoma prize fighter, who is a runner for Joe Turk, says that he was in Port Townsend Sunday and knew about the men being on board the ship; that as the vessel left the harbor Galloway sprang overboard and attempted to get away, but the Turkish sailors lassoed him in the water and hauled him, kicking and swearing and yelling, back on deck.

It is very probable that the captain easily got the men on board, and then, taking them unawares, locked them up in a room and subdued them at his leisure. While the gamblers had the captain’s money he now has the gamblers, all their money and the jewelry. There can be no doubt that he will look out for his money and also that of his guests.

Galloway and Perry were great friends of Johnny Boyle and other local gamblers, and when Corrigan returned from Port Townsend yesterday with the news that the stars of the combination had turned sailors and were even working their passage before the mast, the breasts of those left at home heaved with righteous indignation, and plans were formulated for the rescue of the men upon their arrival at Callao.

It was argued that the barbarous British captain might not permit the men to land upon their arrival in South America. Instances had been known where shanghaied men were put in irons upon their arrival near port and transferred from one vessel to another in that manner until death relieved them of their captivity. Johnny Boyle and his friends were about yesterday talking over the matter and it is their intention to write to Secretary Gresham and have him correspond with the American consul at Callao and see that the men are permitted their liberty upon arrival in that port.

Perry, one of the shanghaied men, is a brother of “Bob” Perry, alias Bob White, a San Francisco sport, who has money and is a high roller. Bob at one time lived in Seattle, but it became too hot for him here, and, after figuring in a shooting scrape at the race track seven years ago, in which he shot two of the Clancy boys, he has made his home in a more congenial clime. It is said that at the last races in California he won about $50,000 by gambling and playing the horses. The wires were kept hot for a while yesterday by the local sports and the brother in San Francisco, and now “Bob” knows all about the outrage and he proposes to do something desperate.

A local gambler, who has a great admiration for “Bob,” says that the latter will charter a tug and load a field piece on board and cruise up and down off the California coast. The vessel will be intercepted, and unless the captives are immediately surrendered the ship will be blown up and all on board sent to the bottom.

About the city yesterday the gamblers did little else than talk over the tragedy and the disgrace that had befallen two of the smoothest and best of them. It was terrible to think that a green sea dog should so royally eclipse even the proudest of them and should at a single stroke completely defeat those whom even the police could not fathom. It will be some time before the gamblers recover from their shock, but they will appeal to the governor to have the consul at Callao interest himself in behalf of the captive men.