S4 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



you will be foul of us ! " was the reply. " Never fear, never fear," they re- 

 joined; and coolly added: ''The whale boats are out on the sound to- 

 night, and we wish to get under your lee." Another moment and their 

 bow-sprit was in the S/iu/dam's net ting ; it took but a short time to cut the 

 ropes with their broad swords, when all sprang on deck and drove the 

 watch below. During this affray, the British were firing upon them fierce- 

 ly from City Island. As they did not understand the management of so 

 large a vessel, they were compelled to use two of their prisoners, whom 

 they afterwards released, to navigate her into port. This was immediately 

 followed by the capture of six other vessels, laden with wood ; two of 

 which were ransomed, while the other four were taken into Stamford. It 

 appears that the original intention of the captors, on this occasion, was 

 to have seized the fort at Whitestone Ferry, upon Long Island; but 

 that the unexpected sight of the guard-ship induced them to alter their 

 plans.* A large force of whale-boat men afterwards landed on the island, 

 and arrested all the inhabitants ; but paroled them immediately. ^ At 

 one time there seems to have been a tacit understanding between the 

 British and Americans, that the former should hold the island in the day- 

 time, while the latter at night occupied it. 



Hart Island lies to the east of the former. Here is a Hospital under 

 charge of the Department of Charities and Correction of New York 

 city, accommodating between eight and nine hundred patients. In con- 

 nection with the Hospital is also a work-house at the north end of the 

 island. The present Protestant chaplain is the Rev. Marinus Willett. 

 In 1774. Oliver De Lancey was seized in demesne as of fee of all that 

 certain island, situate and being in Long Island Sound, commonly called 

 Spectacle, or Hart Island, or one of the Minneford Islands, containing 

 eighty-five acres. From Oliver de Lancey it passed to the Rodmans and 

 Haights. The latter sold it to the late proprietor, John Hunter, Esq. 

 The south-west end of the island affords a safe anchorage for the river 

 shipping, during the prevalence of South-easterly storms. High Islmd 

 is situated near the south shore of Pelham Neck. The Narrows between 

 Hart and City Island and the Blauyes are much frequented by vast flocks 

 of wild ducks. The varieties consist principally of the old wive, broad 

 bill, coot, black duck and whistler. In the Fall of 1846, one thousand 

 ducks are said to have been shot here, in the course of six hours. 



The Pelham Bridge, sometimes called the Eastchester Creek Bridge, 

 communicates with the neck and the Westchester shore. This place is 



a McDonald MSS., in possession of G. N. Moore, of New York. 



b Jessie .Mullinex, of New Rochelle, remembered Colonel Thomas' attempt to take the 

 island, when he, with others, armed with long duck guns, helped to drive him off. McDonald 

 MSS. 



