49 2 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



iron of these vessels when not in active service, lying in salt water, re- 

 quires their anchorage in such a fresh water basin. The concentration 

 of the Hudson River, the Harlem, New Haven and Harlem River Rail- 

 roads in their freighting and passenger business, at their proposed new 

 grand depot, near Melrose and at Mott Haven, indicates that their im- 

 mense freight and passenger traffic from the Pacific coasts, and from 

 the West and the East, all must within a few years centre near the Har- 

 lem River, within the present town of Morrisania. These facilities will 

 be greatly increased by the proposed canal connecting the Harlem River 

 with the Hudson River, the removal of the obstructions at Hell Gate, 

 and the erection of the Suspension Bridge at Anthony's Nose in the 

 Highlands, connecting with the New York City and Northern Railroad. 

 A branch of the old Harlem Rail Road terminates at Port Morris. 

 During the Revolutionary war, the British Frigate Hussar was wrecked 

 off Port Morris, laden with American prisoners and treasure ; for many 

 years divers have been at work upon the wreck, with but little success. 

 It is claimed, however, that the divers are now meeting with better en- 

 couragement, "as they are making rapid progress in removing the debris 

 that is supposed to cover many thousand pounds in English coin. Sid- 

 ney Cook, the diver in charge, believes he has reached the ship's maga- 

 zine. He daily brings to the surface large cakes of gunpowder, and the 

 iron bands and wooden plates which once held together and fixed amu- 

 nition. A cartridge of wedge-shaped slugs, eight of which when joined 

 form a circle, kept in position by wooden disks, was brought up a short 

 time ago. These projectiles were used for cutting the rigging of an 

 enemy's ship. But little remains of the frigate's iron work. Some of 

 the wood work, after lying on the bottom of the river for ninety-six 

 years, is in a fair state of preservation. A knee and two lignum vitae 

 sheaves of pulley blocks were well preserved. The copper rivets of 

 manacles worn by the ill-fated American prisoners, chained to the gun 

 deck when the frigate went down, are occasionally found. Mr. Cook 

 brought to the surface not long since a massive block of Octk, a part of 

 the frigate's keel. Its shape shows that it was taken from near the 

 ship's bow. In all former attempts to recover the treasure, no diver has 

 succeeded in reaching the keel." 



Adjoining Port Morris are many fine country seats; among which de- 

 serves to be noticed Rockwood, the residence of Samuel E. Lyon, Esq , 

 a well-known member of the New York and Westchester bar. 



Prior to the Revolution, Morrisania, as before stated, formed one of 

 the precincts of Westchester parish; and in 1703 paid as her quota 

 towards the rector's support and poor ^3. js. ; in 1720 her rate was £4 



