THE STORY OF GREAT BRIDGES 



51 



Dock. When the Nonpareil reached the dam at full tide, Mor- 

 ris demanded that the passage be opened. As this request was 

 not complied with, Morris with the aid of about one hundred men, 

 who appeared on a number of small boats, tore out a part of the 

 dam and thus forced thru the passage of his vessel. A suit 

 was instituted by the Renwicks against Morris in the Superior 

 Court for the damage done to the dam, but a decison was rendered 



Macomb Mansion, Kingsbridge 



against the plaintiffs. The Supreme Court and later the Court of 

 Errors upheld the original decision. Chancellor Walworth, in 

 handing down his decison, said in part: "The Harlem River is 

 an arm of the sea and a public navigable river; it was a public 

 nuisance to obstruct the navigation thereof without authority of 

 Law." 



From that time on a drawbridge was always maintained in 

 the dam rendering the Harlem free to navigation. It was in turn 

 replaced in 1861, by a swinging draw which became known as 

 the Second Macomb's Dam Bridge, and remained in service until 



