The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-31
NO s.

prlslng navigator, who had won dis
tinction in the service of the, great
j Dutch merchants, then the wealthiest
in Europe. Coming home to Holland
in 1911, and finding the new lands
discovered by Henry Hudson the
great topic of, the year, he, joined a
friend in, chartering q vessel, in
which both of the adventures sailed
for the Hudson river. They brought
back with them, not only a profitable
cargo of furs, but two young Indians,
whom they named Valentine and Or
son. As these were the first Indians
ever brought, to Holland, tney attract
ed great attention, and gave an inn
fportant Impulse to Dutch commercial
enterprise. Many people suppose
that enthusiasm has nothing to do with
the investing of money, the daily ex
perience of our bankers and brokers
prove the contrary; and it appears
that the presence in, Amsterdam of
these Indians had almost as much to
do, in stimulating the enterprise of
merchants, as. the prospect of obtain
ing valuable returns. ,ar5t T.. ,Ia
| Three merchants of Amsterdam now
united for the purpose of trade with
the Indians of the Hudson river, or as
they called it, the river Mauritus.
Two vessels were made ready, one
named the Fortune, and the other the
Tiger. The Fortune was commanded
by Blocks old comrade and partner,
Christiaensen. Captain Block. took
command Of the Tiger, and in the
summer of 1913, both sailed in COM
pany for the New World. Other small
vessels followed, as many as three or
four and the harbor of New York
soon exhibited a little fleet of vessels,
which penetrated the neighboring
creeks and bays, ascended the river,
threaded the Kills, explored the Rari-
tan, and gathered abundant cargoes
of valuable furs at small expense.
Before the autumn of 1913 was far
advanced, these vessels returned rich
lY laden to Holfand-all except one,
the Tiger, commanded by Adrian
Block. One day, while this vessel
lay anchored near the shore of Man
haitian island-say about pier No. A,
North river-she caught fire, and was
UuIIICu " GuO WdJCT . cuSc.
Now Captain Block had a rare op-
portunity to show his quality. Un
daunted by his calamity, he establish
ed himself on the island, and deter
mined to spend the winter in building
another vessel, using for the purpose
iron of the burnt Tiger, and such parts
of her as had been saved. 1t was a
valiant and high h-spirited resolution
for the Indians of Manhattan were nu-
merous and warlike, and there was not
a white man on the coast, besides his
own company, between Virginia and
Canada. The Dutch, however, had
concilrated that troublesome tribe by
fair dealing, and they proved very
helpful and friendly to Captain Block
in his misfortune. fa,.
Manhattan island, little as we should
think it now, was then one of the
most beautiful islands in the world.
Along both rivers there were lofty and
picturesque bluffs; and the interior, be-
sides being agreeably diversified with
hill and dale, was dotted with ponds
and lakes, remarkably clear and deep,
and beautifully fringed with virgin
green. A few deer were still left up
on the island, Notwithstanding the IN
cessant hunting of the Indians. Some
rabbits and goats had been brought
over from Holland but soon after be-
ing brought ON shore they were poison
ed by some iplantlvhich grew among
the heritage. - E..,t,.., ,,,-,. -
But what best pleased Captain
Block was, that nearly the whole sur;
face of the island was covered with
noble trees, admirably suited to his
purpose of building a vessel. Near
the lower extremity of the island, be-
tween Trinity Church and Bowling
Green, he built few huts, and be-
gan forthwith: to build his vessel.
Through all that long winter he and
his men kept steadily at work, the.
Indians bringing daily supplies of food
and whatever else they had which
could be tlsed. susast s:-F oil -siH9H. 4
He accomplished hisRpufpose.d By
the time the vessels from Holland be-
gan to arrive, in the spring of 1914,
he had his vessel finished. She was a
yacht, forty-four and half feet long.
eleven and half feet wide decked,
and of sixteen tons burden. If Adrian
Block cannot prop erly he called the
founder of New Y ork, we can at least
claim for him that he was its first ship
builder. His vessel, which he named
the Restless, was the second launched
in North America, the first having
been built in Maine by the colony
which passed winter there seven years
before.
q Captain Block no sooner had his lit
tie craft rugged and ready for sea, than
he set out on voyage of discovery
in the waters of the coast. He, fist |
of all white men, braved the perils of
He'll Gate, which was named bv Cap |
tain Block himself, after a similar tur
bulent stream in Zealand, called the
Hellegat- Having reached Long Is
land Sound, he explored it's northern
shore, discovered the Housatonic river,
passed by the bay upon which New
Haven now stands, and arrived, at
last, at the mouth of the Connecticut.
This river he assembled as the site of
Hartford, visiting the Indian tribes on
Its shores, from whom he learned that
the Indian name of the river was Con-
nittecock,, which has been corrupted !.
to Connecticut. -,.....ll F.. r....-.
Descending the river. he continued
the voyag e eastward, and discovered
the river Thames and crossing the
sound, went ashore on Montauk Point.
to the main land, be visit
ed an island, six or eight miles in extent,