The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-18
TWO MAIDENS DEFIANC Gle.
a NEW AND FRUIT Ess ASSUMPTION
or woMhN'S RIGHTS.
Cause OF Controversy that has been CeIe-
bratcd In Hastings fer Quar- er Of n Cen-
tuiy-Water that would not Hun Up Hill


Cause OF Controversy thnt has been Ceie-
bratcd In Has,inus fer q Quarter Of Gem
tuiy-W Water that would not Hun Up Hill
For more than twenty Ave years the VIII
lage authorities OF Hastings Hudson have
been engaged in a legal controversy with two
old maids, aud have been defeated at every
point until recently, The old Albany post road.
known as Broadway, that runs along the sum-
NIT OF what Is called the ridge" Is lined with
costly stone mansions, surrounded 10y groves and
lawns, and frequently divided by little rpring
brooks. The roadway has been macadamized
and Is bordered by substantial stone walls.
circutous road leads from the depot up the
steep hill past the few scattering stores to
broadway. This road was the ground Of the
controversy. TO lay out roadway that would
be easy Of ascent, yet convenient TO the stores.
and withstand the washing Of storms and
spring freshets, has puzzled the road commit
tees since tho first settlement of the village.
Since the construction OF the Croton aqueduct,
that runs along the summit and crosses Broad
way at tho Junction OF the hill road, the con
structlon OF the roads has been more difficult,
and the opposition Of the old maids has in-
creased the labor.
The women are Amelia aud Sophia Cooke.
They nte eccentric and a terror to small boys.
They are the survivors OF seven children Of
bVhh NNthts htuNicihdus ~ ucstcuuduN bl n
French nobleman. lie came TO this country
soon after the nrst ipolcon's rise and isurpa-
! tion Of the Government Of France. lie was
wealthy and after short time spent In travel
/ ling through the country. he purchased several
/ blocks Of stores in New York ana a country
residence near Euglewood, y. j.. ard another
/ In HASTINGS. lie made the latter place his per-
/ iuauent residence. He lived and was rpcOg-
nlzed as gentleman. His children were born
After his death the property was managed by
! his son Charles, then a merchant in New Or
| VIII fa1 hy
selling II, ana cutting through the roadway. IL
embraces about five acres of land. bounded by
: triangular plot. IL has not been well cared for.
The weather-beaten pickets have been repeat
| the women, so that they now stard perpcndicu-
larly. horizontally and In all odd directions
! The fruit trees have been raided by the boys.
and tueir limbs are broken and leahess. Inc
grape arbor IL tuubing down. The only neat
front OF the house. The house is a white two
story frarne with long sloping roofs, and several
kitchen and storehouse extensions. Tue plain,
/ unpanelled door opens upon a pOrttco facing the
garden. Tne east end ~ the house extends to
fence footpath outside is bordered toy large
| elm and willow trees. The women live there
| alone without any servant. Before their brother
died they kept horses and Carriages, and had
man servants and maids.
After his death they contested the right ~
the village authorities TO cut % another slice Of
their land to increase the width OF the hill road
and make wider turn at the junction Of
broadway They employed counsel and the
! controversy was carried to the Court OF Appeals,
which tribunal decided against them. Their
counsel found % loophOle through which they
ESCAPED the JUDGMENT, and afterwards the au-
thorties found u too costly 10 light them ex-
| cep. al Ions intervals.
! On broadway opposits their house, the road
has a slight elevation. The question Of how 10
carry refuse water over that engaged the atten-
ton II the road commissioner. The women
were determined that the water should run up
7 hill. IN spite of the commissioners averncnt
that It was an impossioiiy; They refused 70
allow the mound TO he ploushed down. aud the
commissioner turned the course Of the water TO
the brook, IL washed away the high stone wall
that hounds their land but even after il fen Ia
a few dlys ago. the road committee letter,
mined TO plough down the mound in the road
and cut agHtter on the side OF the road nearest
the Cuokes' house. Laborers vita hor-e- and
nlouehs began 20 cut ground: The Misses
Cooke watched the OPERATION from ch ilnler
window. when the laoorers had cut to within
about twenty feet Of the gate the women donned
their outer garments and went outside. Miss
Sophia WAS armed with a broken .ribbed UNI
hrella and rusty horse pistol and Ms, Amelia
nounshed a long pole to which was tied an iron
Instrument resembling hsrpoon. the point
wound with a veil. They shouted m tie horses
The horsss aud Ma. hmcli jsbSed tnea lHS Mia
| the harpoop. while Mia sophia poked them with
pite the outcries furrow was started. Miss
/ SOPHIA went INTO tho house, sot 4 chair. ana
horses started aud the women. -hric1ed US the
men oiled INC whips.
Miss sophia kept her seat until the horses
heads were within a foot Of hers. and she re-
pta'edly cried, " You -nant plough .tre unless
you drive over my body The driver truck
The horses. aud ~ they started Mis. Soptia
AYurl-hed the umbrella under their noses and
grabbed her chair To- get cut " the way. Miss
F Amelia gave IN, nigh horse "a ak ii the rih-,
ard tnen both Of the women gave w. the con.
test. and went into the house, WARMLY tcrdtng
tue lao rers. I he men finished their work.
The water now runs Iwn the hull. and the dram
to the brock has been STOPPED ul.
The sisters claim that tle Or ginal width Of
the old pos road was i've rods II has neeh
/ dUced 10 little over three rods, the property
on the opposite side getting the benefit. They lay
/ great stress on thctr representation Of poverty,
yet s.y they will suend every cent they can
reach 10 pay the ak LAWYERS they h we engage
| among them Charles Otonorl 10 contest the
right VI the village authorities to cut away their
/ land.