The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-29
r1NcESr coLYER AND NEroHBoR.
The Kind Of Warfare they have on an Island
near south NOrwaIk.

Contentmcnt has departed from Con-
tentment Island, In Long Island Sound, aud
contention has superseded it. C'ntentment Isl
and contains about sixty acres OF picturesque
land, less than three miles west Of South Nor
walk, Conn. 1t was named Conten'ment Island
nv Mr.. Vincent Colyer. the artist and ex-Indian
Commissioner, who established country resi-.
deuce upon II ten years ago, and has lived there
every summer since. Mr.. Coiver was tho Secre-
tarv Of the First Board OF Indian Commissioners
In 1859. II was the Commission OF which F Xix
H. Brunot was Chairman. and Robert Campbell,
Nathan Bishop, W. r. Dodge, J. V. Farwell, @
II. stuart, Il. :. robev J. ID. Lang. and ~ j.
Turncy were members, all Of whom resigned
because OF Delano's corruption and Grants In
reference.
One of Mr.. Colyer's nelghbors on Contentment
Isl nd IL Jason ~ Bowen, who purch ,sed some
land between two plots that Colyer owns, and
has been living on 10 little more than two
years. bowen and Colvcr don't get along to-
Rether At all. Mt. Coiyer's explanation Of their
troubles IL as follows
Colyer has a rrht " way across Bowens prop
ertv TO his fnrthGst nlot on the point OF the
island. and when the South Norwalk or Roway-
ton Sund schools desired to have Jicnic,
Colver threw open hs grounds to them. bat on
several oco sions Bowen drove the children and
their teachers back on their irving to pass over
his land on Colyer's right of way: Bowen has
twu-rod right on the east side OF the island nd
the other a right Of way on the west side, which
Is set down IN the deeds without more descrip-
ton than that 1t shall ne as II h = been. Bowen
interpreted ths clause as permitting him TO
take two rods. but COlyer thought It should be
onlv one rod vide.
Mr.. Colyer says that last winter Bowcn's hired
man began To widen the road To thirty-tureo
feet. and in y issing he cottage occupied IN the
summer bv Mr. Colyer'a brother-in-law. Richard
Griffith, the wealthv Hronkyn grocer. the hired
man set back Griniths front fenca. pulled up
two fruit trees that belutined the grounds. and
let the wei belonging to the house out IN the
wldened ROADWAY. An action for trespiss was
talked about, but Mr. Cplver saws that Mr..
Bowen made so many repentHut promises that
the suit was not begun. shortly alterward, ac-
cording to Colyer's lrsion, Mr.. Bowen BEGAN to
widen tue right Of way further toward the
main LAND. He set back Mr. Covers fences and
made sweeping curve into Mr.. Colver's prop
erty. LAWYER Woodward ~ Norwtlk, In benalf
OF Mr.. COlyer, cautioned Mr. Bowen that ha was
exceeding his rights, and Mr.. Bowen ceased
work on the west side Of the i-land and began
anew on the east side by marking for the axe
some noble Old fir trees In front of Mr.. COVERS
residence. This was ten days ago. Mr.. Colyer
got out an Injunction. hut he says that MIR.
Bowen had IL modified as to allow him to
work upon the ROADWAY on the west side again
He encountered the gate on the old road with
stones. and Mr.. Colyer's man on the way TO the
mill with an OK cart full Of apples, could not
pass the obstruction.
Mr.. Colver saws that he ordered his men to re-
move tue stonas, but that MIR. Bowen, VINO stood
near. warned him that II would be perilous TO
obey the order. " rrv to remove the focks your
self, said Mr.. Bowen TO Mr.. Coiyer, ~ YOU
grasped one OF the lightest OF the boulders. and
at the same moment felt blow on hts shoulder
aud stunning shock on his head. and WIS
thrown to the ground. My first Impulse" SAID
MIR. Colyer, {" was To thrash nv sssaiIant, but
upon the instant " occurred to me that by so
doing should inture my case in the courts, aud
battery to the action for trespass, and have
ordered my lawyer TO proceed with BOTH"