The New York herald., 1879-10-23
MoNTAUK POINT SOLD.


MR. ARTHUR w. BENSON, OF BRooKLYs, PuH-
cHAsEs THE PROPERTY FOR ONE HUNDRED
AND FIFTY-oNE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
EAST HAMPTON. L. l.. Oct. 22. 1872.
The sale of Montauk Point took place to-dsy In
presence of the assembled citizens of East Hamp-
ton. with q largo delegation from Sag Harbor. M
Arthur w. Benson. OF Brooklyn. became the pur-
chaser. the price being sl51. 900. At halfpast two
O'Clock tho referee. Mr. t. A. Carpenter OF Sag HAT
bor opened proceedings in the quaint old house or
Jehial X. Parsons. by taking vote of the numerous
proprietors of Montauk as to whether the sale
should 60 on postponement should take
place. Two hundred and seventy votes
were in favor of an immediate sale and
nnety-hve of postponement. Then the referee
mounted chair on the porch and assumed the roe
OF auctioneer Nearly opposite him was the house
OF John Howard Payne and around him were the
harnesses. the Bakers. the Conklins. the Huntings
and the other grizzied veterans whose forefathers
acquired their title to the lands OF Montauk from
the Indians two centuries and half ago. They
eager to know what disposition to be. made
of the patrmony which had been in their possession
30 long. After reading the decree of the Supreme
Court in reference to the sale Mr. Carpenter an
nounced the conditions to be ten per cent down and
the balance to be paid by Decemberl.
what am bid for all MontaukY" he asked.
There was pause. Amy offer for this grand pro-
pertyY he cried.
Fifty Thousand dollars was the first bid There were
four gentlemen present who had come on business-
Tiden; General James Il. Van Alen representative
OF the plaint Grinnell; Judge Hedges. tor the pro-
Gas Company. The next bids were $4,000. $s5.0oO
and 500 100. Then the bidding advanced one thou
.ns s hs alter adsH out after
"What do you intend to do with MontaukY' was
the inquiry put to Mr. Benson.
"Why. he said. "my boy here wanted to be
farmer and this is just the thing for him. saw
Montauk but twice in my life.. Once was thirty
years ago and again last summer"
"You must have some other purpose than farm
ing
do any harm to let it lie."
"Don't mind HIM" said the referee, short time
afterward. che has something else in view which he
will not divulge."
WHAT THE SHAREHOLDERS WILL GET.
At present the East Hampton people rather dis
appointed. as they reckoned on $20O.OO0 being
received from the SALE estimated that each holder
OF the eighth of share will $685. the value of
which heretofore has been placed ut Co. according to
the old currency. The land was held by three differ
ent sets Of propretors until the 174s when it
all turned into one common stock the reckoning
Of its value being generally made in eighths Of .
share. The expenses OF the sale will reach SIlO0O.
MoNTAUK's ADVANTAGES.
Now that the tedious litigation is at an end and
the promontory which bounds the eastern end of
Long Island is in the hands Of capitalist, 1t is
nishing II with railroad ommunicaton and making
1t choice Watering place. An extension of tho
Long Island road from Bridgehampton is already
spoken Of by the enthusiastic people of East Hamp
ton, who have been so long at the mercy of du-
bous stage line. Again. they speak OF Fort Pond
the finest harbor on the Atlantic coast. needing
only breakwater to make it model port of entry.
RIGHTS OF THE ORIGINAL OWNERS.
William Fowler. one OF the survivors Of the royal
race Of Montauk Indians. did not put in appear
ance at the sale to-day. He Is the of the
late Stephen Pharaoh in the empty title of King Of
Montauk. or the once powerful tribe that waged
war against the fierce Narragansetts there only
the Pharaohs and the Fowers left, the male repre-
sentatives Of the former being mere children.
The only rights they have are to be per-
mitted to live on small portion Of the
lands they once owned, with the Atlantic Ocean
washing beautiful beach tor miles the south
and the Sound on the north According to the terms
Of the purchase the land at Montauk occupied by
the United States government for the lighthouse
and the life saving stations shall not be intcrfcred
with. and the stock keepers retain possession OF
their homes until next May. m
The next thing in order after the sale Of Montauk
will be the reclaiming Of the Napeaguc swamps
which divide the dunes and lands OF Amsgansett
from the brown hills OF the point