The New York herald., 1879-08-26
M0NTAUK POINT.
The Peninsula TO Be. Sold
Under the Hammer.
A POOR ROYAL FAMILY.
King Pharaoh and His Court Anxious
About Their Rights.

ment 1t win not be necessary to recall General
Miles from the far West to allsy this new Indian
outbreak. for the tribe only consists Of two families
the Pharaohs and the Fowlers, and they have long
since abjured war paint. There ia not even post
trader the vicinity. The cause Of their uneasi-
ness is the approaching sale of the lands that
were dotted with their villages. On the 22d of Octo
ber next these lands. extending from Napeaguc
Beach to Montauk Point. will be sold at public auc
ton. This peninsula is nearly ten miles in length
and varies in width from about mile and a half
to three miles. 1t embraces in all. including
land under water. 1880 acres. a large portion
OF which is unlt tor agricultural purposes. There
are several lakes ponds on the peninsula cover
ing nearly fifteen hundred acres. The lands
decided by tho Indians to the settlers of East Hamp
ton. the first document being dated August 1860.
The payment was to be f1O year. payable in
Indian wampum beads. In the following
year the Montauk Indians organized raid Oh their
neghbors of Block Island but the latter. having in
timation of the hostile expedition. lay in ambush
when the canoes of the enemy landed and almost
initiated the party. The Montauks sought
assistance from the settlers OF East Hampton. which
was readily conceded. Afurther grant of land was
made by the grateful Indians. Subsequent patents
gave the whites possession of the entire peninsula,
with the exception of the Indian field and some of the
land ut North Neck consisting of sixty acres. The
lands of Montauk have been used by the owners for
tho purposes of pasturage. the only houses being
those Of the keepers, Conkln Osborn and Stratton.
the life saving stations and the lighthouse.
LANDS THE MARKET
Several efforts have been made from time to time,
by capitalists to possession OF the peninsula
large offers having been held out to the present
owners. They failed in consequence Of dealing with
12O people, whose minds to parting with
property which had been in their families for
two hundred years. dispute among the owners
has, at last placed the lands in the public market
The case first brought into court in the spring
Of 1877. before Judge Dykman. at Riverhcad. and
referred by him to Mr.. Z. A. Carpenter, Of Sag
Earbor. The decision of the referee is that tho
lands should be sold in bulk actual partition could
not be made without great prejudice to the owners
Various speculati6ns are made by the people living
in the end of Long Island to tho future Of
Montauk. Some are of opinion that an extension Of
the Long Island Railroad from Sag Harbor
Of the most attractive watering places in America
The journey thither at present is cminently dis
agreeable one. There arc roads whatever in
other. passable for strongly built vehicles. The
referee. in his report. divides the lands of
Montauk into three parcels tracts. The
western tract is called the Hither Wood. and
is about four and half miles in length
by mile and threequarters in breadth. 1t
about 300 OF land besides $50 of
water. There in this tract about 700 of
lutely worthless for any purpose 400 acres OF rock
and barren ridge utterly unsusceptible Of cultva-
acres of cleared land, susceptib of tillage. The
growth OF wood is scattering. The second tract
comprises what is known as the Nine Score Acre
Purchase and the North Neck. 1t comprises in all
about 1000 acres. of which $50 covered by water
Nearly 1000 almost all cleared. and
portions considered excellent for tllage. The
land Is very hilly. extremely steep in places, and
rises elevation OF about 125 feet above the
level The third tract embraces what is known as
fhs,T Tnla Ele0 n al
about 200 acres, of which about 500 covered by
water. The soil of the Indian Field is the best III
Montauk. The rights OF the Indians extend only
toward tho permission to use tho North Neck the
Indian Field for purposes of pasturage. The tribe
the year but cannot use and occupy both at once.
The two families. to which the tribe is at present
reduced. cultivate about twonty acres OF the Indian
Field.
The present King of Montauk is stephen Pharaoh.
full blooded Indian, about fifty years Of age. He
succeeded his cousin David. who died last summer.
visited the royal palace of tho pharaohs to-day.
1t is calculated to impress the visitor with ideas
of majesty. Unpanted boards form a rude
turc, on the outer walls OF which, instead OF
bazoned banners. are fish drying in the sun. The
preparing the MONDAY meal and the princes and
prircesses sat outside the door on decaying log.
cleaning bluefsh and cells. King Stephen away
at Shinnecock. paying his addresses to a dusky
beauty of the noishboring. tribe few rods
distant was the home OF Ephraim Fowler.
who represents another line OF sachems.
Both families were considerably exercised in mind
the they have received that their scanty
rights should be respected. The Queen explained
that of the gradual extinction OF the tribe
was on account of the boys running OF to
they grew up and mover returning to their native
place. Some OF the most expert hands in the New
Bedford whalers came from Montauk. Only thirteen
persons left to represent the tribe. The
King whom met short time later. is of athletic
build and u noted sportsman aud pedestrian. who
has keen eye for tho sports>where game abounds
and who makes nothing of q tramp from the light
house to Sag Harbor, distance of twenty-eght
iina nj hacE la IA led CONS -
ably and is remarkably intelligent He. too, feels
keenly the threatened change in the prospects OF
Montauk. His appearance is very imposing and.
Notwithstanding hts age. his hardy frame is still
pablo OF undergoing great exertion.
The distance from Amaeansett to the Point is
seventeen miles, and part oil the way is on Napcague
beach and meadows. For hve miles the traveller has
to journey through salt marshes and sand hills
covered with coarse grass. and meagre clumps
of shrubbery and trees. In very wet weather
the lower reaches almost impossible. Naught
is to be in this dismal swamp hut the gigantic
surf oaping the sandy barriers of the beach to
the south, the wind swept dunes, oil factory
two, h few iishermen's huts and beached fragments
of wrecks In this inhospitable region abides the
mosouito Fabulous stories told OF his voracity,
but there is no need OF informing tho unlucky way
fsyer OF his portinacity From the time the stage
enters the marshes until 1t mounts up the brown
and rising hills Jontauk IL is enveloped in thick
cloud of mosquitoes Thick wells and a
netting around the conveyance neces-
cort leaves the traveller ut tho foot ol tho lonely,
wind-swept hills to the east. The scenery then
assumes picturesque character the Hills terminate
ing abrupt cliffs on the ocean side. at the foot Of
which is q margin of bowlder strewn sand
and rounded pebbles. Flocks OF sheep may bo seen
in the dusky obscurity of the Hithcr Wood, look
ing down iron some brown eminonce. In one deep
gully, in the cliffs by the watershed of tho
hills s curious wall of large pebbles 1t is about
six feet in height and fronts tho Behind IL is
the drift Of tho ocean; before IL the restless
breakers. The loneliness of Montauk IL of its
distinguishing features. In the twilight one can
commune with Nature in her widest aspect without
fear OF interruption. At the keepers houses were
n ~ att mel
weather generally keeping the ladies indoors, much
against their inclinations. But aud storm did
not affect tho gentlemen, who, arrayed in fishing
habmcnts, avail themselves of the iilmitable ia
clities sport presented to them From the shore
bass OF all sizes can be caught in proiusion, ono
beauty, weighing thirty-six pounds being safely
landed by an old gentleman at Strattons to-day
after an exciting struggle.
WRECKS AT POINT.
haul hall IL