New-York tribune., 1882-04-08
TAKING POSSESSION OF AN ISLAND.

IAhlNG POSSESSlON VI AN lSLtA'D'
A small island of two or three acres lies IN the
middle of the Passaic River within the limits OF
Paterson, n. j., just above the West-st bridge
which, up to yesterday, was connected WIN dr uno
ship of the island has long been disputed by seVcra
claimants The courts decided recently that one OF
these, George Broomhead, manufacturer, had no
right TO the island, but the others nave not !et
found occasion to bring the question of their owner
ship into the courts They are the Wasmngtomah
S ded e Society for
Useful Manufactures, ancient and powerful cor
poration, which controls the water fran
chses of the Passaic River, and OWNS It's
bed for certain distance below the great
falls No papers exist to show q separate Title 1or
anybody to Society Temperance Island, as 1t IS
variously called, but the society, by virtue OF lts
ownership of the bed of the river claims the island
as part thereof. When Roswell Colt now de-
ceased man inclined to philanthropy controlled the
to the Washngtonon Association for a nominal
consideration, with the agreement that the proceeds
from rents etc, should be devoted to the cause OF
temperance. The island was used for temperance
meetings and was often rented for picncs.
The lease ran out, bat the Society of Useful Manu-
factures although still claiming the island. took no
active steps to maintain its claim until yesterday
when force of men, under the direction OF the So
cety, tore down the little foot-bridge, and thus
isolated the island, preventing its use I ior
meetings and plcnics until communication
shall be restored. This action was directly
prompted by the defiant attitude of the Temperance
Association, which recently built wall across the
ashes there permission TO do so having been gwen
the firm by the society. The counsel of the society
informed the association The island IS o1ls ana
ance people is based upon adverse possession
they asserting that they have long held undisputea
occupancy. The Society of Useful Manufactures,
unless il is esiopped by legal proceedings will build
a Sea-wall about the island, and make 1t dry land
the year round. which it is notnow
WASHED OVERHEARD AND BACK AGAIN.
I Ia, IA INIT
into Halifax on sunday last short OF coal, aIIiNei
Yesterday and anchored i'll the bay near Bedl0cs
island. She sailed from MontTosc, Eng land, on
March g. with a cargo of potatoes and on the fourth
day ont encountered a violent storm. The seas ran
high and frequently broke over the vessel with crush
ing force. tremendous wave broke over the ran,
doing great damage TO everything about the decks.
Captain Ross, who was standing al the wheel, WSs
thrown with such force on the deck mat he broke
one of his arms. The wheel chains were also
broken. and the then refused to work ana
wanted the captain to return TO port. BelcNlng
that there no special cause for alarm, ne
captain refused TO put back and hough partially
disabled, with the officers he managed the vessel Tor
two days. The storm continued tor several days.
and two Of the forward hatches were
washed away and the fore compartment filled with
water Nearly every person on board was more OF
less injured the carpenter had one OF his legs
broken, and the bOatswain his shoulder dlslccaed;
On March 22 terrific hurricane was encountered
and the heavy seas demolished two OF the lIebOats
broke III the cabin com oanlonway, and dld great
damage about the decks. The fore-topSail yard was
lost. Inc second OlDCer was Nd>Itu ONtlpOdl'i ~
a sea, and while the crew were throwing out ME
buOys, he was washed back again. When the Ayr
shire put into Halifax five of the sailors deserted
The steamship folcX' eighteen Gays from AlS,or-
throughout, and on the Banks of Newfoundland
passed several fields of ice and large cebergs. The
steamship William Burkitt arrived from Burntlsl
and more than a week overdue. In addition 20
generally stormy weather during the voyage, she
had terrific hurricane March -, lasting seven
teen hours. One of the febOats lost, and other
slight damage done by the heavy seas She pass "a
eleven large icebergs on the Banks. In latitude AZ
}S' north, longitude SO 02 west she communicated
with the American fishing schooner Grace l.. Pearse
of Gloucester, and took OF of the crew who was
sick.