New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-15
SQU4TTERS On MILL ROCK.
THE aIBsONs TO BE DIsPOssEssED BY THE PuR-
CHASER OF THE ISLAND.

THE oIBsONs TO DE DIsPOssEssED BY THE PuR-
CHASER OF THE ISLAND.
There is a good deal Of talk in Harlem about
issued yesterday by Justice Henry p. McGowen
the Ninth judicial District Court, dispossessing an
Old family OF squaers OF Mil Rock. Island In the East
River giving full OF the property to Cecil
Campbell Higgins. Of No. AS Wal+sI Mil Rock, or
Gbsons Island 1t is popularity called, is one OF the
Hell Gate group. lying OF the Hen and Chickens reef
toward the YOrkye shore Above water IL has an area
OF from half to though the surface Is
nothing but Of rock, Jagged aud wea her worn,
like the of the He'll Gate islets Until about
twenty years ago 1t uninhaDited and
seemed to everyone but pile OF
d Obstruction to navigation in the East River
Channel About lsGO WasnIn gtOn Gibson. fisherman,
sport and eccentric. well 2nOwE along the Last side
pitched his quarters barren and built himself
a small house the END toward Wards Island. Wash
ngon IN his time the successful angler on the
Harlem Rivers and his best catches have often
figured in the bills OF fare House the Old
LeggetLs Hotel. Besides being disciple OF Walton. ne
followed the cockpit Win great ardor NH Rock being
OF use for gardenlug Old Gibson turned 1t
into a huge hennery. HIS breed Of game
spot and won many hari-tougut battles. No
the could be fought within tel miles OF NewYork,
but the veteran trainer hand TO part 1t.
The old made his headquarters when on saOre AT
second-aye. restaurant opposite the Old car stables,
and all the eggs from his establishment, not used
for matching, found their way here. On Mil
Rock Gibson hved unmoested I'll his
through several hands. One OF the Lelands is
nave ned il for a time There ferry from
either shore and only those that knew the Hell Gate
currents thoroughly cared 10 make the Passage FREE
quently Old Washington Gibson left behind him
one and two daughters and they held
Oh TO the house ana hennery after their
fathers death. The son, Tyler Gibson. busted
himself as Il fisherman and kept boats FOR hire The
daughters single and kept I'd house SONG
usun.
Not long ago Mr.. Higgins who is lawyer and real
estate agent, bought MIL Rock for $4,000 AMI set
about getting possession Of IL. lu June lie petit
toned Ninth District Court that three squat
ters Iyer GIBSON Nloetta u OsOn and Jane GDsou Do
made TO appear show why they should not be
dIspossesse1. Ihe hearing postponed several tines
ana OIL 29Ih the testimony OF both sides was gwen
Mr. HIgglus deed produced and the squatters rel
back their twenty years OF unmolestet oceupan-
cy and the improvements made on the property
for "A title Yesterday Justice MeGOwn decided
in favor of the recent purchaser, and gave a
final order dspossessing the Gibsons. The Msrsbals
writ Will not be served. however for day or Two The
(,ibsons are well known In Harlem, and an effort
is being made by their friends TO arrange with
Mr. Higgins for a nominal rent, thus keeping
the Old family there. The island VIII PROBABLY
be takep IN a years base OF operations Dy the
United states engineers when they attempt TO blow ur
and Iredgs away the middle He'll Gate reel Mill RocA
too mas nave 10 20 end This PROBABLY accounts
for the price paid for 80 small and barren rock