New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-19
TO REMOTE THE NAVAL MAGAZINB.

THBsBILL NOW BEFORE CONGRESs-A SKETCH
OF ELLIS ISLAND.
Bills were introduced in Congress, on Thursday for
tic removal Of the naval magazine from Ellis Island
and for the purchase Of another site for the erection
Of naval magazine. II is probable that few people
have given any special thought to Ellis Island beyond
tho fact that they knew that there was such an isand
between BedlOw's Island and the Communpaw mats.
Ellis Island. or Fort Gibson, it formerly called
although midway between Bellows Island ana the
Jersey shore, is included in The First Ward Of New
York. The fort at one time was mounted with
twelve guns and was gairisOncd by detachment oil
United states troops until few years before Tue
Civil War, when il formally transferred - the
Ordnance Department of the Navy 10 be USED aS a
magazine The fort not dl>mantcd however
until 1861 and since that time every naval vessel
after going into commission at the Navy larN Wohld
60 there to receive her ammunition, and every vessel
returning from cruise has discharged her ammunition
there before going to the Navy Yard.
The island at time belonged to the Ellis estate
and this gave it its Nearly fifty years ago 1t
attained notOricty 10y the execution there OF
Gibbs WOrmslcy and another man. three noted p
rates The bOatmcn the river front tell a romantic
story of the brave deed of beautiful young girl who
assisted her lover. soldier in confinement for some
military offence. to escape from the island. ut the
boat was Capsized and both were drowned, and the
superstition, boatmen de, arc that the spirit, of these
two lovers frequently seen strollns along the
beach arm-in arr. But none of the guuncrs OF the
Navy who have been duty there from time TO time
and lived there with thci. families have ever seen
these shades. several children have been born on
the island and each on has been named Ellis. ON
the other hand it cannot be recalled that there
ever more than death on The island notwi-l
standing the dangers attending the handling Of cN-
posives. and this death Of "A Waterman named
Bryant. who burst It blood vessel in a ching ill.,
There have been immense quantities
Of powder and Of other explosive,
stored upon the island, and the magazine contain,
five compartments for the making up Of charge, Of
powder and the filling and storing Of shell, and other
proecile,. Every prccauton j, taken by the watch
and the employs. under the supervision of the
cunning officer, To prevent accidents. and when, upon
occasion, while some sixty pound shells were
being transferred in lighter from one Of the war
vessels to the island Quartcrmdn Cook. of the lighter
observed white smoke issuing from OF the boxes.
Cooh snatchcd it up. passed IT, deck and shouted
10 them To- " throw tlc blamed thing overheard The
men on deck fled in alarm. when Cook -prIug upon
deck and threw the shell into the river. thu, saving
many lives at the risk OF his own. The pier, and
some of the building, the island i'm dIlapddtcd
condition for want Of none, to keep them up. ~
is ntmaed that the purpose OF senator McPhcr-ou's
ill Is To provide landing depot for immigrant,
when the department passes under Federal control.
nut the biz was mstieatcd by his constituency IN
Jersey City who want all chances Of danger from the
agaznc removed II the magazine j., removed il
will probably be to the neghh0rhood Of Fort Wad--
worth, as the Government is contemplating purcha,-
ing a large plot Of land there for the uses Of the
Army, and Will probably set oil part for The Navy.