New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-15
Deutscb g Go.
LAST DAYS OF 4 LANDMARK.
TEARING DOWN THE OLD SUGAR HOUSE.
T WAS USED As \ BRITISH PRISON DURING THE
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

- \
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
At the corner Of Duane and Rose SIS. one age at
present faces another in strange contrast. The old
Rhinclander sugar house. freed from the buildings
that have hidden 1t for quarter Of century,
now stands fully exposed to view. gloomy building
with heavy walls. slopng roof and arched and barred
cell windows 1t presents ncongruous appearance.
stared by the conventional modern buildings around
IT, When the sugar houses of old New York were con-
verted into prison, for American patriots there were
no such streets Duane and Rose ss. The grassy,
quiet street which then led t tne old place called
Quecu-st The ward in Which the building was stu
aed known MONTGOMERY Ward. Instead 81
the h:ge buildings that tower around and look
down 1t, there were the common and the tanyards.
Hanover Square then the great business centre
Of the city. Batteries of were mounted on tho
ssawa which is still known the Battery and along
the Hudson and Ea, rivers They not for orna-
men then and in 1916 the echo of their reports brought
terror into the streets and lanes Of the town. In
August 1875 the Americans still held old New York.
But the bay and river held fleet, each ship Of which
few the British color, and pointed heavy cannon It
the city.
shall we retreat and burn the town that 1t may
not fall into the enemy, hands, or shall We hold it's
asked General George Washington.
Hold the town. came the answer from Congress.
Then came the battle Of Long Island. after which
the defeated American, lay surrounded apparently
without chance escape by British troops land and
British boats ard ship, river and sound. But one
fosgy morning under the gun, Of the great ships under
the nose Of the English general the American army was
fcrrd across Silently and when the broke through
the fox they were lie in Ncwlolk. But on >eptem-
Der - they had abandon The town, as II could be
held no longer. They made a stand AT Fort Washing
ten. ON December 20 that fort was taken by the
British and then tie houses of the city began 10
play their sd parts. Icing changed into English pns-
on>. Churches also used for TIL, purpose. The
Middle Dutch Church was stripped of il pews, and
5000 men. sick and well. were cIo"ded in together.
OF the great sugar houses, -reat' being what they
were considered then, Ors owned by the LNins>iOns
was In Liberty-st. Another. belonging - tile Van
Courtandts. tho northwest corner Of Trinity
ChurchyarI. and tn Roo>evclts owned what was
then known as Sknner,t. The Bayari SUGAR house
WAS in Waist. and converted into tobacco man.
ufactoy I'm 1873.
The most massive structure OF an was the one which
has remained until the present day. unfortunately 10
follow the rest in few weeks. His sugar hol>e WAS
biI in 17G3 according 10 some record, and to p)pu
lar tradition. Mrs MARTHA J. Lamb in her history 4
the city OF New York, says that it was built In 1862
The old iron letters which were the front OF tbs
building until last sunday night, when figures and
were stolen. would boar the popular View for they
were 1903. The house erected by Henry Cuyler,
jr for his heir. rarnt Ryndor> Cuyler 1t soon after
ward passed into the hands Of the Rhinelaniers.
The heirs of the Rhncander estate have begun
tear,g the building Down, much against their wish,
and only because they have been forced to do 50 BY
tho department Of Buildings, which has condemned
the old place.
The Rhneandcrs, feeling that the old building
was one OF the few remaining landmarks Of the city,
extremely anxious to keep II standing a. long
possible II WAS Of no pccu liaIy value, ana they
could have used the land - advantage long nSo had
they so desired. But they wished t. preserve tho
house rs a memorial. The city last year. however,
began serving notices on them to make repairs, 'c'
and nj last formally con l"mned the building,
ordered IL To be- torn down. Tie RhineEhd rs oy
assuming all risks until May l, managed 10 get IN
cNtcn,iol Of time up To that da'e but rs they thleu
To get the city TO consent Ia allow the building "
remain, they reluctantly began di>mantins H.
+. J. oakley Rhincander. with several friends, has
visited the OH building daily whether any moS
relics have been found. lie It'd Mr. oclIsenrelier u'
he Intended H. buy from him the Iron key when 10
has in his possession. and also the spanish CON-
found IL him on Monday. and described In The Irb"'
OF Tuesday May 10. Mr. Rhineander has gold con-
Row which found in the prison lie wears IL 0"
his watchchail. 1t is exact duplicate Of the oh'
found by Mr. Ochscnreiter. Mr.. Ochsenreter ia'
been informed that he may put his own price OIL 'h'
two relics.
The two iron letters which stolen last SUNDAY
night recovered. and will be replaced 50 that
building may be photographed The four sides OF 's
house visible from the streets, and the oeep
underground cells which extended south from the ouu
Ing are also being rapidly exposed. on ahee, SrI
side OF the building the wall has been iIIegm' ,hs
pierced by eleven small arched windows, and Oh snS
gable are the letters l. s. and diamond h,,t Ind
walled up in recent years that not much can DC sve
there But fiom Rosest. two sides OF me urJS
and the underground cells could be seen on ih"t ey.
[ ne cell which was mear.hed on that day ls,,v
tremey deep and heavily backed ana was cNi'e""'
made to hoi specially important priStn lr few
The building win be allowed T. stand ipr ,ns.
DAYS longer Mr.. Rhneanier VIII have the i NC
and relics sent to his count place ana pie'eNe''