The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-11
STATEN ISLANDS DEATH POOL.
Brady's Fonda Little Sheet of Water
with q Sinister Record.

Brady's Pond at Grasmere, Staten Island
holds the wretched record in Richmond for the
drowning Of children. II Is doubtful II, for the
past twenty years, the entire water front Of the
island could foot up a longer list Of little victims
than the one which Is said 10 belong 10 that pond
Certainly no sheet Of water In the borough is
connected with sadder stories. The Ilemmes chill
dren, drowned there the other day. bring the
treacherous pool once more to the notice OF the
islanders. The superstitious say that it is a
haunted hole covered by many a mothers curse.
As a matter OF fact II is a rather insignifcan,
pond, although a maximum depth Of twenty fee'
IL ascribed 70 IL In the summer months its water is
apt To give cramps To swimmers and in the winter
It's ics Is never 10 be trusted by skaters Keep
away from Brady's Pond" Is the warning which
parents In the neighborhood repeatedly give TO
their boys But the little fellows love to splash
and TO skate,
Some years ago three little chaps, one a tot Of
i've summers and the others seven and ten, went
bathing in Brady's Pond, The ten year old
remained In the water longer than the others
lie could swim, but he got a cramp when he WAS
beyond his depth. lie sank. rose, screamed
and gurgled Immediately the seven year-old
hero, who could swim only a few strokes, jumped
into the water and boldly struck out TO save his
little chum After a brief struggle both sank
and were drowned, leaving the little tot alone
at the edge Of tho pond, crying and calling them
between his sobs. At that time the place was
lonely In the extreme. There was no one there
TO help the children. The accident happened
about noon but the child remained on the bank
until after sunset, and then at last in despair
wandered of trying To find his way home, A
neighbor found him on Fox Hill and carried him
70 his mother to whom he lsI~d his story OF Frady's
Pond. The little bodies we're recovered.
Without attempting TO give the ponds entire
list Of fatal accidents II may be enough TO recall
some OF them About fifteen years ago a waif
was found on Fox Hill, near Grasmere, and VAS
promptly adopted by a kind hearted old Irish
woman who lived near the pond. He was a fine,
healthy little boy, and the old woman became
greatly attached TO him. When he grew old
enough she sent him 10 school in Clifton, The
Journey there included the climbing Of Fox Hill,
and in the winter months in heavy frOsts the
little fellow used 10 Cross the pond on The ice,
That was the shortest way, One night he was
missing \ search was made Tor him, but no
trace OF him could be found until morning when
a hole in the ice, a few floating school books. and
d little cap told the story.
The son Of Mr. Mcfarland, a well SHOWN lawyer
who lives at Arrochar. was the next conspicuous
victim. lie WAS "A remarkably handsome boy,
about 10 years old and a great ~ia,orlie among
all classes. lie Was fond Of athletics and sports,
and his constant companion was a large New.
ioundland dog, While skating on that fatal
pond he broke through the ice. During the search
IOr nlm Tie pOnl, OF course, Vas WISHED. SUI"
rounded by a mass Of broken Ice that gave eyi.
dence of a hard and sad struggle, was the floating
carcass Of the Newfoundland dog. Fastened in
its teeth, was one Of the bpy's gloves The noble
animal had died in the effort to save his young
the body Of the boy. IL is said on the ISLAND that
ar Mcfarland had the dog stuffed and that II
stands in a glass case in one Of the rooms Of his
house IN Arrochar
There seems 10 be always something singularly
distressing in the stories Of Brady's Pond and the
"a yAl mimi 1T fk.I "a ma oh Ia Vnn thl Ia a "A ~
forms no exception. They were fine, healthy
and strong boys After enjoying themselves
boister0usly on the ice for some time they joined
hands and yelling with delight, made one wild
rush 10 death.
In old times the pond and indeed all Fox Hill
belonged TO a once wealthy and prominent lawyer
named Van Wagner and II is whispered that he
has heirs who may possibly make trouble Tor
some property holders III that eighbofhoud, but
all that may be merely village gossip. When the
late Philip Brady, from whom the pond takes its
name, became the owner Of il, he knew its dangerous
peculiarites and did everything in his power TO
keep children and grown people too from bathing
IN II or skating on IT. Its very name made many
mothers shudder, but boys will be boys. Before
the INVASION OF the Wimanese tribe, whose principal
camping ground Il known AZ. South Beach,
the neighborhood Of Brady's Pond was we'll
wooded. II was a little parad So for hunters pf
woodcock, sniJe and ducks, The avenue running
toward Fox Hill from Clifton nov called ST. Mary, 8
avenue, used to be known az the Wood Road
From there most OF the hunters came, was an
lrsh colony and n delightful locality for any
aspiring young man fond OF a fight, Now II Is
an Italian colony. lchahod, Or, as an old
wood reader might say, Holy Smoke! Gone
are the glores Of its scraps and sprces''
In nearly every part Of the island imp ovements
appear somewha, similar 10 those in the neighbor
hood Of Brady's Pond. Woods are gowing
down, hotels are going up, trolley cars are running
on the sidewalks, and even the slow and sleepy
Aluahongese can see the signs oi Progress in the
warnings at the railway stations, Beware Of
Pickpockets" 4 Hebrew gentleman on one Of
the Rapid Transit boats recently described the
situation In these words, Il ruined away from
PaNter street TO kun to leefe on Schtaden Island
Now, py chimminy, Paxt.r street chase me upl"
II "PaAter street" builds a wall around Brady's
Pond the ISLANDERS will bless "Paxter street"