New-York tribune., 1901-12-29

the Waldensian refugees from the Italian Alps
all had a hand in the settlement Of this island
and all have left their legends. And one must
not forget the Indians-the AquehOngas-who
did everything in their power to retard white
settlement. and with whom originated many of
the legends which Staten Islanders tell when
they in the humor. Some interesting traces
of their previous occupancy can still be found in
the interior of the island.
The first white man to meet death at the
hands Of the Indians this continent
killed the Kill Won Kull the channel which
separates the island from the mainland. He
was John Coleman, English sailor who
In the Half Moon with Henry Hudson, and the
point on the New-Jersey shore where he was
buried bears his TO this day. This begin
ming may or may not have been the reason for
the superstition which has hung the island
from the start. 1t showed itself long after the
Revolution in a panic over the general belief
that the island was about to sink into the sea.
II shows itself to-day, not among the islanders
themselves but among those who live elsewhere
and who think that malaria and mosquitoes
abound there. Any one who lives on Staten
Island Will tell you that the malaria and mos
quitoes are superstitious myths. if, indeed, they
90 not put it in stronger terms.
Staten Island came to being part of
New-Jersey politically as we'll as geograph-
ically, and then greater New-York would have
been considerably less in size. There is a Wig
orous legend about the way in which the island
was saved to the Empire State from New-Jersev
oblivion
The discussion over the ownership of the ISL
and came up some time after the Duke of York
had taken possession of the Manhattan colony.
In order TO settle the dispute he decreed that
all islands lying in the river and harbor which
could be circumnavigated in twenty-four hours
Should remain part of New-York Then his
agents began to look about for skipper who
would undertake to sail around Staten Island
in ThCf
great reward if successful and no little penalty
if not.
Sail around Staten Island in one day" ex-
claimed the ship captains who were, approached
on the matter. 1T can't be done"
And why can't it?" demanded Captain Chris
topher Billopp.
There's not enough water for big ship
said his fellow seamen
III wager any sum you please that / can dc
the trick with the Bentley said Billopp, look
ing out into the harbor, where his trim little
vessel was at anchor.
She drew much water in spite of her size and
the other captains hastened to make the wagers
Ihey thought they were sure of winning but
they did not know Captain Billopp.
He gathered up all the empty casks he could
find and stood them the deck Of the ship
The rival captains laughed and called him q
fool, but he sailed down the island shore as con.
fdent as ever. They intended to go down the
XIII and help get him off the shallow bar which
ran across it, where they were sure he would
stick.
The Bentley made fast time. and rounded the
Tottenville end of the island with hour tC
spare. The empty barrels had caught much
wind that the high sails would have missed
Just before he got to the shallow water BillopI
lowered his sails and spent a valuable houl
flashing the casks to the side of the vessel. Ir
this way he lessened her draught more thar
half foot, which enough TO clear the sand
bar. He was back in the harbor twenty three
hours after the start. and Staten Island has
been part of New York ever since
OF course, Captain Billopp rewarded an6
generously He received a grant of 1.163 acres
on the extreme southwestern part of the island
He called ii the Manor of Bentley, and upon il
erected a manor house which stands TO-DAY
much ii two hundred and more years
ago. He became a man of prominence, and helC
Office until dismissed by Governor Andros fol
'misconducting himself by making extravagant
speeches in public" Then he sailed for Eng.
land IN the Bentley, and according to the
legend, the ship and ali hands were lost at sea
History would have ii that he died more nat
ural death, but old residents who believe thai
the island would have been better off under
New-Jersey rule insist that the man who gave
the island 10 New-York was drowned
The Bentley Manor House stands at the lower
end OF the island facing Perth Amboy Its mair
walls are built of native stone, and their thick
ness Of three feet accounts for its good condi-
ton to-day Its interior not decorated like
most Colonial houses, but there is big bricl
vault in the cellar which was once responsible
for hidden treasure story. In the loft where
thu Billopp slaves used to be quartered there /.
SAID TO be spot on the floor which cannot bs
washed out. 1t is the lasting evidence of mur
der. But il is an incident of the Revolution
rather than these things that throws a hall
around the old mansion.
In of the front rooms Lord Howe. wht
commanded King Georges forces, met com
nnittee from the Continental Congress after tn
Battle of Long Island In an effort to effect 1
peace. There are people on the island who Civ
details of the long discussion and of the sharl
answers which were given him by the Colonia
leaders 1t ended thus. according to the loca
account:
Bah! you not fit to be independent" erie
Lord Howe in a fine rage. I'VE will crush yo
in time"
To which replied the representatives OF tn
Colonies: I'VE are fit to take care of ourselve
as you win learn very soon."
Late In the seventeenth century there cam
70 Staten Island a large party Of Waldense.
rengious refugees who had been driven fror