The Red Cloud chief., 1913-08-07
ton contained herein,

ton contained herein.
He mentions. particularly among the active
work Of the post. the branch Of the r M. C. A.
conducted by Chaplain Edmund 3. Smith. the
classes for enlisted men and the drills supple.
mented now with the more picturesque music
drills or silent manual.
The military student finds at present little to
interest him. for the island is not fortified being
In no way part Of the scheme Of Notifications.
which embraces Sandy Hook and the mouth of
the harbor. Fort Jay. for 100 years known as
Fort Columbus, but originally named for John
Jay. was during the Civil war manned with heavy
guns. although not even threatened. When Fort
Lafayette was too crowded with prisoners at that
period Castle William took charge Of the over
now ana at one time housed over a thousand
prisoners. Among the noted prisoners who have
been confined there was John Yates Beal the
Confederate spy.
Castle William was completed in 1911 and is
built on bed rock In one Of the departmental
reports 1t is described as "a stone tower with
nfty'two ~ and 80 Founders maintained on two
tiers under bomb roof and terrace intended
TO mount twentysix 60-pound columbads" In
several other reports Castle William IL referred
to as an example Of outgrown science"
In the museum on the island Is Sheridan's ia.
nous morse. Winchester. who bore his master In
fortyseven battles.
In place OF a regular army chapel, Trinity Cor.
poration has provided the Chapel Of st. Cornelius
the Centurion for the use Of the post. It 10 q
charming Gothic structure Of granite. built near
the old frame building, erected in lS47 BY Dr. Nc.
Vickar. who taught ethics at Columbia college
during the week and on Sunday preached In the
chapel ne built and presented to the island him.
seif. Garlandng the chance are several upright
posts connected with heavy chain and bronze
uaplet explains that they are cannons used In the
several battles OF the Mexican war. Over the
choir, double row Of tattered battle flags hang
One Is mere cobweb and the light from the
staihed glass window shows a fringe of blood
red threads and a splash of blue where stars
were once woven. This ia the last flag pulled
aowh IN Cuba. Another OF peculiar interest Is
the one under which Major Reilly died and which
was carried from Tien Tsin in the Boxer uprising
In China.
Chaplain Smith is about to publish book on
"overnors Island for with the exception OF q
monograph or two and some scientific articles on
technical subjects. the place has practically been
overlooked by chroniclers. The book Is to be
Illustrated with several prints and engrav.
ings besides more modern work. and contains
data that have never been printed in this coun.
. uy anu represent years OF the most untring
search on the part Of the author
SITUATED near what Is considered today one
OF the most valuable pieces of real estate prop.
erty IN the world Governors Island was pur
chased Q63O by that shrewd old barater Wouter
Van Twiller, director general of New Neither
lands Tor some axe heads. string OF beads and
rev nails from two Indians whose names
Cakapetejon and Pehiwas. would indicate great
er mentality than they seem to have possessed
across buttermilk channel, to the origin, naming
and history Of which Chaplain Smith devotes two
chapters OF his book. Sara. the first Christian
child to be born IA the Dutch colony daughter of
Joris Janson da Rapalye. was taken In tub at
very early age OF her career and furnished the
only thrilling narrative of the place for some
time
For several years 1t furnished convenient
landing place for the settlers cattle and the nrst
building was erected (l69sl by Van Twiler, and