USA > New York > New York City > A history of New-York : from the beginning of the world to the end of the Dutch dynasty > Part 21
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hung in straight gallows locks about his ears, and added not a little to his sharking demeanour. It is an old remark, that persons of Indian mixture are half civilized, half savage, and half devil, a third half being expressly provided for their particular convenience. It is for similar reasons, and probably with equal truth, that the back-wood-men of Kentucky are styled half man, half horse, and half alligator, by the settlers on the Mississippi, and held accordingly in great respect and abhorrence.
The above character may have presented itself to the garrison as applicable to Dirk Schuiler, whom they familiarly dubbed Gallows Dirk. Certain it is, 'he acknowledged allegiance to no one-was an utter enemy to work, holding it in no manner of estima- tion-but lounged about the fort, depending upon chance for a subsistence, getting drunk whenever he could get liquor, and stealing whatever he could lay his hands on. Every day or two he was sure to get a sound rib-roasting for some of his misdemeanours, which, however, as it broke no bones, he made very light of, and scrupled not to repeat the offence, when- ever another opportunity presented. Sometimes, in consequence of some flagrant villany, he would ab- scond from the garrison, and be absent for a month at a time; skulking about the woods and swamps, with a long fowling-piece on his shoulder, laying in ambush for game-or squatting himself down on the edge of a pond catching fish for hours together, and bearing no little resemblance to that notable bird ycleped the mudpoke. When he thought his crimes
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had been forgotten or forgiven, he would sneak back to the fort with a bundle. of skins, or a bunch of poultry, which perchance he had stolen, and would exchange them for liquor, with which, having well soaked his carcass, he would lay in the sun and enjoy all the luxurious indolence of that swinish philosopher Diogenes. He was the terror of all the farm-yards in the country, into which he made fearful inroads ; and sometimes he would make his sudden appearance at the garrison at day-break, with the whole neigh- bourhood at his heels, like a scoundrel thief of a fox, detected in his maraudings and hunted to his hole. Such was this Dirk Schuiler ; and from the total in- difference he showed to the world or its concerns, and from his truly Indian stoicism and taciturnity, no one would ever have dreamt that he would have been the publisher of the treachery of Risingh.
When the carousal was going on, which proved so fatal to the brave Van Poffenburgh and his watchful garrison, Dirk skulked about from room to room, being a kind of privileged vagrant, or useless hound, whom nobody noticed. But though a fellow of few words, yet, like your taciturn people, his eyes and ears were always open, and in the course of his prowlings he overheard the whole plot of the Swedes. Dirk immediately settled in his own mind how he should turn the matter to his own advantage. He played the perfect jack-of-both-sides-that is to say, he made a prize of every thing that came in his reach, robbed both parties, stuck the copper-bound cocked hat of the puissant Van Poffenburgh on his
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head, whipped a huge pair of Risingh's jack-boots under his arms, and took to his heels, just before the catastrophe and confusion at the garrison.
Finding himself completely dislodged from his haunt in this quarter, he directed his flight towards his native place, New-Amsterdam, from whence he had formerly been obliged to abscond precipitately, in consequence of misfortune in business-that is to say, having been detected in the act of sheep-stealing. After wandering many days in the woods, toiling through swamps, fording brooks, swimming various rivers, and encountering a world of hardships, that would have killed any other being but an Indian, a back-wood-man, or the devil, he at length arrived, half famished, and lank as a starved weasel, at Com munipaw, where he stole a canoe and paddled over to New-Amsterdam. Immediately on landing, he re- paired to Governor Stuyvesant, and in more words than he had ever spoken before in the whole course of his life, gave an account of the disastrous affair.
On receiving these direful tidings, the valiant Peter started from his seat-dashed the pipe he was smoking against the back of the chimney-thrust a prodigious quid of tobacco into his left cheek- pulled up his galligaskins, and strode up and down the room, humming, as was customary with him when in a passion, a hideous north-west ditty. But as I have before shown, he was not a man to vent his spleen in idle vapouring. His first measure after the paroxysm of wrath had subsided, was to stump up stairs, to a huge wooden chest, which served as his
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armory, from whence he drew forth that identical suit of regimentals described in the preceding chap- ter. In these portentous habiliments he arrayed himself, like Achilles, in the armour of Vulcan, main- taining all the while a most appalling silence, knitting his brows, and drawing his breath through his clench- ed teeth. Being hastily equipped, he strode down into the parlour, jerked down his trusty sword from over the fire-place, where it was usually suspended ; but before he girded it on his thigh, he drew it from its scabbard, and as his eye coursed along the rusty blade, a grim smile stole over his iron visage-It was the first smile that had visited his countenance for five long weeks; but every one who beheld it, prophesied that there would soon be warm work in the province !
Thus armed at all points, with grizzly war de- pictured in each feature, his very cocked hat assum- ing an air of uncommon defiance, he instantly put himself upon the alert, and despatched Antony Van Corlear hither and thither, this way and that way, through all the muddy streets and crooked lanes of the city, summoning by sound of trumpet his trusty - peers to assemble in instant council. This done, by way of expediting matters, according to the custom of people in a hurry, he kept in continual bustle, shifting from chair to chair, popping his head out of every window, and stumping up and down stairs with his wooden leg in such brisk and incessant motion, that, as we are informed by an authentic historian of the times, the continual clatter bore no small re-
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semblance to the music of a cooper hooping a flour- barrel.
A summons so peremptory, and from a man of the governor's mettle, was not to be trifled with; the sages forthwith repaired to the council chamber, seated themselves with the utmost tranquillity, and lighting their long pipes, gazed with unruffled com posure on his excellency and his regimentals ; being, as all counsellors should be, not easily flustered, or taken by surprise. The governor, looking around for a moment with a lofty and soldier-like air, and resting one hand on the pummel of his sword, and flinging the other forth in a free and spirited manner, addressed them in a short, but soul-stirring harangue.
I am extremely sorry that I have not the advan- tages of Livy, Thucydides, Plutarch, and others of my predecessors, who are furnished, as I am told, with the speeches of all their great emperors, generals, and orators, taken down in short-hand, by the most accurate stenographers of the time; whereby they were enabled wonderfully to enrich their histories, and delight their readers with sublime strains of elo- quence. Not having such important auxiliaries, I cannot possibly pronounce what was the tenor of Governor Stuyvesant's speech. I am bold, however, to say, from the tenor of his character, that he did not wrap his rugged subject in silks and ermines, and other sickly trickeries of phrase; but spoke forth, like a man of nerve and vigour, who scorned to shrink in words, from those dangers which he stood ready to encounter in very deed. This much is certain,
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that he concluded by announcing his determination of leading on his troops in person, and routing these costardmonger Swedes from their usurped quarters, at Fort Casimir. To this hardy resolution such of his council as were awake gave their usual signal of concurrence, and as to the rest who had fallen asleep about the middle of the harangue, (their " usual custom in the afternoon")-they made not the least objection.
And now was seen in the fair city of New-Am- sterdam, a prodigious bustle and preparation for iron war. Recruiting parties marched hither and thither, calling lustily upon all the scrubs, the runagates, and tatterdemalions of the Manhattoes and its vicinity, who had any ambition of six-pence a day, and im- mortal fame into the bargain, to enlist in the cause of glory. For I would have you note that your war- like heroes who trudge in the rear of conquerors, are generally of that illustrious class of gentlemen, who are equal candidates for the army or the bridewell- the halberts or the whipping-post-for whom dame Fortune has cast an even die, whether they shall make their exit by the sword or the halter-and whose deaths shall, at all events, be a lofty exampl to their countrymen.
But notwithstanding all this martial rout and invi- tation, the ranks of honour were but scantily suppli- ed ; so averse were the peaceful burghers of New- Amsterdam from enlisting in foreign broils, or stirring beyond that home which rounded all their earthly"" ideas. Upon beholding this, the great Peter, whose
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noble heart was all on fire with war and sweet re- venge, determined to wait no longer for the tardy as- sistance of these oily citizens, but to muster up his merry men of the Hudson ; who, brought up among woods and wilds and savage beasts, like our yeomen of Kentucky, delighted in nothing so much as despe- rate adventures and perilous expeditions through the wilderness. Thus resolving, he ordered his trusty squire, Antony Van Corlear, to have his state galley prepared and duly victualled ; which being perform- ed, he attended public service at the great church of St. Nicholas, like a true and pious governor, and then leaving peremptory orders with his council to have the chivalry of the Manhattoes marshalled out and appointed against his return, departed upon his re- cruiting voyage, up the waters of the Hudson.
VOL. II. H
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CHAPTER III.
Containing Peter Stuyvesant's voyage up the Hudson, and the wonders and delights of that renowned river.
Now did the soft breezes of the south steal sweetly over the beauteous face of nature, tempering the panting heats of summer into genial and prolific warmth-when that miracle of hardihood and chiv- alric virtue, the dauntless Peter Stuyvesant, spread his canvas to the wind, and departed from the fair island of Manna-hata. The galley in which he em- barked was sumptuously adorned with'pendants and streamers of gorgeous dyes, which fluttered gayly in the wind, or drooped their ends in the bosom of the stream. The bow and poop of this majestic vessel were gallantly bedight, after the rarest Dutch fashion, with figures of little pursy Cupids with periwigs on their heads, and bearing in their hands garlands of flowers, the like of which are not to be found in any book of botany; being the matchless flowers which flourished in the golden age, and exist no longer, unless it be in the imaginations of ingenious carvers of wood and discolourers of canvas.
Thus rarely decorated, in style befitting the state of the puissant potentate of the Manhattoes, did the galley of Peter Stuyvesant launch forth upon the bosom of the lordly Hudson ; which, as it rolled its
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.broad waves to the ocean, seemed to pause for a while, and swell with pride, as if conscious of the illustrious burthen it sustained.
But trust me, gentlefolk, far other was the scene presented to the contemplation of the crew, from that which may be witnessed at this degenerate day. Wildness and savage majesty reigned on the borders of this mighty river-the hand of cultivation had not as yet laid down the dark forests, and tamed the features of the landscape-nor had the frequent sail of commerce yet broken in upon the profound and awful solitude of ages. Here and there might be seen a rude wigwam perched among the cliffs of the mountains, with its curling column of smoke mount- ing in the transparent atmosphere-but so loftily situated, that the whoopings of the savage children, gambolling on the margin of the dizzy heights, fell almost as faintly on the ear, as do the notes of the lark, when lost in the azure vault of heaven. Now and then, from the beetling brow of some rocky precipice, the wild deer would look timidly down upon the splendid pageant as it passed below ; and then, tossing his branching antlers in the air, would bound away into the thickets of the forest.
Through such scenes did the stately vessel of Peter Stuyvesant pass. Now did they skirt the bases of the rocky heights of Jersey, which spring up like everlasting walls, reaching from the waves unto the heavens ; and were fashioned, if traditions may be believed, in times long past, by the mighty spirit Manetho, to protect his favourite abodes from the
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unhallowed eyes of mortals. Now did they career it gayly across the vast expanse of Tappan Bay, whose wide extended shores present a vast variety of delec. table scenery-here the bold promontory, crowned with embowering trees, advancing into the bay- there the long woodland slope, sweeping up from the shore in rich luxuriance, and terminating in the up- land precipice-while at a distance a long waving line of rocky heights threw their gigantic shades across the water. Now would they pass where some modest little interval, opening among these stupen- dous scenes, yet retreating as it were for protection into the embraces of the neighbouring mountains, displayed a rural paradise, fraught with sweet and pastoral beauties ; the velvet-tufted lawn-the bushy copse-the tinkling rivulet, stealing through the fresh and vivid verdure-on whose banks was situated some little Indian village, or, peradventure, the rude cabin of some solitary hunter.
The different periods of the revolving day seemed each, with cunning magic, to diffuse a different charm over the scene. Now would the jovial sun break gloriously from the east, blazing from the summits of the hills, and sparkling the landscape with a thou- sand dewy gems; while along the borders of the river were seen heavy masses of mist, which like midnight caitiffs, disturbed at his approach, made a sluggish retreat, rolling in sullen reluctance up the mountains. At such times, all was brightness and life and gayety-the atmosphere seemed of an in- describable pureness and transparency-the birds
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Broke forth in wanton madrigals, and the freshening breezes wafted the vessel merrily on her course. But when the sun sunk amid a flood of glory in the west, mantling the heavens and the earth with a thousand gorgeous dyes-then all was calm, and si- lent, and magnificent. The late swelling sail hung lifelessly against the mast-the seamen with folded arms leaned against the shrouds, lost in that invol- untary musing which the sober grandeur of nature commands in the rudest of her children. The vast bosom of the Hudson, was like an unruffled mirror, reflecting the golden splendour of the heavens, ex- cepting that now and then a bark canoe would steal across its surface, filled with painted savages, whose gay feathers glared brightly, as perchance a lingering ray of the setting sun gleamed upon them from the western mountains.
But when the hour of twilight spread its magic mists around, then did the face of nature assume a thousand fugitive charms, which, to the worthy heart that seeks enjoyment in the glorious works of its Maker, are inexpressibly captivating. The mel- low dubious light that prevailed, just served to tinge with illusive colours, the softened features of the scenery. The deceived but delighted eye sought vainly to discern, in the broad masses of shade, the separating line between the land and water; or to distinguish the fading objects that seemed sinking into chaos. Now did the busy fancy supply the feeble- ness of vision, producing with industrious craft a fairy creation of her own.' Under her plastic wand,
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the barren rocks frowned upon the watery waste, in the semblance of lofty towers and high embattled castles-trees assumed the direful forms of mighty giants, and the inaccessible summits of the mountains seemed peopled with a thousand shadowy beings.
Now broke forth from the shores the notes of an innumerable variety of insects, which filled the air with a strange but not inharmonious concert-while ever and anon was heard the melancholy plaint of the whip-poor-will, who, perched on some lone tree, wearicd the ear of night with his incessant moanings. The mind, soothed into a hallowed melancholy, listened with pensive stillness to catch and distinguish each sound that vaguely echoed from the shore-now and then startled perchance by the whoop of some straggling savage, or the dreary howl of a wolf, stealing forth upon his nightly prowlings.
Thus happily did they pursue their course, until they entered upon those awful defiles denominated THE HIGHLANDS, where it would seem that the gi- gantic Titans had erst waged their impious war with heaven, piling up cliffs on cliffs, and hurling vast masses of rock in wild confusion. But in sooth, very different is the history of these cloud-capt mountains. -These in ancient days, before the Hudson poured his waters from the lakes, formed one vast prison, within whose rocky bosom the omnipotent Manetho confined the rebellious spirits who repined at his con- trol. Here, bound in adamantine chains, or jammed in rifted pines, or crushed by ponderous rocks, they groaned for many an age. ' At length the conquering
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Hudson, in his irresistible career towards the ocean, burst open their prison-house, rolling his tide triumph- antly through its stupendous ruins.
Still, however, do many of them lurk about their old abodes ; and these it is, according to venerable legends, that cause the echoes which resound through- out these awful solitudes; which are nothing but their angry clamours, when any noise disturbs the profoundness of their repose. For when the elements are agitated by tempest, when the winds are up and the thunder rolls, then horrible is the yelling and howling of these troubled spirits, making the moun- tains to rebellow with their hideous uproar ; for at such times, it is said, they think the great Manetho is returning once more to plunge them in gloomy caverns, and renew their intolerable captivity.
But all these fair and glorious scenes were lost upon the gallant Stuyvesant ; nought occupied his mind but thoughts of iron war, and proud anticipa- tions of hardy deeds of arms. Neither did his honest crew trouble their vacant heads with any romantic speculations of the kind. The pilot at the helm quietly smoked his pipe, thinking of nothing either past, present, or to come-those of his comrades who were not industriously snoring under the hatches were listening with open mouths to Antony Van Corlear ; who, seated on the windlass, was relating to them the marvellous history of those myriads of fire-flies, that sparkled like gems and spangles upon the dusky robe of night. These, according to tradition, were originally a race of pestilent sempiternous beldames,
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who peopled these parts long before the memory of man; being of that abominated race emphatically called brimstones ; and who, for their innumerable sins against the children of men, and to furnish an awful warning to the beauteous sex, were doomed to infest the earth in the shape of these threatening and terrible little bugs; enduring the internal tor- ments of that fire, which they formerly carried in their hearts and breathed forth in their words; but now are sentenced to bear about for ever-in their tails.
And now am I going to tell a fact, which I doubt much my readers will hesitate to believe ; but if they do, they are welcome not to believe a word in this whole history, for nothing which it contains is more true. It must be known then that the nose of Antony the trumpeter was of a very lusty size, strutting boldly from his countenance like a mountain of Gol- conda; being sumptuously bedecked with rubies and other precious stones-the true regalia of a king of good fellows, which jolly Bacchus grants to all who bouse it heartily at the flagon. Now thus it happened, that bright and early in the morning, the good Antony having washed his burly visage, was leaning over the quarter-railing of the galley, contemplating it in the glassy wave below-just at this moment, the illustrious sun, breaking in all his splendour from behind one of the high bluffs of the Highlands, did dart one of his most potent beams full upon the refulgent nose of the sounder of brass-the reflection of which shot straightway down, hissing hot, into the water, and killed a mighty sturgeon that was sporting beside the
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vessel ! This huge monster being with infinite labour hoisted on board, furnished a luxurious repast to all the crew, being accounted of excellent flavour, ex- cepting about the wound, where it smacked a little of brimstone-and this, on my veracity, was the first time that ever sturgeon was eaten in these parts by Christian people .*
When this astonishing miracle came to be made known to Peter Stuyvesant, and that he tasted of the unknown fish, he, as may well be supposed, marvelled exceedingly ; and as a monument thereof, he gave the name of Antony's Nose to a stout promontory in the neighbourhood-and it has continued to be called Antony's Nose ever since that time.
But hold-Whither am I wandering ?- By the mass, if I attempt to accompany the good Peter Stuyvesant on this voyage, I shall never make an end, for never was there a voyage so fraught with marvellous incidents, nor a river so abounding with transcendent beauties, worthy of being severally re- corded. Even now I have it on the point of my pen to relate, how his crew were most horribly frightened, on going on shore above the highlands, by a gang of merry, roistering devils, frisking and curveting on a huge flat rock, which projected into the river-and which is called the Duyvel's Dans-Kamer to this
* The learned Hans Megapolensis, treating of the country about Albany, in a letter which was written some time after the settlement thereof, says, " There is in the river great plenty of Sturgeon, which we Christians do not make use of ; but the Indians eat them greedilie."
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very day .- But no ! Diedrich Knickerbocker-it be- comes thee not to idle thus in thy historic wayfaring.
Recollect that while dwelling with the fond gar- rulity of age over these fairy scenes, endeared to thee by the recollections of thy youth, and the charms of a thousand legendary tales which beguiled the simple ear of thy childhood ; recollect that thou art trifling with those fleeting moments which should be devoted to loftier themes .- Is not Time-relentless Time !- shaking, with palsied hand, his almost exhausted hour-glass before thee ?- hasten then to pursue thy weary task, lest the last sands be run, ere thou hast finished thy history of the Manhattoes.
Let us then commit the dauntless Peter, his brave galley, and his loyal crew, to the protection of the blessed St. Nicholas ; who I have no doubt will pros- per him in his voyage, while we await his return at the great city of New-Amsterdam.
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CHAPTER IV.
Describing the powerful army that assembled at the city of New-Amsterdam-together with the inter- view between Peter the Headstrong, and General Van Poffenburgh, and Peter's sentiments touching unfortunate great men.
WHILE thus the enterprising Peter was coasting, with flowing sail, up the shores of the lordly Hudson, and arousing all the phlegmatic little Dutch settle- ments upon its borders, a great and puissant con- course of warriors was assembling at the city of New- Amsterdam. And here that invaluable fragment of antiquity, the Stuyvesant manuscript, is more than commonly particular ; by which means I am enabled to record the illustrious host that encamped itself, in the public square in front of the fort, at present de- nominated the Bowling-Green.
In the centre, then, was pitched the tent of the men of battle of the Manhattoes, who being the in- mates of the metropolis, composed the life-guards of the governor. These were commanded by the valiant Stoffel Brinkerhoff, who whilom had acquired such immortal fame at Oyster Bay-they displayed as a standard, a beaver rampant on a field of orange; being the arms of the province, and denoting the
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persevering industry and the amphibious origin of the Nederlanders .*
On their right hand might be seen the vassals of that renowned Mynheer, Michael Paw,t who lorded it over the fair regions of ancient Pavonia, and the lands away south, even unto the Navesink moun- tains,¿ and was moreover patroon of Gibbet Island. His standard was borne by his trusty squire, Cornelius Van Vorst; consisting of a huge oyster recumbent upon a sea-green field; being the armorial bearings of his favourite metropolis, Communipaw. He brought to the camp a stout force of warriors, heavily armed, being each clad in ten pair of linsey-woolsey breeches, and overshadowed by broad-brimmed beavers, with short pipes twisted in their hat-bands. These were the men who vegetated in the mud along the shores of Pavonia ; being of the race of genuine copper- heads, and were fabled to have sprung from oysters.
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