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 7
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Ten Broeck completed this junto of adventurers. It is a singular, but ludicrous fact, which, were I not scrupulous in recording the whole truth, I should
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almost be tempted to pass over in silence, as incon · patible with the gravity and dignity of history, that this worthy gentleman should likewise have been nicknamed from the most whimsical part of his dress. In fact, the small-clothes seems to have been a very important garment in the eyes of our venerated an- cestors, owing in all probability to its really being the largest article of raiment among them. The name of Ten Broeck, or Tin Broeck, is indifferently translated into Ten Breeches and Tin Breeches- the High Dutch commentators incline to the former opinion ; and ascribe it to his being the first who in- troduced into the settlement the ancient Dutch fashion of wearing ten pair of breeches. But the most ele- gant and ingenious writers on the subject declare in favour of Tin, or rather Thin Breeches ; from whence they infer, that he was a poor, but merry rogue, whose galligaskins were none of the soundest, and who was the identical author of that truly philo- sophical stanza :
" Then why should we quarrel for riches, Or any such glittering toys? A light heart and thin pair of breeches, Will go thorough the world, my brave boys !"
Such was the gallant junto chosen to conduct this voyage into unknown realms; and the whole was put under the superintending care and direction of Oloffe Van Kortlandt, who was held in great rev- erence among the sages of Communipaw, for the variety and darkness of his knowledge. Having, as
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[ before observed, passed a great part of his life in the open air, among the peripatetic philosophers of Amsterdam, he had become amazingly well acquaint- ed with the aspect of the heavens, and could as ac- curately determine when a storm was brewing, or a squall rising, as a dutiful husband can foresee, from the brow of his spouse, when a tempest is gathering about his ears. He was moreover a great seer of ghosts and goblins, and a firm believer in omens ; but what especially recommended him to public con- fidence was his marvellous talent at dreaming, for there never was any thing of consequence happened at Communipaw but what he declared he had pre- viously dreamt it ; being one of those infallible proph- ets who always predict events after they have come to pass.
This supernatural gift was as highly valued among the burghers of Pavonia, as it was among the en- lightened nations of antiquity. The wise Ulysses was more indebted to his sleeping than his waking moments for all his subtle achievements, and seldom undertook any great exploit without first soundly sleeping upon it; and the same may be truly said of the good Van Kortlandt, who was thence aptly de- nominated, Oloffe the Dreamer.
This cautious commander, having chosen the crews that should accompany him in the proposed expedition, exhorted them to repair to their homes, take a good night's rest, settle all family affairs, and make their wills, before departing on this voyage VOL. I. K
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into unknown realms. And indeed this last was a precaution always taken by our forefathers, even in after times, when they became more adventurous, and voyaged to Haverstraw, or Kaatskill, or Groodt Esopus, or any other far country that lay beyond the great waters of the Tappaan Zee.
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CHAPTER IV.
How the Heroes of Communipaw voyaged to Hell- Gate, and how they were received there.
AND now the rosy blush of morn began to mantle in the east, and soon the rising sun, emerging from amidst golden and purple clouds, shed his blithesome rays on the tin weathercocks of Communipaw. It was that delicious season of the year, when nature, breaking from the chilling thraldom of old winter, like a blooming damsel from the tyranny of a sordid old father, threw herself, blushing with ten thousand charms, into the arms of youthful spring. Every tufted copse and blooming grove resounded with the notes of hymeneal love. The very insects, as they sipped the dew that gemmed the tender grass of the meadows, joined in the joyous epithalamium-the virgin bud timidly put forth its blushes, "the voice of the turtle was heard in the land," and the heart of man dissolved away in tenderness. Oh! sweet Theocritus ! had I thine oaten reed, wherewith thou erst didst charm the gay Sicilian plains-Or, oh ! gentle Bion ! thy pastoral pipe, wherein the happy swains of the Lesbian isle so much delighted, then might I attempt to sing, in soft Bucolic or negligent Idyllium, the rural beauties of the scene-but having nothing, save this jaded goose-quill, wherewith to wing my flight, I must fain resign all poetic disport- ings of the fancy, and pursue my narrative in humble
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prose; comforting myself with the hope, that though it may not steal so sweetly upon the imagination of my reader, yet may it commend itself, with virgin modesty, to his better judgment, clothed in the chaste and simple garb of truth.
No sooner did the first rays of cheerful Phœbus dart into the windows of Communipaw, than the little settlement was all in motion. Forth issued from his castle the sage Van Kortlandt, and seizing a conch-shell, blew a far-resounding blast, that soon summoned all his lusty followers. Then did they trudge resolutely down to the water-side, escorted by a multitude of relatives and friends, who all went down, as the common phrase expresses it, " to see them off." And this shows the antiquity of those long family processions, often seen in our city, com- posed of all ages, sizes, and sexes, laden with bundles and bandboxes, escorting some bevy of country cousins, about to depart for home in a market-boat.
The good Oloffe bestowed his forces in a squadron of three canoes, and hoisted his flag on board a little round Dutch boat, shaped not unlike a tub, which had formerly been the jolly-boat of the Goede Vrouw. And now all being embarked, they bade farewell to the gazing throng upon the beach, who continued shouting after them, even when out of hearing, wish- ing them a happy voyage, advising them to take good care of themselves, and not to get drowned-with an abundance other of those sage and invaluable cau- tions, generally given by landsmen to such as go down to the sea in ships, and adventure upon the deep
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waters. In the meanwhile, the 'voyagers cheerily urged their course across the crystal bosom of the bay, and soon left behind them the green shores of ancient Pavonia.
And first they touched at two small islands which ie nearly opposite Communipaw, and which are said to have been brought into existence about the time of the great irruption of the Hudson, when it broke through the Highlands, and made its way to the ocean .* For in this tremendous uproar of the waters, we are told that many huge fragments of rock and land were rent from the mountains and swept down by this runaway river, for sixty or seventy miles ; where some of them ran aground on the shoals just opposite Communipaw, and formed the identical islands in question, while others drifted out to sea, and were never heard of more! A suffi cient proof of the fact is, that the rock which forms the bases of these islands is exactly similar to that of the Highlands, and moreover one of our philosophers,
It is a matter long since established by certain of our phi- Josophers, that is to say, having been often advanced, and never contradicted, it has grown to be pretty nigh equal to a settled fact, that the Hudson was originally a lake, dammed up by the mountains of the Highlands. In process of time, however, be- coming very mighty and obstreperous, and the mountains waxing pursy, dropsical, and weak in the back, by reason of their extreme old age, it suddenly rose upon them, and after a violent struggle effected its escape. This is said to have come to pass in very remote time, probably before that rivers had lost the art of running up hill. The foregoing is a theory in which I do not pretend to be skilled, notwithstanding that I do fully give it my belief.
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who has diligently compared the agreement of their respective surfaces, has even gone so far as to assure me, in confidence, that Gibbet Island was originally nothing more nor less than a wart on Anthony's Nose .*
Leaving these wonderful little isles, they next coasted by Governor's Island, since terrible from its frowning fortress and grinning batteries. They would by no means, however, land upon this island, since they doubted much it might be the abode of demons and spirits which in those days did greatly abound throughout this savage and pagan country.
Just at this time a shoal of jolly porpoises came rolling and tumbling by, turning up their sleek sides to the sun, and spouting up the briny element in sparkling showers. No sooner did the sage Oloffe mark this, than he was greatly rejoiced. "This," exclaimed he, " if I mistake not, augurs well-the porpoise is a fat well-conditioned fish-a burgomas- ter among fishes-his looks betoken ease, plenty, and prosperity-I greatly admire this round, fat fish, and doubt not but this is a happy omen of the success of our undertaking." So saying, he directed his squad- ron to steer in the track of these alderman fishes.
Turning, therefore, directly to the left, they swept up the strait vulgarly called the East River. And here the rapid tide which courses through this strait, seizing on the gallant tub in which Commodore Van Kortlandt had embarked, hurried it forward with a
* A promontory in the Highlands.
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velocity unparalleled in a Dutch boat, navigated by Dutchmen ; insomuch that the good commodore, who had all his life long been accustomed only to the drowsy navigation of canals, was more than ever convinced that they were in the hands of some su- pernatural power, and that the jolly porpoises were towing them to some fair haven that was to fulfil all their wishes and expectations.
Thus borne away by the resistless current, they doubled that boisterous point of land since called Corlear's Hook,* and leaving to the right the rich winding cove of the Wallabout, they drifted into a magnificent expanse of water, surrounded by pleas- ant shores, whose verdure was exceedingly refreshing to the eye. While the voyagers were looking around them, on what they conceived to be a serene and sunny lake, they beheld at a distance a crew of paint- ed savages, busily employed in fishing, who seemed more like the genii of this romantic region-their slender canoe lightly balanced like a feather on the undulating surface of the bay.
At sight of these, the hearts of the heroes of Com- munipaw were not a little troubled. But as good fortune would have it, at the bow of the commodore's boat was stationed a very valiant man, named Hen- drick Kip, (which being interpreted, means chicken, a name given him in token of his courage.) No sooner did he behold these varlet heathens than he trembled with excessive valour, and although a good
* Properly spelt hoeck, (i. e. a point of land.)
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half mile distant, he seized a musquetoon that lay at hand, and turning away his head, fired it most intrep- idly in the face of the blessed sun. The blundering weapon recoiled and gave the valiant Kip an igno- minious kick, that laid him prostrate with uplifted heels in the bottom of the boat. But such was the effect of this tremendous fire, that the wild men of the woods, struck with consternation, seized hastily upon their paddles, and shot away into one of the deep inlets of the Long Island shore.
This signal victory gave new spirits to the hardy voyagers, and in honour of the achievement they gave the name of the valiant Kip to the surrounding bay, and it has continued to be called KIP's BAY from that time to the present. The heart of the good Van Kortlandt-who, having no land of his own, was a great admirer of other people's-expanded at the sumptuous prospect of rich unsettled country around him, and falling into a delicious reverie, he straight- way began to riot in the possession of vast meadows of salt marsh and interminable patches of cabbages. From this delectable vision he was all at once awak- · ened by the sudden turning of the tide, which would soon have hurried him from this land of promise, had not the discreet navigator given signal to steer for shore ; where they accordingly landed hard by the rocky heights of Bellevue-that happy retreat, where our jolly aldermen eat for the good of the city, and fatten the turtle that are sacrificed on civic solem- nities.
· Here, seated on the greensward, by the side of a
-
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smali stream that ran sparkling among the grass, they refreshed themselves after the toils of the seas, by feasting lustily on the ample stores which they had provided for this perilous voyage. Thus having well fortified their deliberative powers, they fell into an earnest consultation, what was farther to be done. - This was the first council dinner ever eaten at Belle- vue by Christian burghers, and here, as tradition re- lates, did originate the great family feud between the Hardenbroecks and the Tenbroecks, which after- wards had a singular influence on the building of the city. The sturdy Hardenbroeck, whose eyes had been wonderously delighted with the salt marshes that spread their reeking bosoms along the coast, at the bottom of Kip's Bay, counselled by all means to return thither, and found the intended city. This was strenuously opposed by the unbending Ten Broeck, and many testy arguments passed between them. The particulars of the controversy have not reached us, which is ever to be lamented ; this much is certain, that the sage Oloffe put an end to the dis- pute, by determining to explore still farther in the route which the mysterious porpoises had so clearly pointed out-whereupon the sturdy Tough Breeches abandoned the expedition, took possession of a neigh- bouring hill, and in a fit of great wrath peopled all that tract of country, which has continued to be in- habited by the Hardenbroecks unto this very day.
By this time the jolly Phœbus, like some wanton urchin sporting on the side of a green hill, began to roll down the declivity of the heavens ; and now, the
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tide having once more turned in their favour, the reso- lute Pavonians again committed themselves to its discretion, and coasting along the western shores, were borne towards the straits of Blackwell's Island.
And here the capricious wanderings of the current occasioned not a little marvel and perplexity to these illustrious mariners. Now would they be caught by the wanton eddies, and, sweeping round a jutting point, would wind deep into some romantic little cove, that indented the fair island of Manna-hata . now were they hurried narrowly by the very basis of impending rocks, mantled with the flaunting grape- vine, and crowned with groves that threw a broad shade on the waves beneath; and anon they were borne away into the mid-channel, and wafted along with a rapidity that very much discomposed the sage Van Kortlandt, who, as he saw the land swiftly receding on either side, began exceedingly to doubt that terra firma was giving them the slip.
Wherever the voyagers turned their eyes, a new creation seemed to bloom around. No signs of human thrift appeared to check the delicious wildness of nature, who here revelled in all her luxuriant va- riety. Those hills, now bristled, like the fretful por- cupine, with rows of poplars, (vain upstart plants ! minions of wealth and fashion !) were then adorned with the vigorous natives of the soil ; the lordly oak, the generous chesnut, the graceful elm-while here and there the tulip-tree reared his majestic head, the giant of the forest .- Where now are seen the gay retreats of luxury-villas half buried in twilight
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bowers, whence the amorous flute oft breathes the sighings of some city swain-there the fish-hawk built his solitary nest, on some dry trees that over- looked his watery domain. The timid deer fed un- disturbed along those shores now hallowed by the lover's moonlight walk, and printed by the slender foot of beauty ; and a savage solitude extended over those happy regions, where now are reared the state- . ly towers of the Jones's, the Schermerhornes, and the Rhinelanders.
Thus gliding in silent wonder through these new and unknown scenes, the gallant squadron of Pavonia swept by the foot of a promontory, that strutted forth boldly into the waves, and seemed to frown upon them as they brawled against its base. This is the bluff well known to modern mariners by the name of Gracie's point, from the fair castle which, like an elephant, it carries upon its back. And here broke upon their view a wild and varied prospect, where land and water were beauteously intermingled, as though they had combined to heighten and set off each other's charms. To their right lay the sedgy point of Blackwell's Island, drest in the fresh garni- ture of living green-beyond it stretched the pleasant coast of Sundswick, and the small harbour well known by the name of Hallet's Cove-a place infa- mous in latter days, by reason of its being the haunt of pirates who infest these seas, robbing orchards and watermelon patches, and insulting gentlemen navigators, when voyaging in their pleasure-boats. To the left a deep bay, or rather creek, gracefully
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receded between shores fringed with forests, and forming a kind of vista, through which were beheld the sylvan regions of Haerlem, Morrisania, and East Chester. Here the eye reposed with delight on a richly wooded country, diversified by tufted knolls, shadowy intervals, and waving lines of upland, swell- ing above each other; while over the whole, the purple mists of spring diffused a hue of soft voluptu- ousness.
Just before them, the grand course of the stream, making a sudden bend, wound among embowered promontories, and shores of emerald verdure, that seemed to melt into the wave. A character of gen- tleness and mild fertility prevailed around. The sun had just descended, and the thin haze of twilight, like a transparent veil drawn over the bosom of virgin beauty, heightened the charms which it half con- cealed.
Ah! witching scenes of foul delusion! Ah! hap- less voyagers, gazing with simple wonder on these Circean shores ! Such, alas! are they, poor easy souls, who listen to the seductions of a wicked world-treacherous are its smiles ! fatal its caresses ! He who yields to its enticements launches upon a whelming tide, and trusts his feeble bark among the dimpling eddies of a whirlpool! And thus it fared with the worthies of Pavonia, who little mistrusting the guileful scene before them, drifted quietly on, until they were aroused by an uncommon tossing and agi- tation of their vessels. For now the late dimpling current began to brawl around them, and the waves
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to boil and foam with horrific fury. Awakened as if from a dream, the astonished Oloffe bawled aloud to put about, but his words were lost amid the roar- ing of the waters. And now ensued a scene of dire- ful consternation-at one time they were borne with dreadful velocity among tumultuous breakers, at an- other, hurried down boisterous rapids. Now they were nearly dashed upon the Hen and Chickens ; (infamous rocks !- more voracious than Scylla and her whelps;) and anon they seemed sinking into yawning gulfs, that threatened to entomb them be- neath the waves. All the elements combined to pro- duce a hideous confusion. The waters raged-the winds howled-and as they were hurried along, several of the astonished mariners beheld the rocks and trees of the neighbouring shores driving through the air !
At length the mighty tub of Commodore Van Kortlandt was drawn into the vortex of that tremen- dous whirlpool called the Pot, where it was whirled about in giddy mazes, until the senses of the good commander and his crew were overpowered by the horror of the scene, and the strangeness of the revo- lution.
How the gallant squadron of Pavonia was snatched from the jaws of this modern Charybdis, has never been truly made known, for so many survived to tell the tale, and, what is still more wonderful, told it in so many different ways, that there has ever prevailed a great variety of opinions on the subject.
As to the commodore and his crew, when they Voç. I. L
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came to their senses they found themselves stranded on the Long Island shore. The worthy commodore indeed, used to relate many and wonderful stories of his adventures in this time of peril ; how that he saw spectres flying in the air, and heard the yelling of hobgoblins, and put his hand into the pot when they were whirled around, and found the water scalding hot, and beheld several uncouth-looking beings seated on rocks and skimming it with huge ladles-but par- ticularly he declared with great exultation, that he saw the losel porpoises, which had betrayed them into this peril, some broiling on the Gridiron and others hissing in the Frying-pan !
These, however, were considered by many as mere phantasies of the commodore's imagination, while he lay in a trance ; especially as he was known to be given to dreaming ; and the truth of them has never been clearly ascertaincd. It is certain, how- ever, that to the accounts of Oloffe and his followers may be traced the various traditions handed down of this marvellous strait-as how the devil has been seen there, sitting astride of the Hog's Back and playing on the fiddle-how he broils fish there before a storm ; and many other stories, in which we mus be cautious of putting too much faith. In conse quence of all these terrific circumstances, the Pavo- nian commander gave this pass the name of Helle-gat, or as it has been interpreted, Hell-gate ;* which it continues to bear at the present day.
* This is a narrow strait in the Sound, at the distance of six miles above New-York. It is dangerous to shipping, unless
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under the care of skilful pilots, by reason of numerous rocks, shelves, and whirlpools. These have received sundry appella- tions, such as the Gridiron, Frying-pan, Hog's Back, Pot, &c. and are very violent and turbulent at certain times of the tide. Certain wise men, who instruct these modern days, have soft- ened the above characteristic name into Hurl-gate, which means nothing. . I leave them to give their own etymology. The name as given by our author is supported by the map in Vander Donck's history, published in 1656-by Ogilvie's histo- ry of America, 1671-as also by a journal still extant, written in the 16th century, and to be found in Hazard's State Papers. And an old MS. written in French, speaking of various alter- ations in names about this city, observes, " De Helle-gat trou d'Enfer, ils ont fait Hell-gate. Porte d'Enfer."
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CHAPTER V.
How the Heroes of Communipaw returned somewhat wiser than they went-and how the sage Oloffe dreamed a dream-and the dream that he dreamed.
THE darkness of night had closed upon this dis- astrous day, and a doleful night was it to the ship- wrecked Pavonians, whose ears were incessantly assailed with the raging of the elements, and the howling of the hobgoblins that infested this perfidious strait. But when the morning dawned, the horrors of the preceding evening had passed away ; rapids, breakers, and whirlpools, had disappeared, the stream again ran smooth and dimpling, and having changed its tide, rolled gently back, towards the quarter where lay their much-regretted home.
The woe-begone heroes of Communipaw eyed each other with rueful countenances ; their squadron had been totally dispersed by the late disaster. Some were cast upon the western shore, where, headed by one Ruleff Hopper, they took possession of all the country laying about the six-mile stone; which is held by the Hoppers at this present writing.
The Waldrons were driven by stress of weather to a distant. coast, were, having with them a jug of genuine Hollands, they were enabled to conciliate the savages, setting up a kind of tavern; from whence, it is said, did spring the fair town of Haerlem, in which their descendants have ever since continued
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to be reputable publicans. As to the Suydams, they were thrown upon the Long Island coast, and may still be found in those parts. But the most singular luck attended the great Ten Broeck, who, falling overboard, was miraculously preserved from sinking by the multitude of his nether garments. Thus
buoyed up, he floated on the waves, like a merman, or like the cork float of an angler, until he landed safely on a rock, where he was found the next morn- ing, busily drying his many breeches in the sunshine.
I forbear to treat of the long consultation of our adventurers-how they determined that it would not do to found a city in this diabolical neighbourhood- and how at length, with fear and trembling, they ven- tured once more upon the briny element, and steered their course back for Communipaw. Suffice it, in simple brevity, to say, that after toiling back through the scenes of their yesterday's voyage, they at length opened the southern point of Manna-hata, and gained a distant view of their beloved Communipaw.
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