Lot of history on that stretch of water...
Was on Hell Gate/East River thread last night and could not resist posting some
historical tidbits relating to that stretch of water.
Always like to research history of waters we sail/cruise, being a minor history buff.
Would be great to hear about some of your nautical history and notable wrecks around your home waters.
Western most Long Island Sound and East River...
Hart Island, directly east of City Island... civil war confederate prison camp, Nike missile base,
also a former women's prison, and currently serves as NYC's potters field.
City Island...many America Cup boats built ,Columbia, Constellation, Courageous and others.
North Brother Island...Typhoid Mary imprisoned on North Brother Island and eventually came and went to the end of
her life promising not to work as a domestic cook which was how she spread the disease.
British prison ships during revolutionary war at Wallabout Bay/southeast side of Williamsburg Bridge...understand that more men
perished (10,000) on these ships during the war than on the battlefield. many remains thrown overboard
and continued to be discovered on the shores and construction sites into modern times
Wallabout Bay above is also site of the Brooklyn Navy Yard/1801 to 1966, built ships such as USS Maine, Arizona,
Missouri, and the Monitor was fitted out there, but was built in Greenport, Long island (near Orient Pt.)
Fultons steamboat
Washington retreating across East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan
(rowed across by Mass. sailors/fishermen) same crews that rowed Washington across the
Delaware River later that year (1776) at Christmas.
HMS Hussar lost in 1780 at Hell Gate with british gold payroll, billion in todays dollars, still down there.
(thanks to tweitz from east end of L.I. for that one)
The General Slocum (named after civil war general not Joshua) excursion side wheeler, burnt killing over 1000 in East River... mostly women and children going
on picnic to Eatons Neck, Long island in June 1904. Was intentionally grounded (to late) on North Brother Island. Many died in shallow water close to shore
as many did not swim back then and life preservers disintegrated from years of exposure and loose regulations/corrupt inspectors.
This disaster lead to reforms re; life vests fire regs etc. on board.
Hell Gate/East River is easy going these days as took over
30 years or so, in mid to late 1800's, to blow up the rocks
and ledges laying just beneath the surface at the gate.
Finally the East River is not a river at all!
Was on Hell Gate/East River thread last night and could not resist posting some
historical tidbits relating to that stretch of water.
Always like to research history of waters we sail/cruise, being a minor history buff.
Would be great to hear about some of your nautical history and notable wrecks around your home waters.
Western most Long Island Sound and East River...
Hart Island, directly east of City Island... civil war confederate prison camp, Nike missile base,
also a former women's prison, and currently serves as NYC's potters field.
City Island...many America Cup boats built ,Columbia, Constellation, Courageous and others.
North Brother Island...Typhoid Mary imprisoned on North Brother Island and eventually came and went to the end of
her life promising not to work as a domestic cook which was how she spread the disease.
British prison ships during revolutionary war at Wallabout Bay/southeast side of Williamsburg Bridge...understand that more men
perished (10,000) on these ships during the war than on the battlefield. many remains thrown overboard
and continued to be discovered on the shores and construction sites into modern times
Wallabout Bay above is also site of the Brooklyn Navy Yard/1801 to 1966, built ships such as USS Maine, Arizona,
Missouri, and the Monitor was fitted out there, but was built in Greenport, Long island (near Orient Pt.)
Fultons steamboat
Washington retreating across East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan
(rowed across by Mass. sailors/fishermen) same crews that rowed Washington across the
Delaware River later that year (1776) at Christmas.
HMS Hussar lost in 1780 at Hell Gate with british gold payroll, billion in todays dollars, still down there.
(thanks to tweitz from east end of L.I. for that one)
The General Slocum (named after civil war general not Joshua) excursion side wheeler, burnt killing over 1000 in East River... mostly women and children going
on picnic to Eatons Neck, Long island in June 1904. Was intentionally grounded (to late) on North Brother Island. Many died in shallow water close to shore
as many did not swim back then and life preservers disintegrated from years of exposure and loose regulations/corrupt inspectors.
This disaster lead to reforms re; life vests fire regs etc. on board.
Hell Gate/East River is easy going these days as took over
30 years or so, in mid to late 1800's, to blow up the rocks
and ledges laying just beneath the surface at the gate.
Finally the East River is not a river at all!