Prank Pulled on Editor of Pelham Newspaper by Pelham Manor Prankster in 1897

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It was an early instance of unintended Fake News!  In 1897, Pelham had -- for the first time in its history -- competing weekly newspapers.  J. Gardiner Minard of the Village of North Pelham was founder, editor, and sole beat reporter of the Pelham Press.  In 1897 Alfred E. Stevens of Mt. Vernon noted the success of the Pelham Press and decided to start a rival newspaper:  the Pelham Record.  

Many Pelhamites resented what they deemed to be the "intrusion" of a rival newspaper based outside of their community in Mount Vernon.  That summer, one Pelham resident decided to do something about it.  He pulled a prank on the Mount Vernon-based editor of the new newspaper.  

I have written repeatedly about the history of newspapers in the Town of Pelham.  For a few examples of many more such articles, see:

Fri., Feb. 22, 2019:  More About The Pelham Manor Tribune (1893 - 1896), One of the Earliest Newspapers Published in Pelham.

Mon., Aug. 04, 2014:  A History of Newspapers Published in Pelham.

Thu., Jun. 26, 2014:  A History of the Early Years of The Pelham Sun, A Pelham Newspaper Institution. 

Mon., Sep. 05, 2005:  The Pelham Republican: Official Newspaper of The Villages of Pelham and North Pelham in 1902. 

Mon., May 23, 2005:  Thomas M. Kennett, Long Time Editor of The Pelham Sun. 

Fri., Apr. 01, 2005: The Earliest Newspaper in Pelham?

Jim Beecroft of the Village of Pelham Manor was the consummate prankster.  Indeed, he was so good at his craft that he could execute entertaining pranks at a moment's notice as he did one summer afternoon in 1897 when he happened to see the Mount Vernon editor of the new Pelham newspaper, Alfred E. Stevens, on the streets of Pelham.

That afternoon Beecroft was standing outside the local pharmacy at One Fifth Avenue speaking with J. Gardiner Minard, editor of the Pelham Press.  The pair observed Alfred E. Stevens, editor of the new rival newspaper, walking along Fifth Avenue toward them.  Beecroft whispered to Minard not to "give me away" and slipped into the pharmacy as Stevens approached.

Stevens arrived, greeted Minard, and the two men began speaking.  Soon, Beecroft emerged from the pharmacy with an arm bandaged and resting in a sling.  As Minard looked on, Stevens asked Beecroft how he had been injured.

Beecroft spun a fantastic yarn -- a tale of epic seamanship that led to injury.  Though he was an experienced sailor himself, Beecroft intentionally misstated details of the ship on which he supposedly was injured -- details experienced mariners would recognize as false but an uninitiated land lubber would certainly not.  Beecroft reportedly told Stevens:

"I was one of 18 guests aboard Commodore Gerry's private catboat 'Sea Nymph,' on a cruise up the Sound yesterday, when off Execution light a sudden squall came up and the crew were sent aloft to take in the topsails.  I saw they were in trouble and being something of a sailor myself through experience on my own cruising yacht, I went up to give them a hand.  I was standing on the yard at the mizzen holding the reef when a sudden blow yanked the sail from my hands and I lost my footing and fell to the forecastle deck and broke my arm.  Fortunately Commodore Gerry's physician was aboard and set it.  He says it will be alright in a couple of weeks."

J. Gardiner Minard played along with the prank.  He listened to the wild account told by his friend and nodded with appropriate concern and empathy.  

Little did land lubber Stevens know that a "catboat" such as that on which Beecroft claimed to be injured was barely bigger than a rowboat.  It was not, as seamen of the day would say, a "full rigger" with topsails, a yard, and mizzen sail.  It could not possibly carry a crew, an owner, eighteen guests, and a physician.  Nor would such a tiny boat have topsails.  Yet, the editor of the new rival newspaper fell for the story "hook, line and sinker."  He returned to his newspaper offices and wrote an entire article that recounted Beecroft's terrible injury when wind yanked the reef from his hands and toppled him to the forecastle deck, breaking his arm.  The article appeared on the front page of the newspaper in its next issue.

The Cat Boat by Edward Hopper (1922), Etching on Paper.

Smithsonian American Art Museum.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Jim Beecroft was not yet done with his prank, however.  Once the newspaper hit local newsstands, Beecroft bought many extra copies and mailed them to local seamen including a number on City Island.  

Among those to whom he mailed the newspaper was Captain Jake Smith, retired seaman and owner of the Macedonia Hotel on City Island.  Captain Jake, as he was called, received the newspaper and gathered local seamen in his bar at the hotel where he read the article.  All had a grand laugh at the expense of poor Alfred E. Stevens and the Pelham Record.  Then that group of seafaring men hatched their own plan to enjoy even more laughter at the expense of Editor Stevens.

For years thereafter, whenever any new sailor appeared in the bar of the Macedonia Hotel, Captain Jake would tell the story of Jim Beecroft and his fall from the yard at the mizzen sail to the forecastle of a catboat where he broke his arm.  Each time each skeptical sailor would dispute the account and question the sanity of Captain Jake.  Captain Jake then would bet a round of drinks for everyone in the bar if he could "prove" his account.  Once the bet was made, Captain Jake would whip out the newspaper article and claim that it "proved" the account.  Typically, though not always, the new sailor would acknowledge that he had been had and, with great laughter, would buy a round of drinks for all in the bar.  According to one account:  "The game was worked day after day until the clipping became so frayed that it was hardly legible.  Every sailor caught wanted to pass the buck to some shipmate and Jake did a land office business."

"THE OLD HISTORIC MACEDONIA HOTEL, CITY ISLAND, N. Y."

An Undated Postcard Image of the Macedonia Hotel.  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Captain Jake made a small fortune from the many rounds of drinks that newcomers were forced to buy over the years in the bar of the Macedonia Hotel.  Consequently, after Captain Jake learned how the news story had originated from a prank played by Jim Beecroft with the participation of Captain Jake's close friend, J. Gardiner Minard (editor of the rival Pelham Press of Pelham), Captain Jake never allowed Minard to pay for a meal or drink in when he partook in the Macedonia Hotel.  

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Below is an account of the prank pulled by Jim Beecroft and J. Gardiner Minard in 1897.  The text is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO
(Pelham Press, June 18, 1897)

(Continued from Last Week)

The Pelham Press had now been running 15 months and was firmly established in the hearts of the residents of the town so that when the new paper, Pelham Record, put in its appearance, the people resented the intrusion.  No matter how editor Stephens worded his news items, the one concerned was angry, but he was a glutton for punishment and always came back for more.  It remained for 'Jim' Beecroft of Pelham Manor to spill the beans for him.  Jim had a fertile brain for mischief and on a fine June morning in 1897 he was in conversation with the editor of the Press on the corner of Fifth avenue and First street when the latter remarked that the editor of the new paper was approaching from near Second street, 'is that the new editor?  Hold him until I come out and don't give me away,' replied Jim as he disappeared into Lyman's drug store on the corner, without further explanation.

The two editors were in conversation when Jim emerged with his left arm bandaged and in a sling.  Stephens gazed at the arm and asked what was the matter, and this is the story Jim told:  'I was one of 18 guests aboard Commodore Gerry's private catboat 'Sea Nymph,' on a cruise up the Sound yesterday, when off Execution light a sudden squall came up and the crew were sent aloft to take in the topsails.  I saw they were in trouble and being something of a sailor myself through experience on my own cruising yacht, I went up to give them a hand.  I was standing on the yard at the mizzen holding the reef when a sudden blow yanked the sail from my hands and I lost my footing and fell to the forecastle deck and broke my arm.  Fortunately Commodore Gerry's physician was aboard and set it.  He says it will be alright in a couple of weeks.'

Stephen swallowed the whole story, hook, line and sinker, and it appeared on the first page properly displayed.  Jim bought several copies and mailed marked copies to several friends.  Among these was Jake Smith, a retired sea captain who owned the Macedonia Hotel at City Island.  Smith's place was situated near the shipyards, sail lofts and dock and was the first place sailors stopped when vessels put in to be refitted or overhauled.

There was always a number of seafaring men in the small barroom and Captain Jake was popular.  

The Record arrived and Jake took off the wrapper, adjusted his spectacles and read the story with astonishment.  Then he rapped on the bar for attention, glared under his bushy iron red eyebrows to see that his order was obeyed and began to read the story.  Hardly had he read two lines before the men began arising from tables and chairs and approached the bar with open mouths and staring eyes.  He silenced all talk and laughter until he had finished and asked all hands to have a drink while he told his plans.  The men agreed to co-operate with him and he cut the article out and placed it in a drawer behind the bar.  The men returned to their places and appeared in ordinary conversation when a newly arrived captain strolled in, and walked to the bar.  Jake feigned great annoyance and the captain remarked that Jake looked worried about something.  Jake replied that he was worried; a great friend of his had met with a bad accident.  He then began relating the story and the visitor who had raised a glass to his lips, stopped suddenly, stared at Jake, replaced his full glass slowly on the bar and exploded, 'Jake, what are you talking about?  Topsails on a catboat, carrying a crew, besides 18 guests, owner, physician and possibly a number of stowaways.  Why, a catboat isn't any bigger than a rowboat.'

Smith feigned irritation at this and offered to bet drinks for the house he was right and could prove it.  The visitor swore that Jake was crazy and would stake his life and all he owned including his ship that Jake was referring to a full rigger and not a catboat.  The other men arose and backed Jake and the visitor swore some more and accepted Jake's offer of drinks for the house and defied him to prove his claim.  Jake first put out the drinks and then solemnly took the clipping from the drawer and handed it gravely to the skipper.  The latter started reading and punctuated every line with an oath.  He roared, argued and  swore but finally paid for the drinks.  With the money in his hand, Jake smiled, which was a signal for all hands to break into a hearty laugh except the stranger.  Then Jake asked all to drink up and have a drink on the house.  Everything was explained to the skipper and he joined in the laughter and said, 'wait here and I will bring the mate and we will put it over on him.'

The game was worked day after day until the clipping became so frayed that it was hardly legible.  Every sailor caught wanted to pass the buck to some shipmate and Jake did a land office business.  The editor of the Pelham Press and Jake were old friends and when Jake was informed how the story originated, the editor never could pay for anything he ordered at the Macedonia Hotel."

Source:  PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO (Pelham Press, June 18, 1897), The Pelham Sun, Jul. 1, 1927, p. 12, cols. 1-5.  

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An Editorial from Early Pelham Newspaper The Register Published in 1906

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Pelham had a number of early newspapers of which no copies (or an insignificant number of copies) are known to exist.  One such newspaper was The Register, a Democratic newspaper published in the early years of the 20th century.

I have written about the history of Pelham's various newspapers before.  For examples, see:

Mon., Aug. 04, 2014:  A History of Newspapers Published in Pelham.

Thu., Jun. 26, 2014:  A History of the Early Years of The Pelham Sun, A Pelham Newspaper Institution. 

Mon., Sep. 05, 2005:  The Pelham Republican:  Official Newspaper of The Villages of Pelham and North Pelham in 1902. 

Mon., May 23, 2005:  Thomas M. Kennett, Long Time Editor of The Pelham Sun. 

Fri., Apr. 01, 2005:  The Earliest Newspaper in Pelham?

The Register likely was Democrats' answer to The Republican, a newspaper published in Pelham during at least the years 1902 and 1903, if not later.  In his account of early Pelham newspapers published in 1929, J. Gardiner Minard recalled that The Register was founded after The Pelham Sun in 1910.  Minard's memory, however, failed him.  It is clear that The Register existed as early as 1906 and, perhaps, earlier.  

According to Minard, Charles B. Forbes (who later became publisher of the White Plains Daily Press) founded The Register with the assistance of J. Gardiner Minard.  In 1929, Minard wrote:  

"Between the two of us we kept the political pot boiling. Forbes received a tempting offer from a Washington, D. C. newspaper for a few years, during which time I pulled off a neat stunt. Robert Lucas Forbes, brother of my original partner, was running the New Rochelle Paragraph and although it was independently Republican, he found conditions in New Rochelle so unbearable that he supported the Democratic candidates in spite of threats from the Republican Committees to deprive him of then county printing. My paper was Democratic and when the official county newspapers were designated the Register was included, and I celebrated the event by transferring the paper to Forbes. Mr. Ceder subsequently consolidated the Record and Register with the Pelham Sun."

Source:  Minard, J. Gardiner, MANY NEWSPAPERS HAVE ENTERED PELHAM FIELD SINCE PELHAM PRESS WAS PUBLISHED IN 1896, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 5, 1929, p. 9, cols. 1-6.

No known copies of The Register exist today.  Yet it is possible to get a little flavor of the publication by virtue of an editorial it published in 1906 that was reprinted in the October 3, 1906 issue of the Daily Argus published in Mount Vernon.  

Pelham Democrats were very unhappy in October, 1906.  They were angry about the Democratic ticket for State positions that would be decided in the November 6 election.  Indeed, they seemed a little embarrassed about the contrast between the well-organized, smooth, and orderly Republican State Convention held September 25-26 and the somewhat tumultuous and disorderly Democratic State Convention held September 25-27.

Following an intervention by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican Convention nominated Charles E. Hughes for Governor, Merton E. Lewis for Comptroller, and renominated all remaining incumbent State officers by acclamation.  In contrast, at their State Convention Democrats nominated William Randolph Hearst as candidate for governor on the first ballot.  Independence League candidates were proffered for a number of remaining positions so that a Democratic / Independence League fusion ticket was presented to voters in the November election.    

Pelham Democrats were not unhappy with the Democratic / Independence League fusion ticket.  Rather, they were unhappy with the nomination of William Randolph Hearts as the Democratic candidate for Governor.  The editorial that appeared in The Register stated:

"'The Democratic nominations made at Buffalo last week are a keen disappointment to the old line Democrats who relied upon their delegates to name a strong man who would stand a good chance against any candidate the Republican party might name.  On the contrary, they named a decidedly weak man, one whose inconsistency is shown in assailing Boss Murphy, Bourke Cockran and Pat McCarren less than six months ago and now delightedly and contentedly basking in their smiles.  The contrast between the smooth running, orderly convention at Saratoga and the disorderly conference is as striking as the characters of the nominees.  The Register is Democratic and accepts the result, unless it is proved conclusively that honestly elected delegates were barred by dishonest methods from the convention.'"

Pelham Democrats and their local mouthpiece, The Register, seemed to agree with most New Yorkers.  In the November 6 election that followed, the entire Democratic / Independence fusion ticket was elected with the exception of William Randolph Hearst who was rejected by New York voters throughout the State but especially in New York City.  Significantly, with the exception of the governorship, the election results ended a twelve-year Republican era in New York State politics.  See "New York State Election, 1906" in Wikipedia -- The Free Encyclopedia (visited Oct. 7, 2017).

William Randolph Hearst, 1906 Democratic Candidate for

Governor of the State of New York, a Nomination with Which

Pelham Democrats and the Democratic Newspaper The

Register were Dissatisfied.  Source:  Wikipedia.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"PELHAM DEMOCRATIC PAPER DISATISFIED [sic] WITH HEARST
-----
The Register Says Nomination Is Unsatisfactory and Remarks Upon Candidate's Inconsistency.
-----

North Pelham, Oct. 3. -- If an editorial which appeared in the Pelham Register of this week's issue is any criterion, the Democratic party in Pelham is in a disgruntled state of mind concerning the nominations made at the Democratic convention in Buffalo.

The Register, which is purported to be the Democratic organ of the town, is dissatisfied with the way things went at Buffalo, and contrasts the Republican convention with the Democratic convention, referring to the former as a 'smooth running and orderly convention,' and the latter as the 'disorderly Buffalo conference.'

The editorial follows, showing no doubt the sentiment of the sober-minded Democrats of the town:  'The Democratic nominations made at Buffalo last week are a keen disappointment to the old line Democrats who relied upon their delegates to name a strong man who would stand a good chance against any candidate the Republican party might name.  On the contrary, they named a decidedly weak man, one whose inconsistency is shown in assailing Boss Murphy, Bourke Cockran and Pat McCarren less than six months ago and now delightedly and contentedly basking in their smiles.  The contrast between the smooth running, orderly convention at Saratoga and the disorderly conference is as striking as the characters of the nominees.  The Register is Democratic and accepts the result, unless it is proved conclusively that honestly elected delegates were barred by dishonest methods from the convention.'"

Source:  PELHAM DEMOCRATIC PAPER DISATISFIED [sic] WITH HEARST -- The Register Says Nomination Is Unsatisfactory and Remarks Upon Candidate's Inconsistency, Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Oct. 3, 1906, Whole No. 4435, p. 1, col. 1.

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Professor David A. Van Buskirk's Scandalous Musicale in North Pelham in 1897

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Pelham tongues wagged for weeks over the scandal.  Indeed, Pelhamites were made to look like fools by one of their own, Professor David A. Van Buskirk of River Avenue in the Village of North Pelham.  (River Avenue disappeared with the later construction of the Hutchinson River Parkway.)

Professor Van Buskirk announced that he would sell tickets and hold a "musicale" on the evening of Saturday, January 30, 1897.  He put up posters all over Pelham announcing that famed actress Lillian Russell, famed minstrel performer George H. Primrose, famed Broadway producers Weber & Fields, and a host of other "leaders of the stage" would attend the musicale.

Ticket sales were brisk.  On the appointed evening, the old wooden Town Hall (predecessor to today's Town Hall building at 34 Fifth Avenue) was full.  Indeed, it was "crowded."

The evening began with Professor Van Buskirk stepping in front of the audience waving a handful of supposed "telegrams" from all of the leaders of the stage, each "regretting their inability to appear" but "wishing him much success" with his musicale.

The crowd was disappointed, but settled in for an entertainment.  Little did they know that the opening performer was none other than little Sadie Van Buskirk, beloved daughter of Professor David A. Van Buskirk.  

The next performer was another youth who performed "some rather vulgar songs."  Some of the audience were offended, and left.  Then the "youth reappeared later partly dressed and began some risque stories."  The crowd turned ugly and began hissing.  Every woman in the audience stood and left.  All but a handful of the men in the audience followed.  

Professor Van Buskirk "came out smiling" and urged the crowd to wait, saying that "the floor would now be cleared for dancing."  There was, however, no one left to dance because all had left.

The scandalous show "almost ruined future really worthy entertainments given at the hall for two years."

Detail from Undated Photograph of the Original Pelham Town Hall

on Fifth Avenue on an Election Day.  This is Where the "Musicale"

Was Held on January 30, 1897.  Source: Courtesy of The Office of

The Historian of The Town of Pelham. Note: Click on Image to Enlarge.

Detail from Plate 20 of John F. Fairchild's Atlas of Mount Vernon and Pelham

Published in 1899 Showing Location of Original Meeting Hall and

Courthouse on the Fifth Avenue Lot Where Today's Pelham Town

Hall Stands.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the text of the fascinating article that forms the basis of today's Historic Pelham article.  On March 1, 1896, North Pelham resident J. Gardiner Minard founded a local newspaper named "Pelham Press."  The newspaper lasted only a couple of years until Minard left to serve in the Spanish-American War.  Few copies of any of the newspapers exist today.  Luckily, however, during the 1920s Minard submitted to The Pelham Sum summaries of the news from his copies of the Pelham Press, often styled as "Pelham 30 Years Ago" and the like.  Occasionally, he added commentary to explain references from the old newspapers.  Below is one example of "Pelham 30 Years Ago" published on January 28, 1927.  It contains information regarding David A. Buskirk's "musicale."

"PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO
(Pelham Press January 23, 1897)

Next Saturday night a musicale will be given at the town hall with a dance following.  The proceeds are for the benefit of Prof. David A. Van Buskirk of River avenue.  [Editor's Note:  The following parenthetical was not reported in the original Pelham Press on January 23, 1897.  Instead, it was a "Note" added to the reprint in 1927 by J. Gardner Minard long after the fact regarding the "musicale" that was held as announced in the Pelham Press.]  (Note -- The posters announced that Weber & Fields, George H. Primrose, Lillian Russell and a host of the leaders of the stage at that time would appear.  The hall was crowded and Van Buskirk appeared with 'telegrams' from the different stars regretting their inability to appear and wishing him much success.  The singing of Miss Sadie Van Buskirk, daughter of the professor, was good, but when a youth appeared next with some rather vulgar songs, some of the audience left.  The youth reappeared later partly dressed and began some risque stories which caused every woman and all but a handful of men to leave amid much hissing.  Van Buskirk came out smiling and said the floor would now be cleared for dancing, but there were none to dance, and all left.  This show almost ruined really worthy entertainments given at the hall for two years.)  [Editor's Note:  End of updated added by J. Gardner Minard in 1927.]

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Henry Iden has men engaged in cutting the ice on his pond on Wolf's lane.  The work began last Wednesday and it is expected that the ice house will be filled with this crop.

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Philip Flynn, of the oldest and best known residents of City Island died at his home there last Saturday.  The interment took place Thursday.

Two cases of pneumonia were reported this week:  Mrs. H. T. Stone of Fourth avenue and Mr. Wilson-Barker of Second avenue, North Pelham.

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The North Pelham board of health complains that out of town doctors practising in the village are not reporting contagious cases as required by law.

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Ethel Jones, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. H. Jones of Mayflower avenue, found a bottle labeled 'poison' in a vacant lot last Friday and brought it to the North Pelham school.  Principal Hill saw her about to drink some and asked her what it was.  She replied 'cough medicine.'  He took the bottle from her and brought it to Lyman's drug store where it was found to be laudanum.

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During the early part of the week a rumor was in circulation that the Adam's Express Co. would move its North Pelham office to Pelham Manor.  The agent states that while it is true a branch will be opened in the Manor, the Pelham office will remain.

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Miss Florence Archer of Chester Park was seriously injured in an accident last Monday.  She had driven Mr. Miller of Chester Park to the Pelham station and in turning around, the horse cut too short, dumping the young lady out, the carriage passing over her.  she was carried to Lyman's pharmacy in a fainting condition.  She was cut about the head and face but appeared to be all right otherwise.  The horse was caught by James Conkling.

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Former Justice of the Peace Gustav I. Karbach is being mentioned as a possible candidate for that office at the town election which takes place March 16.

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The Pelham Social club held a very successful masquerade ball at the town hall last night.  A large number came from Mount Vernon and New Rochelle.  The feature was an immense Japanese umbrella suspended from the center of the ceiling.  The grand march was led by Thomas Morrelly of North Pelham and Miss Anna Moore of Mount Vernon."

Source:  PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO -- (Pelham Press January 23, 1897), The Pelham Sun, Jan. 28, 1927,  p. 13, cols. 1-2.

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Fishing in Long Island Sound Was a Favorite Sport of Early Pelhamites

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J. Gardiner Minard was an important early resident of Pelhamville.  He was a local newspaperman, a shop keeper, baseball player, and volunteer fireman, among other things.  As he aged, he became an unofficial local historian who wrote countless stories for the local newspaper about the early days of Pelhamville.  

Slowly over the last few years I have been collecting many of the history articles and anecdotes that Minard wrote and that were published in The Pelham Sun.  On May 3, 1929, at the very end of the Roaring Twenties, Minard published an unusual set of anecdotes about the importance of fishing on Long Island Sound to local Pelham residents in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Minard tells such stories as the time when two rival groups of Pelhamites bet each other over who would catch the most blackfish on the Sound the following day.  One of the two groups set out the evening before and collected two bushels of mussels that they mashed and then took to a spot in the Sound and dumped them overboard near a favorite blackfish spot, knowing that the bait at such a "salted" site would attract fish the next morning.  They marked the spot with a float.

The rival group thought their opponents had boasted a bit too much about likely success and, thus, suspected foul play.  They went out extraordinarily the following day and found the float.  Suspecting the area might have been baited, they moved the float some distance away, anchored over the spot and began hauling in blackfish one after the other.  

Soon their rivals appeared and anchored over the float.  Though they fished all morning, all they could do was watch as the other group hauled up fish while they caught none.  Soon they figured out what had happened and were furious as the others merrily laughed at their expense.

Minard's account, however, is most interesting because it documents a little of the life of stock actor Richard Jacob Moye who lived in North Pelham.  He was known as an accomplished character actor who played such roles as the Dutch grocer in the "Chimmie Fadden" and as Dickey Dyles in "The Stowaway" in traveling productions throughout the region.  

Minard's account is well worth a read and forms a part of the history and lore of Pelhamville.

Blackfish (Tautoga Onitis)

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"FISHING IN LONG ISLAND SOUND WAS FAVORITE SPORT OF EARLY PELHAMITES
-----
Tom Barker, Peter Rohrs and Charles Hemmingway Great Fishing Enthusiasts.  Richard Moye Stages A Little Comedy Of His Own
-----
By J. Gardiner Minard
-----

With the arrival of the fishing season, we wonder what has caused a falling off in this line of sport in the Pelhams.  Up to a quarter of a century ago there were any number of men in North Pelham who owned boats which they kept in New Rochelle moorings and every Sunday they made a trip to the fishing grounds and always brought home good catches. 

Flounders are not nearly so plentiful now as in those days when 200 in a couple of hours at Cedar rock and Hunter's Island were not considered unusual.  Peter Rohrs of Chester Park I believe still carries on, but Pete's hobby is striped bass, and it takes a world of patience to troll for hours and not get a strike.  Blackfish however, were what most of the local fishermen went after and many tales of these parties could be told.

Tom Barker and Charlie Hemingway each had a boat at Huntington's ship yard in New Rochelle and each Sunday they invited a couple of friends to fish.  There was considerable rivalry between these two parties.

One Saturday evening Charlie came down on his bicycle and stopped at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Third Street where a number of men, including Tom, were sitting on the stone wall that stood there.  Charlie was in a kidding spirit and asked Tom whom he was taking out the next day.

After being told, he said, 'I bet you we will catch more fish and bigger ones than you.  I know a spot where I used to catch quite a few.  It hasn't been fished for a long time, and I have an idea they will run there tomorrow.  Bring all the money you can and we will cover it.'

Charlie's continual betting offers made Tom suspicious and he remarked that he thought he would go home to bed.  Charlie wanted to know what time he was leaving the next day and Tom replied he would start at the usual time, seven o'clock.

But Tom didn't go home.  He hunted up the two friends who he was to be taken [sic] with him and told of his suspicions and they agreed to go an hour earlier.  At 6:30 they reached the fishinig grounds and circled about scanning the surface of the water.  They saw what they were looking for and what happened will be related after.  Dropping anchor they put out their lines and almost immediately they began hooking blacks.  

Charlie, too, had notified his guests to be on the job early and just as the first blacks were being hauled aboard Charlie and his guests were seen coming out of New Rochelle harbor.  One of them remarked that fishermen were already out and Charlie looked and said, 'I'll be hanged if it isn't Tom and his party.  They went out early to try and beat us but we are going to fool them.  Wait until they see us hauling the fish in.'

When they got near enough to hail each other, Tom and his friends called out to Charlie to come over and anchor near their boat as the fish were plentiful and big.  Charlie cruised about until something on the surface attracted his attention and he smiled as he dropped his anchor and said to his friends in an undertone 'the fish must be plentiful today when they catch them like that, but wait until we start and they will turn green with envy.'

Charlie and his friends got out their lines and ten minutes passed without a bite while Tom's boat kept bringing them up.  As they pulled up beauties they held them up for Charlie and his guests to admire at the same time urging him to bring his boat over near theirs.

Again and again Charlie gazed at a block of wood floating on the surface and after a half hour during which time his party had only landed two small ones, he grabbed the block and pulled up the cord attached and lifted a stone from the bottom.  He examined it for a moment and then rising in the boat began to talk marine language.  'Hey you,' he shouted, 'I bet you shifted my float.'

A burst of laughter from the other boat was the response.  It was all too true.  After quitting work at noon Saturday, Charlie had gone directly to New Rochelle, got his boat out and going to the mussel beds, gathered two bushels and took them out to the blackfish grounds.  Mashing them, he scattered them about and placed a float to mark the spot.

He had boasted too much the previous evening and Tom suspected this scheme.  He and his friends had gone out early and found the float and taking it up, carried it 150 feet away and dropped it there.  Then they anchored at Charlie's baited ground.  They had lots of fun with Charlie the following few days and all he could say was that it was a poor trick after he had missed his dinner Saturday to bait the ground, for them to shift the float.

Richard J. Moye, the character actor, who resided in North Pelham was also a fisherman.  Moye was killed at the New Haven station here just ten years ago.  He will be remembered as the Dutch grocer in the 'Chimmie Fadden' and as Dickey Dyles in 'The Stowaway.'  He was with the Jacob Litt Stock Co., and they went on the road in the late fall and finished in the early spring.  It was a feast or a famine with stock company actors and actresses in those days and Moye experienced hard times during the summer months.  He had a wife and three children.

It was shortly after noon on a hot summer day he came into my store on Wolf's Lane and told me in confidence that he was down and out and there was not a thing to eat in the house.  He disdained charity and wanted to know whether there was any chance getting fish in the Sound.  It was a bad season for fishing but I assured him we might get a few.  If he could get enough for a meal he would be satisfied.

Moye was born on Staten Island where his father kept a hotel with a summer garden which was patronized by Germans.  He spoke perfect English as well as all German dialects and it was one of his hobbies to catch an American and German, both strangers, and break into a jargon of bad English and worse German and start a dispute between them, the German insisting Moye was not a German and the American insisting he was not an American but German.  

We got the boat out and fished.  As I had thought, the fish were not running good and the afternoon was hot, even on the water.  Dusk was approaching and for an hour Moye had been silent and apparently in deep thought.  We had about a dozen small flounders, three bergals, one small blackfish and one small eel.  I got a bite and started to haul up and Moye at the same time got a nibble which caused him to jerk the line and his derby hat fell to the bottom of the boat just as I brought a good sized flounder over the side; but the fish fell off the hook into the boat and landed on Moye's derby and before I could grab it, it had flapped completely about the brim leaving a trail of slime.

I picked up the hat and got out my handkerchief to wipe it off, but Moye grabbed the hat in affected alarm and yelled 'Don't wipe that off; it is worth money to us.  Now look here; I have simply got to have a whiskey.  You have 15 cents and you only drink beer.  Are there any saloons around here?'

There were two saloons:  Simmons on the Shore Road over the Pelham Manor boundary line in New Rochelle and the Neptune House kept by Tom McMahon one hundred yards east.  After putting up the boat we went first to Simmons'.  Moye crept up the porch and peeked through the curtain.  There was a coachman standing at the bar.  This one wouldn't do.  At McMahon's there were two well dressed and prosperous looking Irishmen at the bar smiling and apparently joking.  This was the place.  

Again cautioning me to keep my face straight, he placed his right hand on the small of his back, bent over as if suffering with a back ache, screwed his face as if in pain and carrying the basket of fish in his right hand, opened the door and entered, at the same time launching into an attack on the English and German languages.  He didn't even look towards the strangers but they were looking at him and their [illegible] finally into chuckles.

'What's the matter, Dutchy?' asked one.  Moye made a painful effort to straighten up and began another murder of the two languages, the purport of which was that his wife had invited a large number of guests to a fish breakfast and sent him out at daylight to catch the fish.  We had been all day and the wife and guests were still waiting and he was due for a reprimand.

'Have a drink, Dutchy?' one asked.  Moye cast a disdainful look at the bar and finally agreed to a 'schmall schnapps.'   McMahon put out the gas bottle and Moye filled it to the brim.  When the stranger called his attention to this he explained that his eyesight was bad but it was bad luck to pour any part of it back into the bottle.

When asked what he had caught he referred to the fish as 'flet flounders, dark gomplectioned bleck fish, bluegalls and a long round schlippery fish' which he said I had called an eel, but he was quite certain it was a serpent.  His deep gutteral words and rolling r's had the men in stitches.  They asked him what that was on his hat and he took off the derby, patted it affectionately and said that he didn't like to tell because they would not believe him for never in his life had he seen such a thing before.  Pressed for the story he said that for more than an hour a large fish was swimming on the surface and watching him.  His hat fell off into the boat and this fish was evidently waiting for this opportunity and jumping out of the water into the boat, it started swimming around the brim of the hat like a merry-go-round.  He chased after the fish trying to catch it and finally got dizzy and fell himself to the bottom of the boat and the fish with a noise like a laugh, jumped overboard.  As proof he not only had the mark on the hat, but there was a salt water mark on his trousers to prove the fall.

The drinks were coming fast and I was beginning to worry over Moye.  From experience I knew the more he drank the more entertaining he became and also more helpless.  I must get him home and take the blame.  I suggested we 'geh heim.'  One of the strangers took out his watch and said anxiously 'Great Scot, look at the time it is; we have just time to make the train.'  As they shook hands with Moye, the latter straightened up, smiled and said 'Good night gentlemen, we have had a very pleasant evening and we appreciate.'

The two men gasped and stared for a moment and one exclaimed 'Say:  who the devil are you?'  

Smiling broader Moye answered 'I am Richard Jacob Moye, the actor.'

'Oh thunder, come back here,' and they dragged Moye back to the bar.  Now it was real reason for worry.  Getting one of the men to one side, I explained Moye's circumstances and why we had gone fishing and begged him not to give him any more drinks.  He agreed and conveyed the information to his friend.  They telephoned for a hack and getting Moye and myself in, we left them at the New Haven station where they gave the driver a fat tip and instructed him to take us home.

The next morning Moye entered my store pop eyed.  He explained he had gotten up early and dressed in the same old clothes expecting to ask me to go fishing again, but when he put his hand in the coat pocket had found two five dollar bills there.  How did they get there?  I could only suggest the two strangers as wanting to pay for the evening's entertainment.

In conclusion this story will illustrate Moye's versatility and ability to impersonate characters; twenty-eight years ago the people of this community were shocked to read that a justice of the peace of the town of Pelham had been arrested in Mount Vernon charged with intoxication but released as soon as his identity became known.  The town board met and investigated itself and gave each member a clean bill of health, but was unable to get a retraction from either the newspaper or the Mount Vernon police who were quite certain of the identity of the individual.  Two of those ex-judges are alive and I believe to this day they regard each other with suspicion.

It was Moye who was arrested."

Source:  Minard, J. Gardiner, FISHING IN LONG ISLAND SOUND WAS FAVORITE SPORT OF EARLY PELHAMITES -- Tom Barker, Peter Rohrs and Charles Hemmingway Great Fishing Enthusiasts.  Richard Moye Stages A Little Comedy Of His Own, The Pelham Sun, May 3, 1929, p. 19, cols. 1-5.

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News Reported by the Pelham Press on February 13, 1897

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For a brief time in the late 1890s, Pelham had its first local newspaper named the "Pelham Press."  I have written before of the founding of that little newspaper and have quoted the following account of its creation written by J. Gardiner Minard of the Village of North Pelham:

"During the winter of 1895-96, the late Mark A. Hanna, chairman of the Republican National Committee was forcing the presidential nomination of Governor William McKinley, of Ohio. There was much opposition to McKinley and Hanna with his millions was purchasing the support of certain newspapers. There lived in Stamford, Conn., a tall old gentlemen [sic] by the name of John T. Trowbridge. He resembled Charles Evan Hughes with his flowing beard. Trowbridge saw that Hanna was proceeding with a very expensive program and getting audience with the political leader unfolded the scheme which brought the Pelham Press into being, as well as several other weekly newspapers along the Long Island Sound shore from the Bronx to Milford, Conn. 

These newspapers were to sponsor the McKinley cause. A representative in each city, town and village would edit his particular sheet. All the papers would be printed alike with the exception of the heads, and subheads on the editorial page. Each group of news would be printed under the heading of the locality where it was to be circulated. The papers were printed in New York City and delivered in the various communities by train. The only expense to the editor was the fifty cents express charges. 

Mr. Trowbridge came to Pelham hoping to establish a link of his chain journalism here. I was recommended for the position as editor and I accepted the very flattering offer. 

It was never intended that these newspapers should survive the election, but the Pelham Press had made its mark and when the time for suspension came, the circulation list was rather substantial, and although I pocketed everything, Trowbridge continued to supply me with papers". 

Source: Minard, J. Gardiner, MANY NEWSPAPERS HAVE ENTERED PELHAM FIELD SINCE PELHAM PRESS WAS PUBLISHED IN 1896, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 5, 1929, p. 9, cols. 1-6.

Although copies of the Pelham Press no longer exist, The Pelham Sun periodically published the contents of the tiny little newspaper in the late 1920s as a column entitled "Pelham 30 Years Ago."  By republishing the news of the day thirty years previously in such a fashion, The Pelham Sun created a series of tiny, written time capsules that are the only record of certain happenings in Pelham during 1896 and 1897.

In its February 11, 1927 issue, The Pelham Sun published the Pelham Press news of the week ended February 13, 1897.  Much of the news summarized developments relating to the local fire department including election of leaders of the Relief Hook and Ladder Company as well as an upcoming special election of voters to approve the fire fighting budget for the ensuing year.  

The reports also remind us of a simpler time when the ice man made horse-drawn deliveries of large blocks of ice for placement in wooden "ice boxes" in nearly every home, forerunners of modern refrigerators.  The reports mention the ice houses that once stood near First avenue to store harvest of ice blocks cut from the Reservoir.  

The news of Pelham for the week ended February 13, 1897 offers a fascinating and entertaining glimpse of the nature of our Town shortly before the turn of the 20th century.  Below is the news of that week.

"PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO
(Pelham Press February 13, 1897)
-----

Prof. Van Buskirk of River avenue, North Pelham, for whose benefit a show was given at the town hall last Saturday night, moved with his family to New York City last Monday.

+++

Willis Morse, a young lad living on Loring avenue, Pelham Heights, has placed on sale at Lyman's pharmacy a number of 'Cuba Libre' buttons with a miniature Cuban flag.  The money derived from the sale of them will be devoted to the assistance of the sick and wounded patriots.

+++

The Christian Endeavor Society of the Church of the Covenant held a very enjoyable social at the church on Second avenue last Wednesday evening.

+++

Monday night a party of North Pelham men suddenly decided to have a good time, so they engaged two large sleighs in Mount Vernon for a straw ride; telephoned Thomas McMahon, proprietor of the Neptune house on Shore road for a beefsteak supper and dance.  'Aunt Jane' Burnett of Prospect Hill was asked through a messenger to collect about twenty dancing partners for the men for a dance to follow at the Burnett residence.  A long drive began at 8 o'clock which led through New Rochelle and landed the party at McMahons at 9 o'clock where a fine supper was awaiting.  After eating the party continued to Aunt Jane's where the dancing partners were waiting and dancing was kept up until 2 a.m.  It was unanimously voted a complete success.

+++

At the regular meeting of Relief Hook and Ladder company held at the fire house last Monday, James W. Penny was nominated for chief and Walter Barker was nominated for assistant chief.  Louis Epple was elected a member and William Edinger, who resigned last year was re-elected to membership.

+++

Notices have been posted for a special election of the taxpayers of the first fire district to be held at the fire house next Monday evening to vote upon the following proposition for the maintenance of the department for the ensuing year:  $50 for a new hose rack on which to dry the hose; $50 for premium on the fire insurance policy which is now due; $50 for lighting and heating the fire house; [illegible] for bills now due and overdue, and $75 for running expenses and repairs.

+++

The ice houses on First avenue having been filled with the last big crop from the reservoir and the prospects for another crop good, Lawrence B. Holler has started work on a second building to immediately adjoin the present structure.

+++

The U.S. Senate on February 9th confirmed the reappointment of Mrs. Katherine L. Merritt as postmaster at the Pelham station.  The local station is at present fourth class and the postmaster is dependent upon the number of stamps and postal orders sold for salary, so all residents are urged to buy at the Pelham office.

+++

Both Democrats and Republicans will hold their annual spring primaries for the nomination of town officials next week.

+++

The Pelham Social club has tickets out for a Calico Hop to be given at the court house on February 25.

+++

William H. Cars and family of Sixth avenue and Third street, moved last Monday to the Hiawatha-Evangeline apartments and store on the corner of east Third and Fourth streets, Mt. Vernon.  Mr. Cars also moved all his machinery from the Gurney hall and will re-establish his printery at the new location.  All the labels used by the Fleischmann Yeast company are printed at this plant.  Mr. Cars possesses a patent gum which causes paper to stick to tin foil."

Source:  PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO -- (Pelham Press February 13, 1897), The Pelham Sun, Feb. 11, 1927, p. 11, cols. 1-2.  

Detail of 1910 Map Showing Pelham Reservoir,

Filter Beds, and Area Where Ice Houses Once

Stood.  Source: Bromley, George W.

& Bromley, Walter S., Untitled Map Bounded by

Town of East Chester, City of New Rochelle,

Pelham Station, Clarefmont Avenue and Central

Boulevard in Atlas Of Westchester County, Vol. One,

p. 17 (Philadelphia, PA: G. W. Bromley & Co., 1910).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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