Stage Coach Accident in Pelham in Early 1883

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It may be difficult to imagine, but western-style stage coaches once provided an important means of transportation in and around the Town of Pelham.  Perhaps the most famous regular stage line within the Town of Pelham was Robert J. Vickery's Stage Line that operated the short distance between City Island and Bartow Station on the New Haven Branch Line.  One of the stages of that line was involved in an accident on January 10, 1883.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog provides a little information about Robert Vickery's Stage Line and transcribes the text of a brief article that references the 1883 accident.

Robert J. Vickery was a son of notable City Island resident William Vickery.  I have written about William Vickery before.  See Tue., Jan. 27, 2009:  Biography of William Vickery, a 19th Century Resident of City Island in the Town of Pelham.  William Vickery was born in Somersetshire, England in May, 1824.  He married Jane Vickery, no direct kin, in Bristol, England.  The couple emigrated and settled on City Island in the Town of Pelham in 1854.  There he became, first, a farmer and then a shopkeeper who ran a mercantile business and was known for his large garden with which he supplemented his incoming by selling produce for delivery in New York City.  

Robert J. Vickery was born to the couple on March 13, 1856.  Robert J. Vickery married Mary L. Prout who died in 1881.  He married again, on January 6, 1886, to Marian Horton.  The couple had three children and lived for many years on City Island.  See Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. IV, pp. 249-51 (NY and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company 1907).

In about 1875, Robert J. Vickery established his stage line running between Bartow Station and City Island.  I previously have published an advertisement for Vickery's Stage Line published in 1877.  I have included that image below as well.

Source:  ROBERT VICKERY'S STAGE LINE,

The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], May 25, 1877, p. 4, col. 3.

From the outset, Vickery's Stage Line made trips to and from every train that stopped at Bartow Station on the New Haven Branch Line, ferrying passengers back and forth to (and from) City Island.  As a side line, the business also delivered parcels as part of its services.

Vickery ran the stage line successfully for fifteen years.  With the advent of the horse-drawn railway system that was laid out from Bartow Station to City Island in 1887 and began operating in the late 1880's, the handwriting was on the wall for Robert J. Vickery and his stage line.  On January 30, 1890, a local newspaper reported that Robert J. Vickery and one of his brothers, Fred Vickery, had bought a local livery business in Mount Vernon, NY and would take over its operation.  See [Untitled], The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 30, 1890 (reporting "Messrs. Robert J. and Fred Vickery, of City Island, have bought out the livery business of Mr. A. B. Marsh [of Mount Vernon, NY], and will continue at the same stand.  Mr. Marsh will continue the business of veterinary surgeon at the same place.  Mr. Robert J. Vickery ran the stage line between Bartow and City Island over 15 years, and Mr. Fred Vickery conducted a lively stable and express business at Bartow more than 10 years.  They are reliable and obliging gentlemen.").  

Newspaper Advertisement for Robert J. And Fred Vickery's

New Venture, a Boarding and Livery Stable.

Source:  ROBT. J. & FRED. VICKERY [Advertisement],

The Chronicle [Mount Vernon], May 2, 1895, p. 4, cols. 5-6.

For a period of time, at least one other stage company attempted, unsuccessfully, to compete with the so-called horse-railroad that ran between Bartow Station and City Island, but by the mid-to-late 1890's, it seems that western-style stage coaches had disappeared as a mode of transportation within the Town of Pelham.  See City Island, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 6, 1894, Vol. 3, No. 665, p. 3, col. 2 (reporting "City Island . . . Some people's tongue get them into unnecessary trouble.  For instance, the stage company has been obliged to haul off on account of the onslaught one of its drivers made to the public against the Pelham Park [Horse] Railroad, and the consequence is a big law suit on hand between them.").  

Robert J. Vickery died on June 7, 1902.  His death was reported about a week later in the New York Times.  See Death List of the Week . . . VICKERY, N.Y. Times, Jun. 15, 1902, p. 2, col. 6.  

Below is the text of the article that includes a brief description of the stage coach accident that occurred on Robert J. Vickery's Stage Line on January 10, 1883.

"CITY ISLAND. 

On Thursday evening of this week, a party of young people gave a surprise to the Misses Scofield. 

The collector of taxes has given notice that he will sit to receive taxes for thirty days, from January 13th, inst., from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., as follows: January 13th, 20th, 27th and February 3d, at the court-house, City Island; January 18th, 25th and February 1st and 8th, at the store of Robert Scott, Bartow Station. 

It is stated that from three to four hundred tons of coal are stolen, annually, from eastward bound vessels, while in the vicinity of City Island. Complaint has been made from time to time, of the shrinkage in weight of consignments of coal to eastern merchants. By careful estimate, it is calculated that in some seasons, during recent years, the shrinkage has been as high as 400 tons. In many instances, those in charge of the cargoes permit small vessels to come along side and, for a nominal consideration, the visitor is sent away loaded to the waters edge with coal, paid for by some enterprising eastern merchant. In other instances, it is thought that those in charge of the cargoes are in league with the thieves and deal out to them, coal in such an amount as is not likely to be missed by the owner. A large part of this business goes on while the vessels are at anchor over night, or sheltered from approaching storms. By this practice, tons and tons of coal, it is alleged, are sold along the shore, both on the Long Island and Westchester side of the Sound, as far eastward as New Rochelle, for less per ton than its best cost. City Island coal dealers feel most keenly the effect of this business. The great anchorage for vessels being so conveniently near at hand, a little extra precaution would in a measure, check this wholesale robbery. 

A serious accident, to the occupants of one of Vickery's stages was largely averted on Wednesday last. Owing to the extreme high tide which overflowed the road across the flat, to the depth of about two feet, the driver, Philip Flood, was obliged to make a detour to the eastward, through the seldom traveled streets of the King estate. He had barely completed the detour, when, of a sudden, with the horses on a swinging trot, horses and stage were precipitated into a hole three or four feet deep, which had been left by commissioner Cochran last sumer after taking out a rock. The driver was thrown from his seat down into the hole, between the horses and the single occupant of the stage was hurled with great violance against the forward part of it, sustaining severe bruises. One of the horses was considerably cut, and the stage was badly racked. 

Senator Covert has already introduced his bill of last year, abolishing compulsory pilotage through Hell Gate." 

Source:  City Island, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Jan. 12, 1883, Vol. XIV, No. 695, p. 3 unknown, cols. 2-3.

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News Report Published in 1888 Indicates Opening of Sparks Avenue Prompted a Mini-Real Estate Boom

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During the 1880s, the Town of Pelham did not have its own newspaper.  Entrepreneurial newspaper publishers in surrounding communities filled that void by including news of Pelham and City Island in many editions.  One such newspaper was The Chronicle, published in Mount Vernon.  

The January 13, 1888 issue of The Chronicle included news of Pelham and City Island.  The news report noted that the opening of the new road named Sparks Avenue "from Wolf's lane to Eastchester Creek" caused a mini-real estate boom.  Two homes were quickly erected on the road and a third had been begun by the time of the report.  

 

Detail of 1893 Map Showing Sparks Avenue on Left

with Two Homes Owned by Members of the Sparks Family.

Source:  Atlas of Westchester County, New York, p. 3

(NY, NY:  Julius Bien & Co., 1893) ("Towns of

Westchester and Pelham (With) Villages of Westchester

and Unionport.  (With) Village of Pelhamville.").

The entire report is transcribed below to facilitate search and is followed by a citation to its source.

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND.

On the 19th inst., the Unity Club of Mount Vernon, assisted by the Galaxy Glee Club, will repeat, in Gurney's Hall, Pelhamville, the concert recently given in Fuller's Hall.  Proceeds for the benefit of Church of the Redeemer.

The marriage of Cecilia C., only daughter of Mr. George W. Sembler, to Mr. S.S. Hall of Locust Valley, N.Y., was the leading social event on City Island, last week.  A large number of guests witnessed the ceremony, which was performed by Rev. W. P. Eates.

The opening of the new road, very properly named Sparks avenue, from Wolf's lane to Eastchester Creek, has boomed real estate somewhat.  Two houses have already been put up on the new avenue, and another is begun.  

There was a pigeon shoot at Secord's, Bartow, last Monday, during which the tie for the silver trophy, between Messrs. McCourt and Trott, was shot off, and in the contest which followed there was another tie between Messrs. McNicholl and Elliott.  As a result, there will be another match to-morrow.

'BARTOW !  change cars for City Island.'  The above is the way the brakemen on trains of the Harlem River Branch Road notify passengers that they are at Bartow.  The 'change cars' means from steam to horse-cars of the Pelham Park Railroad, which runs to City Island.

At Secord's hotel, Bartow, there is quite a curiosity.  It is a patchwork quilt, 5 feet 3 inches square, in which there is said to be 25,000 pieces.  We take the number for granted, as we did not take the time to count.  The pieces are all of uniform size, and were put together by an old lady, somewhere in the neighborhood, and the quilt is to be raffled for her benefit, as soon as 100 chances are taken, at 25 cents a chance.

It is exceedingly dull just now, in the City Island shipyards.  Robinson & Waterhouse are laying the keel for a tug, beyond which they have little or no work.  There is almost a standstill at Piepgras's.  Wood & Sons have some small work; but theirs is of a class that keeps them usually busy.  They have a steam launch 30 feet long, well under way, for Mr. Cyrus D. Pell.  A little matter worthy of note is the fact that a large rowboat, built by them, nearly five years ago, for a firm at St. Thomas's, West India Islands, has been sent on here for repairs.

The cars of the Pelham Park Railway are being repainted.  The officers of this road believe in keeping rolling stock in order; and as for their horses -- well, we would like to have the managers of some of our country horse railroads take a look at them.  They look like well kept coach horses from some gentleman's stable, and it is really a pleasure to ride in the cars, so smoothly do they run, without any apparent jar or jolt, and with an utter absence of that incessant rattle so common, especially on the Mt. Vernon horse-cars.

An effort will be made at the present session of the county legislature, to have the salary of keeper of Pelham Bridge increased.  It seems to us that there would be justice in an increase, provided it be a reasonable one.  The present salary, $300, certainly appears inadequate when the traffic is taken into consideration.  Years ago, the keeper of Pelham Bridge received double the compensation now paid, and the traffic was not half.  Of late years considerable ground in Eastchester Bay and the creek, inside the bridge, has been devoted to oyster planting, and this in itself necessitates the frequent opening of the draw for sloops; besides, the rapid growth of Mt. Vernon has increased the consumption of coal accordingly, and the towing of brages up the creek, in open weather, is almost of daily occurrence, to say nothing of the traffic by small sailboats.

Mrs. Samuel Graham, daughter of Captain Joshua and Phebe Ann Leviness, departed this life on the evening of January 5th, after an illness of about ten days.  Her sudden departure is sincerely mourned by a large circle of relatives and loving friends.  She was an amiable christian lady whose life was devoted to deeds of tender and loving kindness.  City Island is genuinely in mourning.  The above is not the only case of bereavement on City Island, within the past few days.  On the same day as occurred the death of Mrs. Graham, also occurred the death of Mrs. Graham also occurred the death of Mr. Nicholas Smith, of pneumonia.  He leaves a widow and eight children.  Deceased was a member of Pelham Lodge, F. & A. M., which organization took charge of the interment.  On the same day, the infant of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Vickery died of membranous croup.  On Saturday last, Daniel Donnelly, aged 18 years, grandson of the late Hugh Morris, died of heart disease, at the residence of his grandmother, with whom he resided, near Bartow.  The funeral took place on Tuesday, and was attended by a large concourse of young friends of deceased, by whom he was greatly admired.

As soon as the new year was ushered in, the politicians of Pelham began preparing for the spring campaign.  Among the aspirants for the supervisorship is said to be Mr. John F. Adema; but be that as it may, a Democratic club was recently organized at Bartow, ostensibly as an anti-Pell club.  This is denied by some who seem to know the 'true inwardness' of the movement.  There is no disguising the fact, however, that Mr. Pell incurred the displeasure of some members of his party last spring, when he voted, in town board, for Mr. Robert H. Scott, a Republican, for one of the Board of Auditors.  How he could have conscientiously done otherwise, we fail to see, and we can but admire the stand he took, even in the face of his party opposition.  The town of Pelham is Democratic, by a bare majority, and the Town Board is a Democratic board, but this does not give them the right to totally ignore the common courtesy of giving the Republicans a representative in the Board of Auditors.  Mr. Pell realized this, and acted accordingly, and his fairness will doubtless be remembered in his next candidacy."  

Source:  Pelham and City Island, The Chronicle [Mt. Vernon, NY], Jan. 13, 1888, Vol. XIX, No. 1054, p. 3, col. 2.  

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1879 Advertisement for Robert J. Vickery's City Island Stage Line, A Predecessor to the City Island Horse Railroad

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Those who follow the Historic Pelham Blog know that I have been trying to document the City Island horse railroad that once ran between Bartow Station and City Island.  See, e.g., Tue., March 2, 2010, 1901 Report Indicated that the Flynn Syndicate Planned to Buy the Pelham Bay Park & City Island Railroad Horse Car Line.  Today's posting addresses the predecessor to that horse railroad:  the stage line run by Robert J. Vickery during the 1870s. 

Although I have not previously written about Robert Vickery's stage line, there have been references to it in some of my earlier postings.  See, e.g.:  Thu., September 24, 2009:  Brief Newspaper Account of the January 1, 1883 Annual Meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club (article includes account of an accident involving one of Vickery's stages)

I also have written about Robert Vickery's father, a 19th century City Island resident.  See:  Tue., January 27, 2009:  Biography of William Vickery, a 19th Century Resident of City Island in the Town of Pelham. 

Today's posting contains an image of an advertisement for Robert Vickery's stage line that appeared in an issue of the Mount Vernon Chronicle published in 1879.  The advertisement is undated, but other references on the undated page indicate that it appeared in 1879 after May 22 of that year.  The image is followed by a brief transcription to facilitate search.

"ROBERT VICKERY'S
STAGE LINE
Between
CITY ISLAND AND BARTOW STATION
Trips made to and from every train.  Parcels deliv-
ered with care and dispatch."

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Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.