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Show DUTCH NAMED CONEY ISLAND Discovered in 1524 by Verrazano, and In the Publlo Eye Ever Since That Time. Coney Island, New York's lively and picturesque playground, has a history as lively and picturesque as Itself. It has been in the public eye ever since 1524, when, according to some authorities, authori-ties, it was discovered by Verrazano. Although Coney is long and thin now, stretching about six miles from east to west, according to old maps it was short and fat when Uenry Hudson, first sailed past it. Tbe early history of Coney Island Is . as full of romance as that which she ! Is making at present. The Hollanders In Kings county named it Conyen Eylandt, which is Dutch for Rabbit island, and used it for a pasturage for cattle, remarks the New York Sun and Globe. When, in 1642, the English Gravee-enders Gravee-enders arrived they were met by Antony An-tony Jansen Van Salee, nicknamed "The Turk," who claimed the island. Jansen, although originally a Dutchman, Dutch-man, had long lived in Barbery, and acted and dressed like the traditional Turk. He had been a resident of New Amsterdam, but got in "Dutch" with tbe authorities by threatening Dominie Bogardus for dunning him for church dues. The trouble started when Bogardus' wife, Annlke, snubbed Mrs. Jansen, who, piqued, gave vent to the gossip about the dominie's wife lifting her skirts too high while stepping over a mud puddle. The dominie retorted by dunning for dues. Jansen's reply was a threat of personal violence, anu he was bound over by the authorities not to carry anything more deudly than an ax within the limits of New Amsterdam. Am-sterdam. Jnnwn moved to a farm In New Utrecht, where he found more freedom, free-dom, and when the Gravesenders obtained ob-tained their patent his farm was part ' of the western boundary. He defend-, defend-, ed his claim vigorously, claiming the overlordshlp of Coney Island, until the Gravesenders' right to It was established. |
