The History of the Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester (1881 revised edition, Vol. I)
The Sound ! overflowing with supernatural legend and antiquated history." "Are there not the ' Brothers,' unnatural that they are, who, living centuries together, never to one another have as yet spoken a kindly word, and the great savage ' Executioners,' and ' Throgs,' and ' Sands,' and ' Etons,' all throwing hospitable lights from their high beacon towers, far forward, to guide the wandering mariner ; and the 'Devil's Stepping Stones,' oe'r which he bounded when driven from Connecticut ; and the great rocks, too, inside of Flushing Bay, on which he descended, shivering them from top to bottom as he 1 fell. And are there-not the ' Norwalk Islands,' with their pines, -- ' Old Sasco,' with her rocks, -- ' Fairweather,' with the wild birds' eggs deep buried in her sands, -- and the far-famed fishing banks off the ' Middle Ground.' Ay ! and is it not from the fierce boiling whirlpools of the 'Gate' to ' Gardiners,' and the lone beacon tower of ' Old Montaukett.' a Kivington'3 Gazette, N. Y., 1773.
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
one continuous ground of thrilling lore and bold adventure. In her waters the ' Fire ship '° glared amid the darkness ; her phantom crew, like red hot statues, standing at their quarters, as rushing -onwards, in the furious storm, she passed the shuddering mariner, leaving cometlike long streams of flame behind. Beneath her sands the red-shirted buccaneers did hide their ill-gotten, blood-bespotted treasure. Ay! and 'twas on her broad bosom that with iron-seared conscience, sailed that pirate, fierce and bold -- old Robert Kidd ; and to this very day his golden hoards, with magic mark and sign, still crowd her wooded shores."6