A British ship, the HMS Hussar, went down in Hell Gate’s perilous waters after colliding with Pot Rock in 1780. The ship was rumored to be carrying a significant British military payroll.

The landlord said he was taking photographs of the residence when Hussar shot at him before Hussar’s son “started pounding the (expletive) out of me.” He said the son took both the camera ...

Hussars were taught to do this, and they were severely punished (200 hits on the back with an iron rod, for instance) if they were slow in loading, or if a gun fired a blank shot. This is just an ...