New York Daily News
Man tries to seize Governors Island
BY RALPH R. ORTEGA
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004

An emotionally disturbed man in a wet suit attempted to "seize" Governors Island yesterday by hoisting a pirate flag - sparking a massive response by cops and the Coast Guard.

"Put your weapons down, and go in peace," David Nash, 41, of Amherst, Va., told a half-dozen harbor patrol cops who nabbed him.

His face covered with black makeup, Nash claimed to have swam to the island, even though he was dry when cops found him. There was no oxygen tank or mask with his wet suit. Nash told the Daily News he was "trying to seize Governors Island for the Blue Tulip Party." "It's a political organization I started," Nash added, mumbling about "Indians" and "reparations" as his motives for trespassing.

The unemployed man was brought back to Pier 11 near Wall St. at 9 a.m. and taken by ambulance to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

His move to commandeer Governors Island was first noticed when workers saw the pirate flag hoisted at 6:40 a.m. on the flagpole in the center of the island, cops said. A skull at theflag's center had a painted bullet hole between a set of red eyes. A police spokesman said it wasn't clear how long Nash had been on the island, or where he had landed.

Nash's mother, Pat, in Amherst, told The News that her son was an aspiring artist who suffered from psychological problems and took medication.

He was in New York to visit some museums, said his mom, who had not heard from him for a week and a half.

She said her son's antics may have been timed to Election Day. Nash had proclaimed himself a presidential candidate in 2000, and was the only known member of his Blue Tulip Party.

"Something for me to worry about - again," said the mother after learning about her son's stunt.