American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-23
And then the Board adjourned.
Correspondence Of the American Telegraph

Correspondence Of the American Telegraph
CAFE MAY, July 81, 1851.
Cape Mdy----Journeg Mither uia New .York---A
Storm at Sea--SateLy Ayyiued-- Crosoded -Ho-
tets-B -Bathing--7he Hotels ,@
After most circuitous journey via Philadel-
phia and New York, we arrived here yesterday
Sunday to breakfast The travel to this place
from Washington is much more direct and COM
Portable by Newcastle, Delaware or even by
Philadelphia, than the route we took; but never
having been to sea, we were anxious to have
view Of Old Neptune's domains We left New
York at s p. IN. on Saturday, with $50 passen-
gers, and scarcely had we passed Sandy Hook,
when several Of the ladies began to grow pale,
rs did some of the gentlemen, and the captain
decided they were :" sea sick" upon which an
nouncement about 100 of our passengers re-
luctantly gave unto the sea the supper for
| which they had just paid so cents each. 1t
was really amusing to see them struggling SO
hard against it, but the sea demanded the con-
tents of their stomachs, and despite of them it
would come up. We were not affected by the
voyage, and enjoyed it much About midnight
however, just as the moon was rising to show
us the beautiful waters of the Atlantic crowded
with sails, black cloud arose, and with tia
most terrific thunder storm. The lightning
flashed, and the thunder, peal after peal, roared
like artillery; rain fell as if the heavens had
opened; the sea ragged, and the maddened waves
dashed against and over our good steamer to
the great alarm of all on board ladies screamed,
children cried; gentlemen, unable to stand
erect, held on to anything that would sustain
them; ever and anon our boat was tossed SEEM
ingly quite out of the water, and then would
Immediately go down between the waves, MS If
in search of the bottom of the sea; every tim
Der of the boat creaked as if il would part Mt
ten thousand places and leave us to battle with
the roaring element. At every flash of light
ming we could behold the sea for miles and
miles around, and observe more plainly not only
our own danger but that Of others in the same
situation. A schooner which seemed to have been
given up to the mercy of the ocean was within an
inch of being run down by us, when voice as
if from the grave attracted our attention to it,
and just in time our helmsman stcered to lee
ward, and schooner and crew passed at our side
unhnrt; most miraculously indeed The storm
abated-the moon reappeared-the waters were
more tranquil, and we found greatly to our sat
isfaction, that after every storm there is a
calm" We had just passed through what we
had supposed only existed in the Wild imagina-
tion Of some fanciful painter; but we are una
BILE to write half picture Of the reality.
Cape May is the most delightful spot on earth,
jutting out between the majestic Atlantic ocean
and the Delaware bay the air is always cool and
bracipg, and while you have the thermometer
at ninety-four, we enjoy the refreshing breeze
SO strong as TO require our hats to be tied upon
our heads. But the bathing is "glorious-there
are six thousand persons now at the Capcs
coming from all parts of the country; they form
complete congress, differing, however, from
your national assembly in the fact that here
all are contributing to the pleasure and comfort
Of each other. The daily arrivals are say five
hundred persons, and the number Of visiters be-
fnraf ha a If An
thousand. We will not attempt description
of the ocean shore, at bathing hour, (1l A. n.y.
but you may imagine the sight produced by six
thousand persons, men, women and children,
dressed most Enthusiastically, $50 as scarcely 10
recognise each other, being in the water at
once, contending with the dashing waves and
riding upon their summit at the same instant
the whole crowds lifted up by the surf and as it
spreads itself they are let down again into two
feet water most pleasantly and delightfully."-,
though sometimes all thrown together in one
mixed mass--like big tub full Of eels .He
Beside bathing we have every sort of amuse-
ment, splendid rides, delightful walks, boating,
fishing, balls, hops, polka dances, concerts,
fireworks &C., &c, &c, mdttnes and socidtes.
The hotels are crowded to excess Some Of
us are sleeping in the stable lofts, and, were IL
not for the departures which every morning
take place, there would be emo room for us in
the inns" By good luck, we found room in
the sixth story of the United States Hotel, for
which. we feel thankful to the prince of hosts,
Mr.. Tompkins, and his gentlemanly clerks.
without desiring to disparage the several other
hotels Of this island, we must say that the u.
s. hotel is equal to the best in the country.
The table cannot be surpassed, II equailed.
Cleanliness and neatness and order prevail in
every part of the large premises. The walters
are polite and attentive and who cannot be
comfortable and happy with Mr. and Mrs.
Tompkins, cannot be SO anywhere else. a.tmg
As YOU may suppose, there is good deal of
aristocracy here; and if we know of any thing
to complain of, it is that wealthy families are
allowed to have their own servants to attend
them. Every day is as Sunday; all the
churches are open for divine service every morn
ing, and temperance seems to prevail univer-
sally 5fl '.o 8 .s|laE'Esa oeM
Bathing at Cape May is like making dipped
candles--7every time you go into the fluid you
gain weight. Without time to read over what
we have written, we must hurry this with all
it's imperfections into the mail,
- CAppn