The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-17
Our Sea Side Correspondence.


Trip on Long Earrd-Li1eyalay Of the Railroad COM
pany-Arriral at Fire Alond-The Surf Hoel-Dcs-
ciption Of the LecaIRy-GreG South Bay-FiA and
Fishing de-, dc.
One pretty hot day hast week we asked somebody
where we should go to cool of. Somebody said "Fire
Island" The name struck misnomer-" Fire !"
Island certainly could be cool place. But we looked
at the official chart " from Cay Head Henlopen" and
found that Fire Island in great South Bay, and that
one side Of it bahed By the Atlantic SURF Come
now-that must be cool; and 80 We set of How does
one get thereS BY the Long Island Railway, from
Brooklyn to Deer Park Is thirty eight miles; to
Babylon, about six miles farther, in q stage, and
thence by steamboat TO the island say six miles more
and we buy through ticket which costs us 81, and,
after being plunged into unpleasant tunnel ratified
through pleasant country, stopping at small stations
every two three miles, After two hours riding in the
cars we arrive at Deer Park seeing numerous stages
all dear enough and are soon route for Babylon
quite different place, apprehend than that from
which originated the scarlet woman, about whom
Fillmore friends much exercised. We find that
the railway company with that pleasant style
mon to corporations has made false representation
about the steamboat She had been taken of two weeks
before, and have to put up with sail boat instead
We think things about the railway company In
the first impulse Of rage we pronounce it swindle
to take persons money fera passage in steamboat
when there Is not . steamboat. But the gentle
breeze steals ocour fcvered brow something whispers
TO us, they always do it and, rejecting the long
line q travellers who have been similarly pundered,
reject that In good company, and feel calm
again.
We are sailing the great South bay, the Atlantic
side Of Long Island. The bay at Hampstead,
about twenty miles from New York, and continues TO
South Hampton sixty miles TO the eastward. 1t has
pleasant nles and its shore is dotted with
of the prettest Of marine Villas That light house is Fire
Island light celebrated in the annals Of disasters by
and the that dash upon the long, natural break
wat r sing the requiem Of many gallant heart whose
pulsatons sed forever beneath the Deep deep
Hereabous that terrible disaster the pilot
boat f. X. Collins the details Of which must be fresh in
your memory. Here on this bar ehe went ashore II
Of the bitteres nights of last January Six lives
lost, and the only soul saved Of her company
boy, sixteen years old, who remained in tho boat i'm
merssd In water during thirty-six hours. He saw his
brave comrades die by one before his eyes, and
menarily expected q similar fate. sad story, truly
and you glad that the passage is over-albeit is
pleasant one Now landed the island, and
Hospitality received the Surf Hotel This house
recently erected by Mr. sammis of New York city,
cost of 50 00o 1t Is well fitted throughout, and the cuisine
is the best that have ever found the shore
ton 1t is refreshing exception to the general rule Of
hotels, where is usually charged great deal
and gets nothing to cat.
Fire Island itself little larger than the Park its shore
washed eide by the South bay and the other
by the Atlantic. Tho surf the Atlantic side, in
calm weather, very high, and the bathing is
nihcent. ~ have seen, at Newport or Cape
May, such magnificent breakers those a, Fire Island
One must be muscular indeed TO swim in thcm
On the Long Island shorc opposite Fire Island have
splendid country nnted with creeks and dotted with
little fresh lakes ponis they call them here
That part of Islp called soushsdc, favorite
resort It is on the shore Of south Bay and includes
many peasan. residences. George n Barrett,
the well known actor and manager, has very comfort
able little cottage here, and rcposes quietly on
his laurels. The drives about here very plea
SAINT. You may 60 over a pleasantly shaded
road, four miles to anedicors, seven miles to Baby
lon-cther way you viii see something to amuse you.
We do not have any fever and ague mosquitoes here
The geological formation Of the island at this point pro-
vents the possibility Of fever and sgue. We have no
granite formation like Staten Island; rock creviccs
wherein water lodges, and from the evaporation Of which
the atmosphere ied with miasma. Tue ponds fed
by springs which take their rise in ,he heights toward
Longoland Sound, nearly forty miles away, and nnd
their outlet in these natural reservoirs which just
upon the shore and form the mos, beautiful contrast
TO the bold connguraton made by the bays and the In
lets and the great natural breskwatcr which drives back
the surf and makes the great South Bay most delightful
yachting ground.
In fact from the tins OF leaving Brooklyn upon this
excursion the eye constantly ,sd with the beauties
OF magnificent natural panorama, In which tho gorcs
OF rural and seaside Ito alternately presented 10 the
eye. While have such scenery within forty or Dfty
milos Of u.s. there Il weary ourselves with
long aunts 70 Newport Cape May Saratoga or sharon
Springs.
To the Sportsman this vicinity presents peculiar atrac
tons Indeed, long before b became resort TO- tho
general public, certain chsisc spirits wont 10
devious isr. and ffom thence disperscsome 10 sh
scientifically Tor trout which abound In tho lakes and
streans-otLers troll for blue hsb In the bay most
exciting spor The shing sbou, Fre Island has always
been good, and never was better han at the present
writing.
AZ Islp thore several very good hotels. Mr. Dill.
hnghurst keeps quiet. comfortable, pleasant house,
with everthmg nice about h AZ fire Island, Mr.. sam.
mis- Surf Betel. have sad before, s place where
any Tallsiaa could take his in his own Inn and no
man could modest him or make him afraid.
Finally. IL you want pleasant residence, with nice
sailing drives ash,ng and nice bathing in ten
tcct of surf try Fire Island.