The New York herald., 1868-08-17
TIE ROCKAWAY CAMP MEETING.

"Cast OF there. can't yer; all aboardw and "Open
the bar there, viii yer2" were the simultaneous
commands which issued from the respective mouths
Of the captain and head steward Of the stubby little
steamer Port Royal, as that ''noble craft" CON-
menced padding out Of her dock at the foot Of War
rem street. at nine O'Clock yesterday morning. bound
for the distant shores Of Far Rockaway. No sooner
were the above commands obeyed than the vessel
rushed out into the stream and al aboardn rush ed
toward the bar Sherry cobblers, brandy smashes
and whiskey strsghts disappeared a. rapidly did
the roofs and spires Of Gotham, and. but that the
sagacious steward had wisely provided against any
such contingency by laying in stock Of the drinks
which nauseate instead OF the legitimate inebriating
concoctions, by the time the Port Royal was
half the chopping which mark the entrance
TO Rockaway inlet the majority Of her passengers
would have been fully ''half over" As 1t was
however, all those whose Intervals were not ar
ranged on strictly nautical principles were sober
enough TO feel slightly qualmish. Punctually at
one O'Clock the experienced pilot landed the good
ship Port Royal on sand bank about half o mile
from her port Of destination and no sooner had this
evidently not unlocked for, catastrophe occurred
than nota Of leaky lighters put out from the ad-
Jacent shores, manned by friendly natives, who
rvalled each other in the remunerative task OF con-
twenty cents per head. The Decentralization
was erected without any more serious accident than
the capsizing OF one small boat and the consequent
immersion OF the charterng parttes-a lady and two
gentlemen. Fortunately the water was only tour
feet deep and rescue was promptly effected. On
penetrating the bowels Of the land TO the extent OF
half mile small cluster OF hotels was discovered,
and the propretors Of these houses OF entertainment
loudly expressed the opinion tby no means dsin-
terested one that the stranding OF the Port Royal
was "a put up" job between the skipper Of that by
this time much abused vessel and the owner or
owners Of certain hostelre known as the Sea Side
House. which IL situate In the immediate vicinity OF
the Port Royal IL Is only fair to state that other and
seemingly dsinterested parties gave IL their belief
that, owing to the condition OF the tide, 1t was i'm
possible for the steamer to pass the bark.
THE CAMP.
The spot chosen by the Rev. Mr.. Brown for the
prayeriul gathering over which he presdes Is q
pretty little piece OF wood situated some six miles
from Far Rockaway landing. With the exception Of q
few additional plank seats which have been fixed In
shippers or visitors the encampment remains
exactly as described In recent notice. Some
two or three hundred persons assisted" at the
afternoon service yesterday, but judging by out
ward signs and manifestations the only ones who
took part IN the proceedings we're the eighteen or
twenty colored people who were grouped around the
preacher The first fact which forced itself upon the
visitor on approaching the camp was that the nearer
he got TO 1t the louder grew the hum OF the mosqn-
toes Arrived on the ground these little insects
were SO numerous and troublesome that only those
who were entirely wrapped In their devotiorH could
bear to remain long In one place. whatever motives
brought their victims to the camp, II was quite car
that the mosquitoes came there TO prey; and OF o
verify they preyed feelingiy.