The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-20

young WIG, ana TOT ner accommodation DullJ
house by the seashore which was infinitely
ganderI than anything that had been contem-
plated by the simple-minded people who in
habited the lower section of New Jersey In those
primeval days. The structure was remarkably
substantial, and its interior displayed elaborate
workmanship traces of which in the shape of
neat panel wainscoting, are still discernible.
The exact date at which this building was first
devoted to hotel purposes cannot be deter
mined, but additions were gradually
made to 1t, and during the early
portion of the century, after the close of tte
War of 1912, it was in full blast, under the
management at different times of Hughes the
original builder of Congress Hall, aud of Nc
Kenzie, who died but a few days ago, near
Camden, N. j., at a very advanced age. Pre-
vious to 1927 it was known as McKenze's
Hotel, but in that year 1t was moved back from
the ocean distance of 100 feet, and rechris-
tened the Atlantic. The other evening had a
pleasant ''nterview" with the veteran sojourner
at Cape May who oflciated on this occasion.
'My first regular visit to Cape May" said
the veteran, twas in 1926 and from
that time to the present l have not missed
single season. In those early days there
was a jolly set of boys to be found here in
summer. They were called the forkers,' and
were up to all sorts of tricks, the title being
given to them from custom they had of rout-
ing fellow out of bed in the middle of the
night, and daubing his face, over with paint, or
otherwise maltreating him, while they pinned
his neck to the wall with forked stick. They
amused themselves also by tossing men in the
air with blankets. and rolling ten-pin balls down
tairs at dead of night, and in other festive ways
One of the best-known of these forkers' had
been selected to do the christening but he had
taken too much bitters that morning. and when
he reached the roof of the building he was too
crazy to go any further. SO the task fell to my
lot and / crawled out on the roof through the
trap-door, and crept along until l came to the
gable end. l then hourished bottle of sea-
water-nothing stronger wasted, l assure
you--around my head, and broke it over the
end, exclaiming:-
"In the name of old Father Neptune I
christen this house the Atlantic Hotel. May
prosperity attend it, its worthy host, and all its
guests!'
"And then the crowd of people below gave
shout, the coors were run up, aud the guns
were fired. After that we had a grand collation.
on the lawn, and half the crowd were drunk
before the thing was fairly over"
In 1910 the establishment passed into the
hands of Joseph and Benjamin McMallin, who
in 1842, built what was known, until the great
fire of LIST August, as the New Atlantic. On the
death of Captain Benjamin McMakin, in April
of last year, the property passed into the hands
of his son, John McMakin, whose first season
was brought to such an unfortunate ending.
But Mr.. McMakin has not been idle during the
winter. About thirty feet of the original
building which was not reached by the flames
has been moved across jackson street to the site
of the destroyed New Atlantic, and fitted up to
to-
summer. On the spot where the por-
ton of the old building which has
been thus transplanted stood for SO
many years. Mr. McMakin has erected
substantial building four stories in height,
and with an ocean front of 36 feet and depth
on jackson street OF 80 feet. On both fronts it
is surrounded by portico ten feet In width,
presenting, altogether, an attractive appearance.
The portion of the Old Atlantic adjoining the
new structure and facing the ocean,, has
been refitted also, but next fall it is the inten-
tion of the proprietor to tear that down and
build wing on the same plan as the portion
already completed, with width of 36 feet and
a total sea frontage of 175 feet. The capacity of
the establishment will then fully equal that of
the building destroyed by fire last August.
Concerning the other leading hotels, there is
but little to be said, except in the case of the
| Stockton House. Ihe United States has dlsap-
peared, and the Columbia, with its interior
fitted up and all traces of the great fire removed
from its surroundings, will remain under the
management of George j. Bolton, Esq, who has
conducted it so long. In the Stockton House
there has been change, and this magnificent
establishment will be opened on the 25th of
June by Charles Duffy, Esq, of the Continental,
Philadelphia, gentleman who is well known to
the travelling public, and has had enough ex-
perience in hotel life to rendsr the approaching
season at the Stockton whatits first season most
decidedly was not-a well-deserved success.
WAsHTENAw.
THE SALE OF THE D'HUYvETTER COLLECTION.