Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-08-19
From the Jersey Sea Shore.


Notes from Long Branc1-What East Jersey
/, Looks Lle-Ihe West End Hotel-Ths
Grand Ball-Ocean Grore
Camp Meeting, DC.
from the GAzRrTR's travelling CORRESPONDENT
T. Lone BRANCH, N j., August IL. 1874.
1t is a well known fact that there is more
fun made Of New Jersey people than of the
residents of any other State Of the Union.
and 1t has always been surprising to us, rid
ing through the western part of the State,
that such should be the case. But when we
traverse the southern and eastern sections of
Jeersey 5e it 1sn9 longer query for any porti9n,
feel like a mogul compared with most any
part of that section.
After we get out Of the vicinity of Camden,
on the South Jersey road, we scarcely see any
sign Of civilization until we arrive near Long
Branch. And they say that the dwarf forest
through which this road passes is a fair sam
pie Of Jersey. 1t is no strange thing, then,
that that the jews should know the Jerseymen and
nicely; that they are known all over the coun-
try by their pecuGarities, as the leopard is
known by his stripes; and that a distinguish
ed ed gentlemen few days ago at the reception
say that Jersey is God-forsaken country"
They can palm off Delaware sweet potatoes
for Jerseys. but they cannot sell the Jersey
peaches for Delaware's luscious fruit.
Entering Long Branch from the West end,
we have on our left the grand West End hotel,
having front Of 300 feet and surrounded by
high, stately porches, upon which sit and
promenade as fine and as pretty ladies' as any
OF the hotel is a fine street and drive extend
ing the full length of the Branch for some
miles in front OF row of fine cottages and
below am fS fRe s tae
feet above high water mark. The surface,
above the bluff, extending far back into the
city of Long Branch, (some 5000 inhabitants,)
sandy that the carriages do not venture on It.
In front OF each hotel there are several ropes
attached to the shore and a stake a hundred
feet in the surf to which the bathers cling to
keep the surf from knocking them over and
the undertow from carrying them out. The
surf is much stronger and the under-current
moro dangerous than at our Rehoboth. The
waves come in SO slow and lazily that the
pleasure OF watching them roll and toss, as at
Rehoboth, is lost.
Hundreds bathe every day, Sundays not
excepted, and thousands lounge on the beach
and sit above the cliffs under the shade of the
summer houses.
A very sad accident happened in the surf in
front OF the Mansion House, Saturday morn
ing. Mr.. u. Schilling, leader of the Mansion
House Orchestra, having been out beyond his
depth some time, becoming cold, came ashore
and proposed foot race on the beach, after
which, being very warm, he plunged again into
the sea and struck out for a swim beyond the
breakers, where he gave the awful cry for help.
long to the shore. All cried for some one to
help him, but only one man, Mr.. johnson, the
English swimmer who attempted the wonder
full feat OF swimming across the British Chan
mel, made an attompt to rescue the drowning
man; but he had the wrong man pointed out
to him, and, swimming up to him, found that
he was floating and needed no assistance,
while poor Schilling came up the last time,
and extending his disabled hands to heaven,
gave an awful cry for help which will long
ring in the ears of all who heard it.. The ex-
citement on the beach, from one end to the
other, was at the highest pitch: Some persons
This accident marred the pleasure of the rest
Of the day and hundreds marched up and
down the shore until the next morning watch
ing the waves and hoping to see the body come
ashore. Now and then there would be rush
to the shore, caused by the report that the
body had been found, but it was not washed
ashore until four o'clock on Sunday morning.
The body was carried to New York to meet
the sad friends of the deceased.
Of all the hotels we have visited here the
West End hotel is far the superior in both
size, style, accommodation, and the high tone
of its guests. There are about a thousand
people stopping at this hotel. 1t has been
The grand ball which came off at this hotel
on Saturday evening was at the tip of the
fashion. The music was the best that could
be had and the dancing was Of the high tone !;
i 4
we thought it would be interesting to your
readers we would describe the dress of the
company-how Miss Green looked in her neat
brown suit, and how becoming the exquisite
green costume was to Miss Brown. We would
tell them how that salmon colored moire an
tique looked on Mrs. Primrose, and how that
primrose satin set of the MORE antique OF
Mrs. Sammon Kuller, and how the gentlemen
stretched their necks in looking over their
collars to see what Miss Duzenberry wore on
her head. We would go off into ecstacies
over the exquisite etiquette Of the evening
and the many beautiful ladies that put the
homely ones in the shade, and how the gem
tlemen strove untiringly to be the escorts of
the prettiest ladies and the finest dancers. 1t
was one Of the finest affairs we have seen for
some time.
Two thousand people arrived here on Satur-
day, eighteen hundred of whom went on, by
stage, to Ocean Grove camp meeting, eight
miles distant, which commenced yesterday.
stopping with us at the West End hotel, viz !:
President Grant, ]. o. Evans, A. R. Sheppard,
of Washington; U. s. Senator Stockton, OF
New Jersey; Tom Scott, the great railroad
king; we also notice that R. E. Cochran and
Eugene Hanson, formerly Of Middletown, Del.
are registered with u.s. ALI are having a good
time.
The great international swimming match
between johnson, the English swimmer, and
Frautze, an American expert, will come off
tomorrow on the course laid out from the
Ocean House to the West End hotel and back,
a quarter of a mile from the shore. The race
has occasioned great deal OF excitement and
betting. There is a rumor ahoat that the af
fair is to be, in sporting parlance, o "cross,"
but it may be only a rumor. johnson is the
favorite in the betting circles and will doubt
less win the match.
We hope that our Delaware friends are en-
joying themselves at Rehoboth and Camden
sIaape,,4 t;,,,o ~ ,r;ll Iaovo bo,,o - do, e.