Middletown transcript., 1876-07-29

Hon. ALLEN Z. CAPERToN, one Of
the u. S Senators from West Virginia,
died at his lodgings in Washington. on
Wednesday evening, after brief i'll
ness. Mr.. Caperton was a member Of
the Confederate States Senate during
the whole time Of the war, and was
elected to the U. S. Senate to succeed
Hon. A. I. Boreman in 1875. He
was sixty five years old
Collins Beach and Down the
Bay.
Dear 1ranscript:-As Collins was
ever favorite resort Of the residents Of
Middletown and Odessa and their vicin-
tiles, who were wont to gather there
for pleasure and good suppers though
I regret to say that of late years, owing
either to ''hard times" lack of funds
or some other equally detestable cause.
Beach parties from your neighborhood
have been rather few and far between
your readers will not, perhaps, find it
tedious to read a short communication
from here in which, with your permis-
sion, | shall endeavor to tell them what
our good friend and jolly landlord, Frank
Collins, has been doing and is still doing
for the benefit and pleasure Of his guests.
Collins, as you know, was always re-
garded as one Of the very incest and
most enjoyable places along the bay on
account Of its magnificent lawn which,
covered with hand some shade trees, af-
fords one of the finest places for resort
from the burning rays Of summers
sun that can be desired or anywhere OBJ
tanned, added to which the cooling
breezes from the bay, the delightful
bathing and the glorious suppers for
which the Hygenia is SO justly noted,
makes this as pleasant summer resort
as one might desire.
Though alone-or almost SO, being
accompanied only by one Of those nom
de-script individuals called merchants,
whose thoughts never 60 beyond mus
Inns, cassimeres and calicoes and the
price Of sugars and cofees-it was my
exceeding good fortune to fall in with a
pleasant company Of gentlemen and la
dies from the neighborhood Of Odessa,
Messrs.- j. w., T. F. P. G.. L. t., L.
V. A., E. N. M, J. V. M, S. T., and
W. W., each accompanied by their wives
and, in some instances. children; also,
Mr.. E. T. and Mrs. D. Besides these
there were the Messrs. r. from your
town and DR.. G. and Mr.. G. from
Smyrna and DR.. V. from Texas, now
visiting bis relatives in Smyrna, and
your correspondent. So you see | fell
upon good companie.
Mr.. Collins has been hard at work
since ! was here last year and has spent
a good round sum Of money in making
repairs and additions to his property.
A large and very commodious dining
room (62 46 feet) has been recently
added to the main building, greatly i'm
proving that necessary portion Of the
house What was formerly the Office
has been turned into gentleman's par
lor and general reception room to which
guests can repair on their arrival to re-
move the dust and dirt Of travel. The
Office now occupies portion Of the old
dining room where accommodations have
been put up for coats, whips and other
baggage. To the rear Of the Office is
retiring and dressing room for the use
Of transient lady visitors who may not
care to take rooms. He has also at
great expense erected a long breakwater
formed Of piles and stones to diminish
the force of the waves which were fast
cutting into and destroying the island
Of high ground on which his house is
situated. Sometime last winter sloop
sprung leak near Collins wharf and
her captain, to save her, ran her upon
the beach where she now lies the sport
Of winds and waves. Her mast, which
was a remarkably fine one, was taken
out and planted, with long splice on
the top Of it, in front of the Hygenia
House, frem which large Y flag
is daily unfurled. This flag staff is said
to be 105 feet high, and the flag at its
head can be seen long distance up or
down the bay In addition to the other
attractions some enterprising individual
has started little store near the house
where he dispenses ice-cream, cakes,
confectioneries and other Injuries, and
furnishes bathing dresses, for small
fee, to all who may desire them.
Mr.. Collins tells me be has had more
guests from distant parts Of the country
and world this summer, than at any
previous season Numbers Of persons
from various sections, who have been in
Philadelphia to attend the Centennial
frequently ran down here on the steamer
Ariel to escape, for few days. the
sweltering heat which SO nearly roasted
Us all alive few weeks since. Among
others he has had visitors from the ex-
treme Southern as well as Western and
Pacific States and from some Of the
countries Of Europe, though l believe
he has, as yet. had no Celestials regis
tered upon bis books.
A favorite pastime of the guests this
summer. and Of which your correspond
ent availed himself, is very delightful
and exceedingly cheap excursion on the
steamer Ariel down the bay to Bombay
Hook and across to Bayside on the Jer-
sey side. The Ariel leaves Collins
wharf at IL o'clock, runs down the bay
to 'The Hook" thence across to the
Jersey shore touching at Bayside. the
terminus of the New Jersey Southern
railroad. The bay here is eight miles
wide. This will give your readers a
slight idea of the magnitude of the un-
dertaking proposed in the bill intro
duced into the lower House of the Del
aware Legislature at its last session by
Col. Nowland, Of your Hundred, for the
construction of a railroad bridge from