The daily gazette., 1877-07-12
July I2, 1877.

URRsEEKERs AND SPoRTsMEN.-For all
the manly sports and for bathing and re- /
creation, "Ocean City" offers natural in
ducements connected with safety, that /,
are not to be found elsewhere within our f
knowledge on the coast of the Atlantic. !
The bathing in the Ocean surf is not {
excelled by any other place except it may
be Cape May; and it would require close {
observation to determine whether there {
was any perceptible difference, although
we believe it is admitted that the rolling {
of the sea is trifle more gentle at Ocean
City. The greatest danger at Cape May {
is the fearful "under-.ow," that has fire.
quently carried inexperienced and ad-
venturous men to destruction in spite OF
all the efforts of themselves or the life
boats stationed along the shore in front of
the bathers to save them. The undertow
is caused by the ebbing Of the tide around
the cape from the mouth of the bay. Its
enclosure is as much dreaded almost as
that of maelstrom. The best swimmers
are unable to escape from its grasp wh.:e
usually the noise OF the laughter and
voices of bathers and the roar OF the surf
browns ones voice for help if he be able |
or willing to raise it even to scream.
At Ocean City there is no such dread of
the undertow, and bathers are free from
the dreadful apprehension, although no
one can venture into the ocean anywhere
very far with safety; and, therefore all
swimmers should be careful not to do so. |
To get back to the shore is sometimes
more difficult than is supposed.
But great feature Of Ocean City is its
close proximity to the main land and
Synepuxent Bay. The latter is bridged
by well constructed trestle-work, over
which the cars pass and repass without
the least risk. There is no marsh as we
approach this bay, and no stagnant water,
and therefore the whole region about
Ocean City is free from mosquitoes, a
plague that intests all bathing places, with
this exception. Synepuxent Bay, at this
point, is only about 800 yards wide. 1t
is placid sheet Of water, running along
green and fertile shore ten or fifteen
miles north to Indian River Inlet, al
though about ten miles above Ocean
City it is called Allawhite Bay and it ex-
tends south eight miles to what is called
South Point. Passing this point, it is call
ed Newport Bay, which is ten miles wide.
Thirty miles further south is Assateague
Bay and Chincoteague Island.
The wooden bridge crossing the bay to
Ocean City is 270 yards long; and stand
ing upon it children are constantly di-
yerted by the sight of crabs and fish ap-
pearing at the surface and disappearing
again, while numerous sail boats convey
pleasure parties from point to point
batteaux are lying closely from which the
lines are freely piled in successful crab.
bling or fishing and the crack of the
sportsman's gun also sounds frequently
upon the ear.
"Ocean City" is yet only in the imagi
nation Of its enthusiastic projectors, bu
doubtless, as it appears now it neverthe
less has attractions that must force them
selves upon people at an earlier date thar
most persons may think. There are nov
on the island five good hotels, and they
are apparently doing as well as the hotel
at other watering places. The ride t.
Ocean City is entirely in the rail ca
which deposits the passenger within fft,
or hundred feet Of the hotels. Tn
country through which the ride passes
now cultivated as garden on either side
at intervals, for many miles; and it
scarcely possible to resist the belief tina
IN less than quarter of a century tn
entire length will assume so beautiful an
fruitful an appearance, that the pleasur
sseeker at the end of that time who visit
"ocean City" will regard it as a NOR
delightful trip than can now be depcte
ny lhe most sanguine imagination {
tnose VINO entertain the highest estims
hoh OF the susceptibility of the cutur
on the Peninsula in unequaled abundanc
OF all that goes to make the soil usefu
beautiful and attractive.
1t is and should be the desire of ever
one who lives in our State or ON tho Ii,
adjoining thereto, that the efforts M,
being made to render Ocean Cityn at
tractive may be SUI cessful And this r,
mark will apply just as forcbly to Reh
both, If these places grow and prospe
the whole of the Peninsula will be ben
fitted and enriched correspondingly.