The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-18
COMFY ISLAND.

OPENING OF THE SEA BEACH ROUTE BY BOAT
AND RAIL-FoRTY-Two MINUTES FROM THE
cITY-BRILIIANT PROTECTING DISPLAY AT
THE HOTEL BRIGHTON.
A marked occasion was yesterday in the history
of New York's great summer resort. Coney Island.
It is probable that the crowd of the Fourth of July
exceeded that OF yesterday. but at other time has
there been greater gathering. Every hotel was
filed the surf was black with bathers aud the hack
men. barmen and pedlars reaped harvest. The
two features of the day were the opening of new
steam route to the Island and the brighton
display of fireworks on the beach, Added
to the Sl2.O0o,OOo already invested on this
barren spot is another million at least.
with a fair prospect of $2.0o0.00O more before q
year from to-day. The new enterprise which is now
in successful operation is dignihed the New York
and Sea Beach Railroad. II has been dormant for
more than year, but few weeks since fresh blood
was infused in it's veins, the vast structure which
has been monumental conundrum to all the
promenaders the sand renovated and
put in habitable shape; depots were run
up. painters. carpenters. inachinists. florists and
laborers given work. small army of people en-
gagged. connections made and without any flourish
OF trumpets the public quietly informed that
the road was ready for patrons and the restaurant
was for many thousands as cared to call for
food.
THE NEW ROAD. 4e
The vast building used as depot and restaurant
is the same that used the government building
in the Centennial Exhibition. 1t is situated be-
You'd Cables and the new pier. back of num-
Der of unsightly s-anties, not far from
Fetman's Pavilion. The Sea Beach Railroad
runs in front of it, Gunther's road is q
few hundred feet beyond it and Cuver's is at Cables
The road terminates in building in the rear of
the structure which was transported by sections
from Philadelphia. The Harlem line of steamboat s
noted for their speed. will take passengers from sew
evera points the North and East rivers, and from
Fulton ferry. on the Brooklyn side, az we'll di-
rect to Bay Ridge in twenty-seyen minutes
from the lowest New York pier. Thence by a
rest of the trip is made in fifteen minutes Yester
day the frst trip was made from Coney Island to
this city in forty-two minutes. with fair load of
passengers and later in the day the average time
made fortythree minutes. and in some instances
in little less than iorty minutes. Thus far the
island has been divided into Norton's end. Cables,
the Brighton and the Manhattan. To these must
now be added fifth place of note, as from 1t
road either of the Others and the walk to the pier
is one OF only about fve minutes. The stock of the
road consists OF six frst class locomotives and
thir.y-fve well built, comfortable cars, with
seats accommodating from SO to ITO pas
sengers The seats are great improve
cramp the person and torture the legs of their
patrons to such extent that the rush for palace
cars always exhaust the supply. The men who have
put their money in the enterprise Martin, Bliss
G'Co., James W. Smith. N. NJ. Tabor, Robert Moore,
Samuel ]. Murphy. Z. T. Backhouse p. A. " Post
aud General Robert T. Kicker President. These par.
ties have pushed the work in the past few weeks
with marvellous speed, az has Colonel Abbott,
formerly Of the Erie road, In whose charge is the
immense edifce, now utilized az a restaurant and
place of recreation for the people. The future has
wonderful improvements anu additions in store. such
rs covered pathway to the ocean, hundred cottages
semi-circularly arranged and hotel Accommodations
for 500 persons besides dining facilities for 10000
people per day at table dh6te orr Ia carte The presi
dent and Colonel Abbott were abundantly satisfied
with yesterdays operations.
Hc THE RUSH AT MIGHT.
Now that palace aud Coney Island are assoc-
ated in the minds of visitors to the beach, the
enterprsing caterers who have invested millions In
wood and glass and furniture and stock find it de-
sirable to make the interest on their in
vestment certain by stimulating the popular
interest by infusion of excitants, varying their
character from week to week. according to the
weather. Music costing thousands of dollars every
week makes the island vocal by day and night. Bal
looms and tracks on the of enter
side shows by the score divide the pub:
Ito patronage. OF late fireworks have had
thtsr turn, and last night melted probably by the
fiery weather of the early part of the week, Colonel
Breslin and Major Sweet turned the Hotel Brighton
and the vast thereabouts into grand reception
concourse, whence, AZ from PLATFORM. some thirty
or forty thousand persons Witnessed q gratuitous
display of ireworks-wheels. set pieces. rockets
and lights-such as has not been seen In this
try in many years. At six o'clock the proprietors
looked at each other in despair and President MUIR
ply held up his hands In horror as he read a de-
spatch from superintendent Dorwin to the effect
pots were filled ami the streets blockaded.
for love money. Waters were tortured with work
and guests had hard work to get anything to eat 1t
easier 10 find liquid refreshment than anything
else. Hundreds left the hotel in search
OF supper, but thousands remained and
with more or less good nature waited their
turn The music exceptionally fine and Liber-
atti, the cornetist vigorously and discriminat
ingly encored. Great the crowds usually in
the hotel. this exceeded them all The vast grounds
.Eedn fqrf nh pI andfh
vices OF Hassan wheelers thirty extra policemen
not neeaed There never a better behaved,
more orderly crowd anywhere
THE
About nine O'Clock the grand display began directed
by Mr.. G. T. Brock, the English pyrotechnist whose
Alexandra exhibitions have been reported in the
HERALD dispatches. The night was perfect There
moon. and the stars considerably paled their
fires, that great, black sky hung like
dark canvas in the rear of the fixtures, and afforded
admirable background for the brilliant pyrotech
MICS OF the evening. Massed IN front OF the beach
the greatest crowd. On the plazZas of the
hotel was another gathering that resembed crowd.
Riding the waves beyond several excursion
steamers yacht and sail vessels, whose occupants
waited for the promised entertainment AT length
It came, beginning with shower OF AERIAL maroons
then illumined the grounds. changing colors
four times. large balloon. bearing. burst
and all tho people whispered 'Ohi" Signal rockets
flashed Missing through the air. dschargins showers
OF tinted stars ere they fell. huge revolving de-
vice. with huge wheels sixteen feet in diameter re-
voving in opposite directions, was masterpiece of
fiery possibility. signal shells flew RAPIDLY through
the air dscharging rockets and throwing out stars
huge system of rockets simulated golden birch.
whose giided leaves showered from an enormous
height. double girandole wheel discharged rock
cts. Roman candles and stars. cascade of fire,
forty feet high and forty feet long produced rush
ing sound, like the roar OF Niagara. Interpreted
rockets, wheels. IN mes, Roman candles. snakes,
shells batteries of candles and that made
the heavens glitter, and threw flood of light the
bubblng surf beneath.
1t is difficult to describe in paragraph of "cold
type" the exquisite beauty and delicacy OF the dis
play. Some OF the pieces tzzed. of course; they
always do. Now aud then rocket stick fell in dan
gerous proximity to curious and venturesome peo-
ple but. whole, this exhibition, which cost
5000, great success. The vast assem-
blage appauded aud cheered to tho echo,
ana everybody delighted. Mr. Darwin
despatched his trains fast they flied,
gardess the time table schedule, and by half past
eleven O'Clock nothing heard on the length OF
upon the shore.
Colonel Breslin intends repeating the frcwork
pertinent at intervals during the summer. and 10
fpsh the seagou by nm exhibition worthy the atten-