The New York herald., 1879-08-31
MARTHAs VINEYARD ILLUMINATION.
THE ANNUAL cELEBRATIoN-THE BLUFFS LIT
Up-PLEAsANT PAsrIME ON THE PRoMEN-

THE ANNUAL cELEBRATIoN-THE BLUFFS LIT
Up-PLEAsANr PAsrrME ON THE PRoMEN-
ApEs-A COLD WAVE CHECKS THE DISPLAY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE HERALD
OAK BLUFFS. August 80 1879.
There has been blowing along the coast of
Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket for several
days strong northerly gale. To-day it
at its height. and as the waves lashed
themselves into fury the beach and the cold wind
whisted along the avenues. the dweers in the cot
tage city who had made extensive preparations for
the grand illumination looked disgusted To close
tho season without tho illumination would
be to confess that the had
been failure. As the morning and early
afternoon boats arrived with their heavy freight
of eager sight-seers the disappointment grew more
intense. Some twenty thousand people were at the
Bluffs by two o'clock this afternoon. but there were
no indications of any illumination. The usual deco
ratons were missing. except in very few instances.
and people went about shivering and looking for
room to see the possible illuminations or for some
thing to eat. The hotels crowded to excess,
and the cotagers had to put themselves out to
entertain and shelter the crowI BY six O'Clock the
wind had gone down perceptibly and then prepare
tons were commenced tor the great event.
ARRIVAL OF THE YACHTS
Everybody admitted that the illumination would
not be equal to that OF last previous years. but
there was an evident determination to do
the best that could De done under the
dispiriting circumstances. With the subsi-
dence of the gale came the yachts which
have been cruising around here for several
days waiting for the celebration. They had been
over Fairhaven and New Bedford for safe anchor
age during the Storm and soon as 1t had gone
down they hosted sail for the Vineyard and dropped
anchor of the Sea View House. They soon began to
illuminate, and the shades of night fell along
the bluffs the myriad lights which twinkled
ON the water made pretty picture. The practice
known "bluttng" began soon after sundown.
out on the bluffs. whero the utmost free
dom is allowed in the matter Of salu-
tations. introductions. &C., with the understanding
that acquaintances formed shall go no further.
People or all ages and both sexes promenade tho
avenues and walks, speak to each other. chat and
pass Everybody is good natured and
shadow of impropriety is perceptible At
halt-past p. NJ. the procession started
its march down Sea View avenue, and followed
this to Penacook avenue to Circuit. thence to
Narragansett. to Grove. Pequot. Hartford Park. to
Sea View to Narragansett to Grove. to Samoset, to
Sea View House, to the Arcade Montgomery square.
County Park. Washington Park and
turn over the same route. The scene was
very brilliant during the procession. Every
house was illuminated and that reflection Of the
lights on land and water made an oriental picture
which can hardly be described. The wind blew
pretty fresh but that did not deter the cottagers
from hanging out their lanterns all parts of their
houses. aud the illumination for 1879 may be pro-
nounced q fair success.