Daily Republican., 1880-08-24

The Great ExcursiOn OF Mr. p. n.
Il. smith - Over q Thousand VIII.
m1ngtODians ON Brighton Beach

The Great Excursion OF Mr. p. n.
II. smith - Over q Thousand WIi.
m1ngtO mans ON Brighton Beach
How Ihe Affair Came on.
Smiths Coney I,land excursion yes
terday was the greatest thing of the
kind that ever left Wilmington, and
from first to last it was grand success.
On Saturday evening Mr.. Smith was
convinced from the unusual rapidity
with which tickets were sold that the
crowd would surely be larger than he
had arranged for. And 80 1t was.
Early yesterday morning the P, W. &
B. depot was thronged with those who
desired to take the much talked of trip.
II was soon found that the excursion
lists could not be accommodated in the
cars engaged, and additional ones were
ordered. The rush for tickets was
great and when the tickets had all
been disposed Of, many others bearded
the train without them, and had to be
provided for on the route.
At Chester several hundred more got
on, and the eighteen cars composing the
train were packed and jammsd, and
many were unable to secure seats.
At West Philadelphiathis was rsmedied
and two more cars we're added, and
from this point the great train was run
in two sections, which permitted a
much faster rate Of speed to be attain
ed. The distance between Philadel
phia and Jersey City was covered in
TWO hours and quarter.
The ride by rail was uneventful,
though not by any means devoid OF
interest, and it was thoroughly enjoy
ed by all. Mr.. Smith showed himself
to be an able and efficient manager,
and was always On hand whenever any
matter demarded his attention. Owing
to this care on part Of Mr.. Smith, and
the able manner in which he was as
sisted by Conductor Catlin, who by
the way, is a former Delawarean,
everything passed off nicely.
At Jersey City the staunch old
steamer Richard Stockton, knoR Rn to all
Wilmingtonisns, was in waiting. The
party boarded her and were soon
landed at the famous Coney Island pier,
after a delightful sail down through
New York harbor and the Narrows. As
announced by telegraph in the late
edition of the REPUBLICAN yesterday
Coney Island was reached shortly after
high noon.
The exoursioni;ts at once separated,
each following the bent Of his own in
clination, and in many cases they did
not meet again until late at night when
they came together to start outhe hcme-
ward journey. Although the excursion
ists numbered over 1000, the party had
such large field to spread over that it
could not be noticed to have increased
the multitude of pleasure seekers on
the Island.
The Wilmin yton folks had no lack
of amusement. No matter which way
they turned they found something to
attract their attention amid the thous-
and and one wonders of this great re-
sort, with miles and miles of splendid
beach, half hundred hotels and cafes
and visitors, the thousands of whom
are counted by scores.
One event of particular interest was
the special concert rendered the excur-
sionists by Couterno's Twenty-Third
Regiment Band at Paul Bauer's West
Brighton Beach Hotel. A description of
what is interesting on Coney Island
would, however, be unnecessary at this
time, as cnly recently its wonders were
set forth in several special letters to
the REPUBLICAN, but of all things de.
serving of special mention was the
beautiful! spectacle presented when
the Island was lighted up at night.
Coney Island is at its best when under
gas light. |
The excursion left the pier at 10l
o'clock and steamed up to Jersey City
in the brilliant moonlight, thus afford
ing the party delightful nocturnal
voyage with Luna at her best. The
start was made from Jersey City at H.
45, and Wilmington was reached at s
D'clsck this morning.
, II had been calculated that the ex-
cursion would return about 3 o'clock,
but the lateness Of the hour was caused
by the inability of the P. W. Il B.,
Railroad to handle the train rapidly
after it run upon their tracks at Gray's
Ferry. Every ons is more than salts
fed with tbs trip.