New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-24
BEAUTIES OF BAY RIDGE.
AN ALMOST UNKNOWN SUMMER RESORT.
OLD FAMILIES AND OLD HoUsEs-FIsHERMEN ANI
sMUGGLERs-FORT HAMILTON.


sMUGGLERs-FORT HAMILTON.
Within five miles of the Battery lies stretch
Of country which possesses unusual attractions and
yet to the average NcwYorker is hardly known ex-
cept a name Until the development of the eastern
end OF Coney Island Bay Ridge scarcely ever
spoken Of by its primitive inhabitants; and even
few think Of any thing but halfway house to
Manhattan Beach. One leaves the boat at that point
and takes the train, and barely glimpse OF that exquis
tie line of bayshore Is given to the traveller for the
juting promontory which the centre OF the little
village OF Bay Ridge stands shuts out the view beyond
Bay Ridge pro- begins at the steamboat dock, which
Is Just outside the city line OF Brooklyn and extends
along the shore Ill joins the village OF Fort Hamilton
The dividing line is arbitrary, for all corporate pur
poses both included In the township OF New
Utrecht which lies in the interior about mile
behind Fort Hamilton. To appreciate properly the
beauty OF the unknown country which ia almost at our
DOORS the visitor should walk along the shore road from
Bay Ridgeave to the military station at Fort Hamilton
The distance Is and half miles, and an ever
changing succession OF lovely gmpses rcpays the way
farcr In and out the road Winds following the forma-
ton Of the shore. At one moment the lower part OF
New-York with its tributary Islands may be seeD and
the all the gories OF the Lower Bay m and enchant
the eye
PICTURES IN THE LOWER BAY.
Nor is the element Of movement wanting In the charm
Nhite-wnged yachts glide swsnlixe over the cleaning
dancing waters, and ut times seem to DO almost near
for those board to able to touch the trees
whose gnarled branches have been bent into the most
fantastic shapes by the angry blasts which In winter
sweep with terrific force up and down the Narrows.
Further out the large ships going to and re-
turning from all parts OF the world being towed
along by the noisy tugs whose condensed energy AFFORDS
an almost aughable TO the vast nertness OF tile
masses TO which they attached. They look IKE
pgInes controlling giants. In mid channel the great
European steamships pursue their silent way with on-
dcrous force which commands respect, and those That
are In ward bound come TO anchor of Quarantine ana
await the visit OF the doctor who alone can give the
open sesame " to the port OF New-iork. The doctor
does not ns pcct between the hours OF shutdown ana
the following morning. except special favor, and the
early IN this neghboGhood Is often rewarded by
the sight OF four of the finest steamers that have
ye; been constructed The inhabitants recognize all the
principal by sight, know the times of their IN
comngs tgongs and greet them as old acquant-
ancos ON Saturdays the departing vessels oHen accom-
panied by tugs with friends OF passengers and bands of
music. make the bay especially gay Threading their
way with marvellous cStery In and among the large
and small craft, rush the white excursion boats Ike
exaggerated forms OF the paper boats OF chldhoods
d,ys and from their decks generally black with
crowded humanity come strains OF music OF all kinds,
ranging from u good brass band to the blood curdng
yell. OF the steam caope.
OCCUPANTS OF OLD VILLAS AND FARMHoUsEs.
But To return the road from which the watcr-vi
has tempted the sghtsecr. Its grade IL as irregular as
~. scrpen course At times II dcscends almost 10 "A
level with the water aud few unlred yards further on
Il rises I'll 10 skirs the edge OF precpce nearly nun
bred nigh. Down the sides OF ths lVug and desd
trees fallen trunks aud OuicrOpplng rocks Aud b0ducrs
mnglo m the most picturesque lrOiuslon Az inc 100.
OF tho elias scattered here and there the cottages OF
fishermen whb In tho sprihg run out tnef sha hets 50
Tar nom "a, that they are al continual war WITH
tse captains Of The small steanDoa lie stentsI PAR
the road ia sheltered by afchng tees anu Al
along the shaded bcnches invite To rest A. ono
approaches Font Hamilton the Lower lay oomcs INTO
fnli view. Tho Highlands ana Tue HOOK can oe us
tucy seen the left u the point o. CoDey Island ana
on the right far beyond the hospital Islands aud Tho Ola
fever bnlk Illinois, the 10" colst me OF JeIscS
Anboy and Report mclts away INTO a blue haze -,
Ibo andward side Of the shoe road Is dotted win
pretty villas and old arm-houses. the la ter largely
prcp6ndcratlns. Many of them aro built In the old
bach De fors the time OF Washington Truck farming Is
carried to the highest perfection. ana produce Is
Long Island one OF the oldest and rOomiost 81 the old
fashioned mansions belongs to Cornell White. the owner
announces that family l. at home each boat hoNs
salute passing little further along arc Tue cottages
Of the Van Brunt family, where MoshcI and Douglas
were shot whom persisted the secret Of tho Tate OF
Charley Ross ht nearer 10 Fort Iinllton ana slant
ing back about half n mile from the ROAD. foWhs a
gigantic red brick building. This the Kings County
IncbriAte Asylum. which, though partly pubic 10,
sutuou Is mainly supported by private patients Not
very far beyond this turn In the road icFoAs ho
enrthworks OF tho tort where -oIefaI companies 81
lately opposite the ruined walls OF Fort Lafayette inc
travellers Journey Is ended Beyond that the roa skirs
aud marsh TIL Bah Is reached
RrPREssED BY GRoUNDLEss sUPERsuTIoNs.
Twenty nyo years Ort Hamilton was an aTlaocra-
lc summer resort but tho large 'te was burned anu
since that time have kept Spectators from
lnve.ting I'm property and endeavortng TO mako tho
district popular Soon after the fire an outbreak OF vel
low fever was caused by landing OF seamen and trav
euers affiliated with that disease Although not case
of yellow fever has been known here for twenty years
there Il stu superstition among So 'I % d
IA extremely high In price and very dhcult 10 ohtah AS
II IL nearly all in the hands Of rich men who I've there
during the sumner and many all the round ana OF
farmers Of Dutch descent III whose families he anu mas
been held long records tell In tne ast seven car
only one house has been built on the shore road anu
Int io tn Win New-York are bad and the ride
through Brooklyn partly by steam dummy ana parity
by horse car long aud tedious House property does
not pay per cent on the supposed value yy. ON @
will not sell. believing that ther water fronts VIII ono
day bo valuable and the rapid transit Will some timo or
other reach even this remote region ana h"Ao 'noh
millionnaires.
SLEEPING VILLAGES AND SUSPECTED FisHERMEN.
Inaword Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton srn very
Rip Van Wrinkles Of villages Within sight OF Now YORK
and sound OF It's bells. they to-day almost exactly
the same they fifty years ago Even tue hd'or
OF colonial life earlier Dutch sway seems To he In the
mir I'm the names aspects OF the farmers aud IA ther
dwellings. suspicion OF romantic dangers ai9"
there OF the fishermen are suspected o oehs
In league with smuggeTs. ana customs OmoeIs arc
ON the watch at mig nt boats that cruise about To
pick up bags dropped overheard from havana steamers
begun-much tho disgust OF the majority oil tue InhsD
itants- To invade this district. They have Ound Ou hI
II Is generally cool, comparatively free fcln mosquitoes
very healthy, and la summer 10y means oil STA boach
and Manhattan Beach boats within half an hOur Oh tue
ower end of New York small hotel or two ana thfes
or four boarding houses are, however, the hn Oh So
commOdntOn Obtainabc. Bathing although the Deaoh
il pebbly Is sale aud pleasant and the swell caused ny
the frequently passing steamers 10 not pau SUBSTITUTE
for SURF
TRANSATLANTIC TRAVELLERS.