New-York tribune., 1885-09-15
q WHAT WAS SEEN FROM SANDY HOOK.
BoArLoADs OF PEOPLE OFF THE SHORE AND
CROWDS UPON IT.


CROWDS UPON IT.
Yesterday was a red-letter day for Sandy
Hook The population d that fag-end OF creation
increased July fold by influx OF strangers The
big guns that lie helpessy In the sand and tho decrepit
gun carriages stared IN wonder TO see as many
"a five persons together walking along the
plank road. The mosquitoes which exercise
squattcr sovereignty over nneenths of the land were
on deck and unremtting In their attentions to visitors
The country people from neigboring and more densely
populated portlous OF Jersey came down where the
Narrowing cape
Aud the relentless shifting OF the waves"
70 see the yachts double the Hook" The New-York
boats furnished their quota nnoeents who gazed with
dsmay at the long stretch OF sandy beach which must
be trndeed over before desirable point Of
view could be reached, or dickered with
tho long-headed but rapselous native who
was on the scene with dirty Hat boat In which he
wanted to pack dozen unfortunatos at fifty cents
head.
General Hancock stood on the forward deck OF the
Richmond as she steamed down tho harbor and
gazed thoughty at the fleet OF yachts anchored in the
basin OF the Atlantic Yacht Club, with their nansais
hoistod and anchors hove short all ready to up and
away ut the first signal OF preparation from the staten
Island shore Under the banks OF that land of sum
mer boardcrs and oystermen the two racers were
anchored Each had her mansail and club opsais with
her fore staysa and jib up In stops few provi
dent souls had already preompted the best place the
closely cropped turf the bombproof easements OF
Fort wadsworh and the beer gardens that thrive In the
neghbOrhOod OF Fort Hamilton bore the animated
meet of a most successful sunday afternoon. large
house Just below tho quarantine station had been deeked
with a profusion OF many colored sreamers together
with American German and French flags, in honor OF
the start which to take place almost at Its door
The few sails below the look lonely to eyesac.
customod the last week to see the waters covered
with hundreds of craft OF all descriptions. The
wind from south blows strongly IN the faces OF the
passengers while coming down the harDor but below
the forts IL TO haul more toward the west and
sacken "A little light haze rests upon the water,
frsIn which the big hotel Rockaway Beach rises
before their eyes like iceberg from the miss Behind
them the champions preparing for the conflict aud
the waves dance aud sparkle In anticipation OF the
pageant To pass over them.
the unfinished walls OF the huge fort which the Govern
ment starred TO build In 1851 some Invaded the light
houses and still others contenedy established them.
selves on tho beach. When the news came at 1888
o'clock that the start had been made, tne w,n1 was
blowing from the southwest al tne rate OF yen mhes an
hour little later row OF white dots stretched across
the Narrows. and by squirting through glass that
persisted IN bobbing around In tne most uncomfortable
manner, the inexperienced observer caught Rnmpses
Of two eapns % w afsns.
specks. Then the towers OF canvas grew larger and
stood up and more nearly erect as the wind grew
lighter while the confused Of black and white that
followed tho towers widened out Into semlclrcle OF
would expand into graceful silhouette OF mainsai top
sail and jib topsai as one or tne ohes OF ane racers
stood over tOWatu tue obilch ioioh" ohVA" on tho
mort tack. BY it had become
almost dead calm an occasional zephyr lazny turned
the little anemometer top OF the observatory aud
the sun beat down this saudlest OF Hooks In most
ardent way. The Puritan could be plainly discerned
two mes to windwar OF tho cutter but whether that
two miles was all clear gain the question which
worried tho ancient mariner OF the Hook BY O'clock,
when the yachts were drawing down toward tho Spit,
tie semicircle OF steamers had drawn out
Into long trail that reached
far nm the bay As the Puritan up line with the
BUOY fringe OF white suited tars could be seen
" easng off " the mansneet at the command or her
skpuer who stood IN his shrsleeyes In the cor
rect Yankee style The breeze freshcned sti ana by
the tlmo the Genesa had weathered the buoy ana the
wave of sound from screaming whistles and popping
cannon had rolled the Hook and out TO sea- the
Yankee sloop was sklmming along Dy tho peach Win
weldennod bone In her teeth . .
The American heart sweed with pride. the dyspeptic
rooster in the Government henco0p stopped hunting
mosquitoes long enough 10 crow triumphanty ana tho
flag on lookout tower dipped gracefully three times
as frat The soop and then cutter passed In laying
d..