New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-14
THE TOBOGGAN SLIDE OPEN
ALL ESSEX COUNTY GOES TO VIEW 1T.
AFAsT TRACK AND MANY COAsTERs-RUDDY CHEEKS
VARIED COSTUMES AND MUCH SPORT.

VARIED COSTUMES AND MUCH SPORT.
All Essex County turned out last night to
celebrate the formal opening OF the toboggan slide.
Old men and children, young men and maidens.
were there to the number OF two or threo
thousand, all anxious to see everything that was
to be quite willing take the chances of be-
Ing run The two guards with the garb Of fiery
hue equally suggestive Of the internal and the Artc
region nearly distracted bv the pushing crowd
Ropes stretched away from the mouth Of tho slide
and two native policemen, whose bump OF good
nature sbnormally developed, were instructed to
thrust the spectators behind the ropes and thus keep
the into which the tOboggaDs and the tobog
ganists bounded, breathess and disheveled But Pan
dora might we'll have attempted keep the troop Of
ills that form the herooms Of the human family In her
bandbox. The people here there and every where
and the policemen quietly put their clubs in
their pockets and put in their tme
in amlcaby discussing the outandish
things" with the men whom they should have been
hortng to " git back" Not only there crowd at
the foot but entire length Of the thousand feet OF
slide, there two solid Of facesmighty pretty
of them were, too-while the irrepressble small
boy built to himself bonfres without number Seighs
stood about the field, while their occupants took
nearer view Of the sport, II they
fortunate enough to have friends at court,
participated in the Once
bewildered driver stopped his team IN line with the
slide and slender tOboggan flashed between the horses
legs nOWeEcr, uiu not KICK, aS
is sometimes the custom of the human species and the
driver acting under the emphatic advice OF the bystand
ers drove.
Before the slide was opened for the evening, Pres
dent and Mrs. Teall gave little dinner at the club
house to the officers OF the club and some friends
The club house OF the Essex County
Toboggan Club is nearly great institution the
toboggsn slide ITSELF and the wise providence that
placed the togrther is only equaled by that
which great rivers TO flow by great cities BY
o'clock the curious popuace had accumulated In great
masses and the policemans life ceased to be happy
one Every train brought its load Of curious people
ous to learn the difference between toboggsn and 0
Coney Island roller coaster The lamps fared
out and struggled for supremacy with
the calm moonlight, the line OF gayly-dressed tobog-
gansts fought their way uphill through the crowds Of
sightseers, who wondered audiby If thin things was
what they slid on; the gates of the slide raised
the Of tOboggans with their loads laughing
shrieklng humanity poured down.
The slide was in fine condition Judicons padding aud
watering the part OF the young men in the red coats
had reduced t to condition of superlatye glariness
President Teal led the way his long American
with Treasurer Powers Farr and other for ballast
They left the head the slide with the blessing of the
assembled company and the request that If any OF the
gates other distractions had not been removed they
should telephone the information up before ally else
started The rushed down the lane OF faces at
speed that melted them all expansive smile,
up the opposite hill and out into the
field scoring mark that was not often
passed during the evening. While on Monday the TO
bOggan silently and smoothly the soft 1t
tore along the crust last night with sound like the
scraping of 10000 Matches leapiug aud shifting TO
either side ike wicked mustang
The attendance OF members and guests large and
in imitation OF the historic King OF France aud his
twenty thousand men. the club officers marched them
regularly up the hill aud slid them down again.
All varieties Of uniform were represented.
but there was striking uniformity
in the red cheeks. sparkling eyes and
ringing that told OF the healthfuness OF ths
sport. Among the most enthusiastic coasters were Mr.
and Mrs. o. s. Teal. Powers Farr Miss Salle Law
renee John Lawrence. Charles A. Mum. Mr. OReilly,
Charles A. Lummis, Miss Barnes Edward Knapp, Miss
Hoag Henry W. Tillinghast, L. p. Thebaud. Mr.. and
Mrs. Bolton. Miss Kelly OF Philadelphia; Mr. VAIN
wright. Miss Pryor, and many people from the mmedi-
white, some in red and some in coisred
suits; while still Others not especially
gotten up for the occasion A genuine Canadian ana
member VI the Iocque Bleu Tob0gganng Club OF Mont
real attracted much attention. His coat and knicker
bockers were of shaggy white his Iittons. stockings
sash and cap OF red. The general effect that OF
cross between Polar bear and a barber's pole
The number OF coasters great that there was
row OF a dozen continually waiting their turn
standing In line with their obOgg on end aad towering
above them looking ike e of Scyhap warriors with
their enormous shields Each man put down his tot0s-
gan as came up the slide, the momentOus question
as to whether Annie Mary or Tom going on this
trip was settled, and the chosen ones disappeared
amid much advice to hold on tight" The slide Of LOCO
feet fall of i27 feets traversei In about twenty
This gives average speed OF mile IN Two
minutes with probable maximum of a mile Minute
Tomorrow evening several parties Will go out from
New York try the slide.