Smyrna times., 1888-08-15
Crowds at the Rauside

AS was indicated on the day of our
last issue by the crowds going through
town, the last was big Wednesday
at Woodland Beach. They were there
from the adjacent Necks, Smyrna,
Leipsic, Dover, KentOn forest, Hartley,
on, on, we do not know how far, in
cluding in the number from 1000 to
5000 people, and to add to these were
the regular excursiouists by the steam
boat from the city who came with
music and dancing. Altogether it was
the largest crowd that has been there
for five years. But, beside the people,
who filed up the pavilion, hotel,
dancing room, bar-rOom and the entire
beach, the most noticeable feature was
the array of vehicles. The carriages
and wagons crowded the lane, the
pound, the lot around the road to the
grove on both sides, and finally several
hundreds brought up in the latter a
quarter of a mile nearly from the
splash of the waves.
Thus, to find friend it took a hunt.
The thrOngs on the grounds about the
hotel moved in and out and through
each other like a hive of bees, each
carrying little social honey for the
benefit of his neighbor or friend, and
altogether enjoying much sweet in the
possession of the big holiday. The hot
day was relieved in the afternoon by
refreshing breeze from the bay, but it
brought with it later in the day the
OminOus thunder-caps and portentous
rumbling in the distance. 1t was a
timely warning of from one to two hours,
for the east wind kept the cloud in
allegiance, but the crowd with a few
exceptions were having too good a
time to take admOnitiOn. The time
they had fixed in their minds to 90
home, seven, eight, nine o'clock or
later had not come, and they were not
to be moved by distant thunder which
after all might be driven around by the
brisk wind, spend itself and not come
at all, or if it did, quickly pass over
and give them brighter star light to
| travel by.
But the cloud that was dilly-daling
so long in the distance though all the
time creeping along the horizon like a
crouching Tiger, suddenly burst upon
them with bewildering fury and
binding cloud of dust, sending the
men women and children to the houses
Of shelter until they were full, and the
balance to their carriages. This was
between six and seven o'clock. The
wind howled dismally for sometime,
and then the big drops of rain began to
fall, but there was that measured slow
ness of a settled storm very unlike
what might be expected from a turbu-
lent, quick passing summer shower,
Seven, eight, nine o'clock came and
it was still raining, with a black pail
settling over the uncertain road that
crossed the marsh.
In the midst of the anxieties about
the night and the uncertainties as to
getting home, report came that those
who had the temerity to venture out
got stuck in the marsh, upset or some.
thing, which considerably wrought on
the fears of the timid, and there was a
! general looking around for a place to
bunk, somewhat on the principle of
putting two bushels of feathers in a
peck bag. To find sleeping accommo-
dations was impossible, but the best
| disposition possible was made in find
ing place to lie down and rest. Four
young ladies got in one bed, and the
reason that it did not hold six or
eight, was the fear of rolling off and
battering themselves on the floor. The
men walked about from place to place
until they were accommodated with
chairs in the parlor.
Therain ceased late in the evening and
many decided to venture home or as far
as they could get, and the splash of the
horses feet could be heard through our
streets most all hours of the night.
| Others stopped with friends on the
way thirty-seven found shelter
under the hospitable roof of VIM.
Bradley, half way between this town
and the beach, and if there were any
other families as accommodating as
his, it is presumed they ran along
somewhere in the same proportion, ac-
cording to their capacity. It will
doubtless be years before some of them
forget this storm at Woodland Beach.
BOWERS BEACH.
Bowers Beach has had its Big
Thursday" from time immemOrial.
The Thursday succeeding the day
above was bright and clear throughout
and hot enough to make any land lub-
Der desire the cooling waves Of the
bay. The people were there by thou
sands, the old inhabitants Of middle
Kent county measuring the summer by
Big Thursday as they do the winter by
Christmas. The most primitive Of
them commence going there the even
ing before in covered wagons, carts,
carriages anything so they get there.
They 80 prepared for a good time and
they have it in eating, bathing ,iddling,
dancing and an abandon Of friendly
good nature, social greeting, and good
cneer. some Of them look as if they
haa come from way back" and In
simplicity Of manners GOOD boartad-
ness, honesty and An ontimistic e~-
preston IN the goodness of things in
general ana Kent county I'M particnlar
tney look as if once fixed in life. thew
were n1eq forever. VIM. M. I,ewes
quo Sos. n. Primrose were there from
2nysna. Eflmrose says he undar.
IAUMmUA .I