The morning call., 1890-07-07

Special Correspondence OF THE MORNING CALL.
NEWPORT (R. u June %, 199O.-There are
very many lovely spots along the sea In Europe
where people idle and battle. Our own coast
has countless wltching places for summer en-
joymeuL But alter one has experienced all their
delights, l think there is an e1cusable longing
III tie heart TO get back here 10 noble old New.
port.
In a former time the commerce OF this splendid
harbor was but second In America. No spot
facing tile aggression of the Old World 1t so his
torcally sacred to eoastwise thrilling scene and
incident. Percy and Clinton, Howe and DIES
taug, Wallace and Burgoyne, all brought dis
nay or gladness here. History, legend aud ro-
nance OF stin earlier days glow With piracy.
puze and pryateeTsmen, around Which breezy
aud stirring renaissance in American Iale-telilng
might be happy built. In Breutons Cove there
haf-hOUrs pleasant idling, when the cat
yawl skipper VIII spin you many olden yarn;
and at Fort Adams, where an Interesting stroll
may be commenced, the real seawatd outlook OF
The splendid old city is first enjoyed
From this point sunny days sauDtering Is
delightful. as are the clamberings from cliff to
shore past ancient Castle Hill aud lis dimly dis
IuguiShed revolutionary ramparIS, around 10
The southernmOst portion OF the island Graves
Point From here along the entire southern
reach OF lie island, and thence by The eastern
shore for miles, there are point and pfomOntory,
ledge aud reef and cove and bay mnumerable at
your feet Win noble villas, grounds and avenues
behind you, aud countless craft, far and near,
upon The sound, with their white sails cleaning
against matchless horizon of blending sea ana
Soy. Soft and peaceful as may be the sea, this
whole shOre-llne IS forever sOundiul Win lis
Ludrse songs and refTalns, all the more entranc-
lug for the OF beauty and rest SO near their
Ihy tAmiC alarms; and when one stands by the
fariamed SCOUTING Rock, tile muttered thunders
OF the surf within The caves iDnermost cayerns
aIe potent with all the magic aud terror OF the
iustd deep beyond.
An along lie eastern shore are grandeur.
beauty, rest. Taking into account what
wealth and art have done for the historic hilled
CITY behind, you cannot elsewhere come upon
such wealth OF scene In shore and bay, island
ana reel, headland and lighthouse spectral ana
Gin; and when The beach Is gained, recall all
reaches OF wave whipped ocean your eyes have
rested upon, and there VIII be none that ever
pictured 10 you the ineXpresslble II almost IN
seen magic Of Viewpoints surf.
From Ocher Point across 10 COrmOTant Rock or
SaCuusel Point, a bit 10 its north, Is perhaps TWO
miles. Across this distance at most times can
be seen only shimmerng nipples dancing In the
sunlight. mile and nail 10 lie north lies the
beach, q perfect seml-crcle opening 10 the south.
Let the sea at the mouth OF THIS sunny cove
have but face of ripples, a mile Fl ON he beach
The eye can trace the forming OF gentle undula-
lions, far separate al nrst, out moving forward
with increasing height, volume aud uearness,
aud, as they advance, as gradually but regularly
shaping ftom parallel to convex lines. Soon
these have become tremendous waves. Sud
denly al the crest OF The FOL emoSt one, as II an
electric spark had liz the whole coastwise ad-
Yauciug disc, spumy and almost detached crest
seems 10 hover above. In quick succession this
catches the delicate rim upon scores and scores
which follow. Seen obliQuely from the shore II
Is all as massed column after column OF SOL
cockades OF white above. But from the
beach, or with The bathsrs IN the cleaning
SANDS, Il is as though thousands Of milk-wnite
charger with foam-hecked heads reared before
you tor a final onslaught. In calm or storm II Is
ever TIE same. a s though The spirit OF the ocean
Itself had cOntriyed with all genial artifice for
tie winning OF man 10 pleasant dalliance within
It's loving embrace, this beach and this grandest
OF all surfs seem 10 WOO the earliest comlngs and
TIE latest taryings. Aud little wonder II Is that
the Newport season" Is sIlll at It's height when
all other cOastwise places are drear and aOnr,
aud that II does not close until long after tie
leaves have tuned 10 crimson and gold the
shores OF Management Bay.
AS strong motive and purpose as can move
auy man to highest physical effort took me
through the great March " blizzard" storm of
1883, from Harlem to the Aston House, In New
York. l think | am one OF less than half dOZ-
Gu who performed the feat, but us reminiscent
tai Interest now chiefly lies IN a single incident
oil The seven hours struggle. Leaving the Vicln-
iIy Of One Hundredtb street at 2 O'CLOCK iC the
afternoon, fought my way 10 my destination by
8 O'clock at nights speed OF one mile per
hour. Tie hope and despair, The effort and
vduqushments, OF the struggle are UNI
necessary To recount but shall never
forget one meeting on the way Pound
ed torn and all but overcome by the storm, l
had been dashed against the building at the
southwest corner OF Union square and Broad
with freezing fingers a violent gust OF the storm
tore NE away and sent me crashing against tue
tall, well-Wrapped 1gure Of man who was be
ing hurled toward Union square along the west
side Of Broadway. We both went down from the
collision, stunned and gssplng; but with mutual
apologies assisted each other 10 our feet, when l
found had hold OF no less parsonage than
Roscoe COnkling. This was about o'clock In
the evening. l urged him 10 take shelter In a
popular restaurant near at hand, but he refused
in thai strong, quiet way OF his admitting Of no
further plea, He then said he would cross the
square and be at his club directly told him
he should not do this; That no human being
could withstand the furies that had full
sweep and action there, and that he
must make The western circuit OF the square,
thus getting slight protection from the build
iugs, or lie would never see his friends again.
implofed him 10 heed me; but lie made light OF
the danger; and Strengthening up IN that tall
grand way ne had, SAID lightly;
on, VIII get through there nicely. 1t does
one good TO be tested and tiled by storm occa-
s.Onally. have seen other great storms In my
time" He added, " Goodnight sir!" as our
haud-grssp Ioosened, and the words leaped in
voluntarily from my lips:
" l saw you in one when il came something
Ike this-in l05O-at The Chicago Exposition
building. There were .3O6' OF you in IA political
'UuiOn Square then" He turned instantly, took
my hand again, gave II quick firm pressure.
and While / ianced his face was L trifie paler for
tie memory responded: Yes, sir, there was
something Of the blizzard about that occasion.
But think kept my feet and head then Cool
night, agdnW
Grand, great, ever-heroic Conkling! He did
keep his feet aud his head then. To those who
saw hun. IS DID. enemies or friends his indom-
liable presence can only recall great, lone,
white wall of rock, surrounded, engulfed, over
whelmed, but never overthrow, and as tremu-
lousless as lie very earth's core before and be-
meath a tidal-waYe OF the sea. He kept Ills feet
and head somehow that awful night in Onion
Square. But that last battle killed Rosco Conk-
ling.
No place excepting Tarrytown's dreamful
Sleepy Hollow was made more Famous by me as
ISOLATION, or writings OF washington lIVlDg
than "Cockloft Hall" one OF his first mellow
tnted paintings IN The celebrated "Salmagundi"
papers II has been allowed to pass compiled ely
from sight and almost entirely from memory. Ii
stood upon the banks OF the then beautiful
Fassac, within the limits Of the present resident
portion OF Newark, New Jersey. l ike to go TO
tie place and identity II now ana then even
though the glorious old " Hall" itself has dis
appeared forever, faneying hear Irving, Pauld-
Ing aud their Jolly crew still engaged 10 their in
nOceHt reYels. "COckloft Han" was simply a
queer summer-house oYerhanglng the Passaic
ou Tie old and noted "Gouyerneur place" 1t
WIS the property OF the Kembes as late as
1924. 1t was then successfully owned by the
Duyeas, the Wakemans, and finally by the
Writings whose heirs now live 10 The veritable
mansion, disguised from recognition by expen-
sive remOdellng, 10 which The ancient summer
house was attached The structure was an odd
coHceil OF an eccentric owner. 1t was octagonal
In shape, eighteen feet In diameter containing
but one apartment With door facing the.
PasSaic on the east, aud with single windows
opening 10 each OF The three other cardinal
points; for, says Godfrey Crayon, il WAS one
OF CocklOfPs idlosyncrasles 'tO have all his
no man for prospect" II was in This quaint
place, not 300 feet from the corner of New
arA's present Mt. Pleasant street and Gouyer-
neUr avenue that the mirtb, Wit and satire
which stirred the American literary world In the
first quarter Of our century through ''Salma-
gundi" were born, first enjoyed and finally con
triYed for public feasting.
A few weeks since, while en route by steamer
from Marseilles TO Alglers, tile ships second
officer, several Algerian officials aud myself
were enjoying the balmy night at a late hour on
rnta Individual
and noble sacrifice having come under our per
sonal observation. when the second officer gave
us this Incident:
ION the 14th OF October, 1882 witnessed an
act OF supreme beroism and sacrifice at sea.
was passenger on board The steamship Cyprian
oi the LeYland, Liverpool and Mediterranean
line, Which was wrecked that daIe OIL NeVn
Rock, of Caruaryon Bay, Wales. She struck In
great gale. sometime during the first watch,
between 3 and II o'clock at night. and break
ing up fast, went TO pieces long before daylight.
As We were passing Holyhead, an hour or so
before the accident. st0waway. pale, trem-
bling, half taIved boy OF perhaps 10, had been
hluled from the coal-bunkers and set TO some