The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-31
AVeIOcity OfSeyenty Miles
An Hour.
Description of the Sensations
on the First Trip.
The Beginning Of Great Pastime
at Rocky Point.

QONu the WOOubu siOt Oi n NH, WIN tbt
sunlit dancing waters spIsshing and rip
pling as it dies until 1t empties itself in
the deep, quiet lake at the base, is the
chute at Rocky Point, completed after
five weeks OF incessant toll and the ex-
pendture of s2n, 600 by the Paul Boynton
shooting-the-Chute Company OF Provi-
dence.
Picturesque in the extreme, this new
feature in the am usement world is the
center OF attraction at the shore resort.
At one end, 75 feet above the ground,
and perched upon wooden trestle that
seems to grow smaller and smaller as the
eye wanders upward, is the station; at
the other placid sheet of water similar
In shape to mammoth horse shoe, 2U0
feet long and 130 feet wide. Intervening
between these extremes is the chute
proper, an incline plane of 26l feet,
over which water rushes at the rate OF
300 gallons per minute, the water being
pumped up from the river through
pipes by means of duplex Worthing-
ton engine, and conveyed thither again
by means of waste pipes.
Thus in outline the ,reader can obtain
q slight conception Of the chute, and,
that is to say, can grasp the idea that
the structure bears marked emblance
TO q right angle triangle, the ground
forming the base and right angle with
the trestle, while the inclines make the
hypothenuse. But for a more detailed
understanding let the reader imagine
himself just stepping into the car at the
bottom OF the incline and ready for the
start.
AT 7ignal from the attendant the
engineer at the station above reverses
the lever of his Legard double engine,
the endless cable grips the car, similar in
design to those found on small noun
tain railways, and thus the FIRST
step in the journey is taken. Slowly
you ascend and about midway pass
the other car on its downwar
trip When the top is reached, you ct ep
out on a small platform about -four or five
yards square and from the great elevation
take your first glimpse sf the surround
ing country. 1t is a magnificent slight.
For miles and miles on either side OF the
bay dotted with ali sorts and manner OF
craft, can be seen cities and towns and
hamlets, some plain and distinct, others
softened into a darkish mass by the dis
tance. Newport. Warren, Darlington,
Bristol and even Fall River can be
recognized, while to the rear stretch
inland broad expanses OF verdant fields
and forest, s,ared here and there by
winding roads and railroad tracks. You
tire Of this, however, and after one
casual glance at the platform from
which flags OF all nationalities are wav-
ing to and fro In the gentle breeze you
faL ha hra 10 NJ m ha huf
station end. IL, while standing on terra
firma it appears tolera bly, sizeabIe, 1t now
seems to stretch into infnitum, dropping
vt an impossible angle. TO your right
lie the double car tracks, while directly
right pair of rails on which the boats
are hauled up on an endless chain, swung
on TO a turn table and showed of on the
other rails ready for the shoot.
At last the beginning OF the end is at
hand, and while wondering IL this
''teaching the new idea how to shoot"
will be success, you realize that the
boatman dressed In the natty white OF
the regular navy has hauled the four
seated, square bowed and stern boat upon
the "tilt," and Is waiting for you and
the attendant TO step into the craft.
Somehow or other you find yourself in
the forward seat, you have placed your
hat firmly on your head, and nave un-
consciously frightened your grip upon
the hand rail and guard as the boat man
jumps In and shouts: "All right" The
''tilt" Is tilted, the boat moves slowly.
and It dawns upon you,that your initial
experience In shooting the chute il at
hand. Gradually the speed increases,
the multi-colored bits OF bunting flowing
form everywhere and anywhere along the
incline and the electric light poles go
flashing by, the rails upon which the
boat Is gliding seem TO drop away before
your very eyes, as does the water flowing
over them, the lake at the bottom is
moving toward you with surprising
speed, and all the time there Is an in
distinct ain In your ears as you rush
through the air. The velocity attained
by the boat is something terrific, 1852
feet In six seconds, with a maximum rate
of 20 miles per hour is the speed at which
you travel. They are the longest six
seconds you have ever experienced, but
st last the boat strikes the lake and
plunges and rears, sending great sheets
OF sprsy into the air, slightly be-
sprinkling you. Then you glide into
smooth water, and give a sigh OF relief
as you realize that the journey Is Ger,
that the rubicon has been passed, so to
speak, and you have experienced the
most exquisite indescribable feeling that
only fnos relief in q repetition OF "chute
shooting"
You know by this time that It is Just as
fafe as Il can be and that it's the
finest all around sensation you have ever
known. But at this stage be careful or
you Will develop into a chute enthusiast
and may even become as bad ss poor
Charley Collins, who rides down q times
a day, despite the fact that he is osten.
sibly employed TO sell tickets.
Ten boats are in constant use, and "a
men employed in the handling of the
chute. The expenses are about $500 a
week.
Though yesterday was really the open.
ing day, that is to the public, still tho
formal opening took place at ii.2O
o'clock q. m. Tuesday, when three or
four boat loads OF gentlemen and ladies
H~A