The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-10-17
DBvouR1Ne coNEY ISLAND.
Iron Pier Smashed by the Sea and
the Big Concert Hall at Brighton
Beach Destroyed

The tide at Coney Island n. Y, on Mon
day was higher than has ever before been ex-
perieneed in the history of the place. The
| big concert hall at Brighton Beach, which
was erected at a cost of S35, 600, was con-
pleteIy demolished. The iron pier at West
| Brighton was cut in two, and some thirty feet
| of the massive structure tossed about.
The damage all along the beach, from Nor
toms Point to the Oriental Hotel, was very
heavy, and bathing pavillions, large board
walks, photograph and shooting galleries were
carried out to sea.
The station of the Marine road near the
Brighton Beach Hotel was seen going sea
ward at O. clock in the afternoon. The wind
was blowing hurricane before daylight in
the morning, and the inhabitants of the island
and Sheepshead Bay looked with feelings of
apprehension to the high tide that was due at
noon. Nor were their fears unfounded, for
the water came higher and higher. Every
thing movable along the beach was drawn
back to what was considered place OF safety,
but it was useless work, for the water ran in
to far greater distance than the greatest
alarmist anticipated.
By noon the walks along the beach at West
Brighton we're torn up by the surf and went
pounding into the many open pavillions.
One after another these crushed down like SO
many houses of cards, and the timbers were
tossed about like toothpicks. The waves
were as high as a three-story house, and when
they broke everything in their way went be-
fore them.
IRON PIER SMASHED.
The old iron pier, which was supposed to
be storm proof showed signs of weakening
about noon. Wave after wave struck it from
underneath at point about thousand feet
from shore, just where the new extension to
the structure was built. Finally one wave,
greater and larger than the former ones, rolled
in and broke under the point where the others
had been pounding. There was crashing,
tearing noise that could be heard above the
roar Of the waters, and the next instant some
thirty feet of the structure rose in the air and
then plunged into the water.
At the same time that the iron pier gave
way the big concert hall at Brighton Beach
was having battle royal with the surf. The
tide worked its way under and each wave
washed its quota of the earth surrounding the
plling away The bulkhead outside resisted
the waters for Il while, but it was like child
with shovel endeavoring to dam running
river The first half dozen waves knocked 1t
out of sight. and then began to play havoc
with the big building. Just before the tide
had reached the climax of its height the
breaking of timber on the ocean side was
heard.
The structure trembled as each wave struck
it. and finally the side went crashing down.
1t was then plainly to be seen that no power
could save the building from total destruction.
The heavy tinbers on the shore side held the
remainder of the building for some time.
The water was then rushing under it, and
each wave weakened the building. Twenty
minutes later the side looking toward West
Brighton went down and about o clock the
shore side and part of the front suceumbed,
leaving but small portion of the front stand
ing.
The Ocean Hotel on Sea Breeze avenue
was threatened early in the afternoon. 1t
was then completely surrounded by water,
and to reach it one would have to wade IN
water foot deep. The tide ate its way up
and under it until the structure looked like
miniature island in the midst Of lake. The
occupants were taken out when the tide
reached within foot or two of the doOrways,
and what valnables could be removed were
also taken to a place of safety. Fears were
entertained that the hotel would not withstand
the high tide during the night.
DEvoURED THE LAND.
Between Manhattan md the Oriental Hotel,
where few DAYS ago were well laid out walks,
was a raging sea Monday afternoon. The
water had eaten a pathway clear through to
Sheepshead Bay, and caused that little sheet
OF water TO overflow. The shelter houses near
the foot of the Boulevard, as well as the So
cum electric road, proved an easy prey to the
element By o clock two OF them had been
demolished and an hour later the third one
crashed down.
The tracks of the electric road are COM
pletely obliterated. The only thing left to
tell that road once ran along there are
some bent and twisted rails, TO which the ties
are yet attached. The poles on which the
current wire were suspended toppled over
during the afternoon.
Much of the parkway and cycle path was
flooded from the ocean 10 Sea Breeze avenue
and the ocean concourse from the shelter
houses to Surf avenue was under water: which,
on receding left the stretch of land covered
with debris.