The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-09-29
FUN SHOOTING THE CHUTE
PIUL BOTTOMS GREAT FLOATING
CHUTE IN THE HARBOR.

Great Fun for Young and oid-Seventy-
Five Mile an Hour Speed Rate Famous
Captain Boyton in Charge-Old "Eim
City's" New Role.
Sevnty-five miles an hour is a pretty
rapid rate of speed even for this fast
age when steam. electricity and bicy-
clists are constantly racing against
time. That Is the rate of speed, how
ever, which is being attained constantly
at the floating chute which is now an
chored alongside Heaton's wharf, on
Water street.
Said floating chute" is really the old
Elm City of the Old line, now so trans
formed that her acquaintance would
have to look at her several times before
they recognized the once popular steam
er, still possessed of popularity, but of
a different sort than of yore.
The floating chute was towed up here
from Bridgeport yesterday afternoon by
two tugs. This was nearly a day later
than advertised, owing to the wind
blowing on the sound, which made put
ting to sea with the boat as at present
rugged unwise.
The delay caused much anxiety to
large crowds of youngsters and many
older ones who visited the Continentaps
dock during the day In hopes of see
ing this latest addition to the city's
aquatic attractions.
About o'clock the boat in her holiday
attire of flags and bunting was towed
up and made fast to the dock, where
she will probably remain for week or
two
The chutes were at once rugged and by
6 O'Clock everything WAS in readiness
to accommodate the many who wished
to try this most novel and exhilarating
form of coasting.
A word about the captain or the
flotaing chute. The old Elm City is
commanded by no less parsonage than
Paul Boyton, whose marvellous exploits
in the water are known the world over.
A book Of over $50 pages, written by
himself, contains the story of his life
and makes mighty interesting reading.
Perhaps the most noteworthy of his
many adventures is that OF his padding
over $4,000 miles in a rubber dress. Cap
tain Boyton, now between forty aid
fifty years Of age, looks as strong and
hearty as an OK and Is jolly good man
n meet AT present he has general
oversight of several of these chutes,
owned and run by the Paul Boyton
company.
The chute itself Is $50 feet in length,
extending from the waters edge to
platform sixty-five feet high erected in
the middle of the boat.
Those desiring to make the passage
down the chute purchase tickets on
deck and ascend the stairs to the top
of the platform Here they enter a boat
which is discharged down the chute by
depressing the platform on which 1t
rests. The speed is at first gradual, but
the boat gains momentum every foot and
by the time 1t strikes the water at the
end of the $50 foot chute it Ia going at
the rate of seventy-fve miles TN hour
Striking the water as it does at a very
low angle, the boat. skins ard glides
over the surface without splashng or
disturbing the serenity of the passengers
in the least A trusty steersnail in the
stern guides the boat wherever he
chooses The boat is padded back to
the floating chute, where the passengers
are landed on the deck The boat is
raised again to the platform up a chute
parallel to the first by means Of an end
less chain worked by an S0-horse power
engine, which also furnishes power for
the electric dynamos In this way boats
can be sent down the chute at the rate
of four minute. Each boat carries
eight besides the steersman
The chute has fifteen boats In all.
These boats have double keels and are
steered when in the water with a rudder,
the same as any water boat The chute
is manned by a crew of forty.
The chute will be open from 10 to H.
Most of the business is done in the eve
ming, when the boat Is brightly illumin-
ated with incandescent lights.
The sport is perfectly safe, as well as
very enjoyable and there has never been
passenger injured Of all the millions
that have been carried.
Ladies dressed in their silks can shoot
the chute without fear of injury to per-
son or dress goods.
The pier will be thoroughly lighted
during the period the chute is kept here.
The Elm City spent week in Bridge
port before coming here. From here she
will probably go to Norwich or Fall
River
The Elm City has been in the shooting
chute business little over year now
Boston, Coney Island and Chicago have
permanent ehutes and in all of these
places they have proved very popular.
A large crowd witnessed the first boat
boat shoot the chute yesterday after
noon. The boat contained Captain Boy
ton. the steersman and representative
of this paper. Captain Boyton stated
before starting that the boat would not
make the fastest time. as the tracks had
not been oiled. 9
Tho Journal and Courier man, with
vivid recollections OF coasting down hill
on a double ripper at a mile minute
clip in bygone days, assured the captain
that there would be no kick coming
from him even If the time record was
not broken. The trip was made in per-
feet safety. ....