The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-18
YOU SLIDE DOWN, SITTING up.
FOR so FEET YOU GO on THE
SEAT OF YOUR TROUSERS
In Coney Islands Latest Chute-Women
Prefer Descent After Dark-lOO. 900
ut the Istand Yesterday. Ono Rather.

In Coney Islands Latest Chute-Women
Prefer Descent After Dark-lOO. 900
At the Island Yesterday. Ono Rather.
II carly signs count for anything Coney
Island Is going to have record-breaking
season this year. Despite the fact that
yesterday was q day when It didn't need q
sight Of the sad sea waves, let alone q dip In
them. to keep ones temperature down,
a crowd which the police estimated at over
100 900 overran the place and brought Joy
to the hearts Of every ono there who is out
to make money, from the humblest fakir
to the proprietor Of the latest million-dollar
show.
Coney Islands formal opening II
ever has any. 10 supposed to occur on Deco
ration Day. That's the time ordinarily
whom the shows begin to do more than pay
rent. But the show people and concert
hall owners have taken in 40 much money
already that they're liable to serve cham
payne in mistake for beer before the sea-
son ends.
Yesterdays crowd would have been con-
sidered . record breaker for tho middle
Of the season two years ago, and folks who
went down there yesterday thinking they
would 20 early and avoid tho rush couldn't
help wondering what the little Island will
look like on a good July 'scorcher.'
The police worked on the plan Of letting
well enough alone. They didn't insist on
fresh sandwiches for every drink, and during
the day only two excise arrests were made,
They were in a place where the fact that 1t
l was Sunday had been overlooked and
drinks were being served In the barroom
in regular week -dav stYl0,
The police, under Capt. Knipes instruo-
tons, started in to enforce the Sunday law
at midnight Saturday, which was de-
parture from the rule OF former year.,
until o'clock Sunday morning: Promptly
at midnight a policeman notified every
concert hall and barroom that 1t must close
at once, and 1t did.
The result was that 10000 persons, turned
out Of such places. got mixed up in one big
The trolley people had prepared to take
the crowd away gradually and got badly
tied up when the police began fairly push
ing the people toward them In order to
keep the streets clear.
By having to close an hour earlier Satur-
day nights the concert hall and saloon PEG.
ple say they lore $50, 900. Capt. knipe said
midnight would be the closing hour this
summer, at any rate,
The beach was the least attraction to the
big crowd that went to the island yesterday.
Only one bather was in sight in the afternoon
and it was rumored that he wasn't an anna
teur. As free show his was voted one Of
the best on the island.
There is a novelty every year. The one
that seemed to get the palm yesterday
is unusual for it's 81 simplicity. It is nothing
more or less than a trough made Of rattan,
polished and made slippery and running
down in Mgzag manner from height OF
about fifty feet.
At the top Of this trough some few thou
sands OF persons, chiefly men. sat themselves
down yesterday and enjoyed the sensation
OF sliding to the bottom. Some landed
sitting fashion, some stretched out at full
length and few completely reversed
from the way they started.
The chute which is called The Heller
Shelter" Is waxed and 40 smooth that a
careful examination Of the seat Of tho trous-
ers failed to disclose any damaging effects
and the owners Of them frequently tried
1t again. few women essayed the feat
and got down all right, but the thing doesn't
lend itself 80 we'll to feminine garments
Several women said they might try it after
dark.
People went down 30 fast in the chute
yesterday that 1t frequently got choked up
It is one Of the Stree shows" In the new
Luna Park. Although the park Is only
half finished. 30 far as shows go. 90 0O'