Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-22
LETTER FROM ATLANTIC oI4 L.

LETTER fhOM ALLAN LIZ VI = L >
Correspondent of the Alexandria Gazette.l
Atlantic City, Aug. 2O.--Another
summer vacation finds your correspon-
dent enjoying himself with his usual
companion at this famous resort, which
seems to grow in interest every year.
The ocean has been in its most attractive
moods and the Boardwalk is the promi-
made of thousands during the month OF
August which represents the beight OF
the season for summer-the height OF
the spring season occurring at Easter and
the weeks following.
The bathing has been delightful, with
fine sea temperature, and on the whole
a moderate surf. Old ocean issues his
call every morning, which it is impossi-
BILE to resist, and the extended beach
teens with myriads attired in the be-
coming C0 surf. costume of Atlantic City,
all enjoying themselves to the utmost.
The bathing casualties have been happi-
ly few so far this season. In addition
to the noble corps of the beach patrol
guard with their life boats, there has
been established on the beach between
Young's and the Steeple-Chase piers a
hospital tent with a doctor, attendants
and all the appliances for the restoration
of such as are apparently drowned, after
they have been rescued from the waves by
the watchful life guards. The tent is
fenced off so as to prevent the curious
crowd from pressing upon the rescued
aud the attendants who may be on
hand to use the means for restoring
the unfortunate bather to consciousness.
The crowd of excursionists has been
very great for the past two Saturdays
and Sundays. An equal, if not greater,
one is expected for the coming Saturday
and Sunday. After that we are told the
great host will begin to decrease. Some
say the number registered at the hotels is
as large as ever this summer. We are
rather inclined to doubt this, as the bus
mess men on the Boardwalk complain OF
the lack of trade, and there are adver-
tisements Of so-called reductions in al
most every store. In most cases the re-
ductions in price will probably be safely
borne by the vendor as the original fig
ures were correspOndingly high. There
are, however, the usual wonderful at
fractions for the buyer which make the
Boardwalk the frequent haunt of men,
bers of the gentler sex, who are ever
eager to obtain a bargain. The sterner
sex is also often overcome by the same
fateful genirs, for it cannot be denied
that the shops of Atlantic City are re-
markable for the articles of vertu and
curios, on exhibition and for sale, contain
ed in them.
There seems to be a dearth of the
smaller vendors, Syrians and Others,
found in such numbers in previous sea-
sons between the Steel and Heinzs
piers. 1t is said that they have made a
pilgrimage to the st. Louis exposition
this summer. There has been a similar
exodus of the individuals and troupes
whose business it is to furnish what are
known as popular amusements par ex-
cellence. There are enough left behind
on the Boardwalk and the several piers,
but there is certainly not the same end
less variety of performances this season.
The overflow of these, too, is said to be
at St. Louis. The celebrated 'loop the
loop is gone from Young's pier, but to
make up for this loss there is an Inger-
sol coaster, or "fgure g." as it is COM
monty called, at the corner of Kentucky
avenue and the Boardwalk. The most
wonderful show this year is the electric
panoramic view of Johnstown and its
great flood. This is remarkably well
represented and is indeed worth seeing.
At first Johnstown is shown as it was be-
fore the devastating flood swept il away.
The mountains rise in wonderful color
ing around it; trains rush in and out the
city; the Cambria Iron Works are in full
blast below the railroad bridge and
everything reveals life and prosperity
over the city. The sun sets behind the
mountains. The glow of parting day is
remarkably effective and at last night
falls, but every house and store is lighted
up, ard the fires of the Cambria Iron
Works, shoot heavenward from the blast
furnaces. The stars appear, feecy
clouds move across the sky, and at last
the pale light of the moon adds Its
effect to the mystic beauty of the night.
Then morning dawns ushering, as the
manager told us in solemn tones, The
last day OF JOhnstOwn before the flood.
The day passes on to noon and evening
advances. Suddenly the darkness of a
storm comes over the doomed city, the
lighnings flash, and the fearful sound OF
rushing waters is heard. The city is
submerged and overthrown, flames rise
from the Roman Catholic Church and
the Cambria Iron works aud the gloom
of night falls over the whole scene of de-
struction and what we know to have been
the death of thousands, but nothing grue-
some appears in the changing panO-
rama. Then we have the city as it ha:
been restored and the presentation o.
the wonderful electrical colored pre-
sentation Of city destroyed and rebuilt
is over. If many of the usual scenic
exhibitions found on the boardwalk are
absent this one atones for the departure
of a large majority. A number of visi
tors hesitate to go to the Johnstowr
Flood for fear of seeing something
narrowing, but most fortunately the de
signer of the scenery left all such to th'
imagination.
The Royal Italian Band under thu
management of Signor Vessalla and tn.
Philharmonic Orchestra under Prof