New-York tribune., 1909-06-01
C0NEY ISLAND PACKED
CROWD BREAKS RECORDS.
OnlY One accident Mars the F'a-
UOred HOHdGU.

Coney Island capituIated 70 the largest tnvesttrs
army of pleasure seekers in its history yesterday
Lovers of statistics who have watched New Torks
biggest playground grow from a marsh 20 a Mecca
Of hundreds Of thousands OF persons on anause-
ment bent say that the resort never saw such a
crowd as came yesterday
Not even the huge totals during the 3Iardi Csras
season could compare with the numbers who were
in Coney Island at some time during the twenty
four hours ended at midnight last night. some
who like to records broken said that there were
half million persons the vast throng. others,
who prefer 70 on the side Of conservatism.
estimated the total ar 2yl09 II would be safe TO
say that the former figures would cover the num-
Der at the Island for Sunday and Memorial Day
To-day is Collection Day The lessees Of privf-
leges should have difficulty making their
payments according oldtime custom the
amusement managers who lease ground at COney
Island sign a contract which allows them to
pay for their PRIVILEGES in three instalrents The
first is due when possession is taken. the day
after Memorial Day and the day after the Fourth
of July are the dates for the other payments It
looks like easy sailing for the concessionaires
from
The vanguard Of the great crowd began to reach
the island before many Of the cashiers had ceased
counting up the money taker in on Sunday The
main army began TO arrive about noon and from
then on they came as fast physical laws would
permit The BROOKLYN Rapid Transit had every
car II could spare running over the seaward rails
Ocean Boulevard was lined with automobiles and
away from their piers
1t was an orderly crowd. though and seldom have
the police had quiet day- There were few
arrests. and in spite Of the heat and the crowd
the Coney Island Reception Hospital had an easy
time From Sea Gate 10 Manhattan Beach the
thousands dispersed, and yet there was always a
sea OF faces 10 meet the eve The Boardwalk to
Brighton Beach was the scene Of one endless pro-
cession Of never tiring uarchers The bathing
beach was dense mass Of humanity and it
hard 70 discern where the land Ieft of and the wa
ter began South Of Seaside Park picnic parties
opened lunch baskets All in al. Coney Island
surely came into its own
Only one serious accident happened all day. and
this was not reported 10 the police 4 device called
the rolling egg swings was having a trial in
Steeplechase Park by men employed by the Rich
Amusement Company. which leased space in the
park The device consists OF a huge egg on one
end OF which is car for passengers The egg
rises and falls pivot. and when at its highest
point the car is about forty feet from the ground
The egg had just rolled gracefully on end when
something broke and the car crashed 70 the
ground There was nobody in the car at the time.
but crowd of several hundred persons were wait
ing for the completion OF the test in order 10 be
the first passengers As the device started to fall
the crowd moved back instinctiveIy. but not in
time to save half dozen persons from being
struck by the car.
According TO the managers Of the park the
owners OF the machine departed in haste Dr.
Island physicians. were summoned and the in
Jured WsTe treated b. them The police were not
informed OF the accident and every attempt was
made 70 keep the details from the public
one man. the most seriously injured IL was said
was taken TO the Brooklyn Hospital in an auto
mobile said to belong 10 George C. TfIyou pro
prletor Of Steeplechase Park. At the hospital il
was said last night that man had been brought
from Coney Island suffering from fracture OF
the night ankle, caused by a heavy we1ghr fall
ing on it. His name was given as William j. Eng
Hsh- OF No rs Waverly avenue, BROOKLYN
The echo of the threats TO swear out warrants
against alleged violators Of the Sunday laws was
not loud enough to be heard yesterday. Detect
ives WelZe. Davis, Miller and WhaIen OF the CO.
ney Island station asked Magistrate Voorhees, for
sixteen warrants yesterday morning They we're
referred by the magistrate Frederick Gross the
complaint clerk and when he reported baSk that
the same evidence had been offered the previous
week and the complaints had been dismissed by
Ma gstraJe Tighe Magistrate Voorhees, declined 10
entertain the requests He advised -he detectives
to consult the District Attorney before proceeding
further
This decision. in the opinion OF the amusement
proprierors of the Island Is keeping with the
have been ShOwered them the last sew days.
One OF the largest resorts on the Island reported
~ O'Clock last night that the Official count
showed 137. 6t5 visitors ar thar hour and they
stllI coming