New-York tribune., 1909-05-17
CROWDS INVADE ISLAND
RESORTS CLOSED TIGHT.
4ttem pted Suicide and Police ActiU-
ity Entertain 100000.

Conev Island received the banner crowd Of the
year yesterday. The experts figuring that il amount
ed 70 more Jhau two hundred thousand persons
There was also varied programme Of happenings
that served 10 keep alive up TO late hour
last night.
To Start the ball rolling there was dramatic
attempt al suicide by drowning. in plain view oI
thousands. by a young girl who had Quarrelied
with her aance Next IN point of interest was the
closing tight OF the lid II was welded ana
solaered down 50 firmly that there is doubt IN
Conev IslanI as TO whether it Will ever be p-ied of
again.
The police ban extended over the Raines Ia"
hotels and places which had been doing business
for Years on Sundays. Men who were thirsty found
II q hard iob TO obtain drink Many amusement
resorts OF the Bowery were also stopped, as We'll
Is The free circuses at Luna Park and Dreamland.
Those places which had regular licenses TO run on
SUNDAYS were not interfered with.
co1jia4 reigned supreme in Coney Island At O'Clock
this morning owing II the activity Of the ponce
1Irder Schnitherger. and the large crowd wnlch sun
fingered Al the resort found time hanging heavily
on SIS hands. All shows running under common
show license and even the MOTEL bars were rem
dered inactive by reason OF the vigilance Of the
police Every proprietor Of any kind OF an allluSe
r1ent or refreshrnent place had 10 see his pros
pective customers turned away while their pockets
were vet Well filed With coin Of the realm. Their
Indignation was loud and continuous and they
freely inti-lared that fully S5oea was taken back
70 BROOKLYN and Manhattan homes which ordinarllS
would have gone 10 swell the amount il tIViI
oere-s
The crowds were togged out in full summer re
ealis The beach had much the appearance Of a
rnflners and dressmakers' convention in fan
swing Among the promenading thousands VINO
psssed I'D and down the boardwalk was Miss Nay
Smith. rwenty-one years old, Of No 81 Decatur
street BROOKLYN The young woman Is type
writer yesterday she was observed by many
people to pace nervously up and down the beach
close 10 the cold waters Of the Atlantic.
While the people on the walk were watching z
few hardy spirits surf bathing. they were star1leo
10 s@e Miss Smith remove her hat and SHOES, II
was thought that she was going 10 paddle about al
th, edge Of tl.e water The girl walked with STEADY
steps 10 the brink. hesitated moment as she
tested the waters temperature ther p41s@a alle'
her skirts acting buoy.
When she had reached point where the water
was up 10 her shoulders somebody on shore Yeiled
that she was gong TO Try TO drown herself ana
that started small. panic in the crowd The nrst
II 20 10 the rescue was Captain Riley one Of the
local Iifesavers he did wait 10 remove any OF
his clothing but lea ped into the surf and soon eP-
proached the determined girl As he yelled TO her
10 attract her attention giant wave boWled her
over and she sank When she arose she had been
swept fully fifty feet down the beach by the toe
and Riley once mora started for her
Another roller came along and rolled Miss Smith
far up on the beach. and This appeared u take
away her desire u end her life, for she called
weakly for assistance By this time Riley and
three or four batlers had reached her side
and carried her 10 the boardwalk. where she was
treated by Dr. Wellb1ry. Of the Coney Island He-
ception Hospital When the quantities Of sticky
sand and seaweed had been removed from about
her person she told some one that she had q mis-
understanding with her sweetheart and felt mat
she didn't want 10 live any longer When she had
been restored 70 due consciousness she decided that
she wanted live. after all. and with that under
standing she was allowed to 80 home
Promptly midnight on Saturday night every
resort or place Of amusement on the Island was
ordered closed by Schmttberger. and the inspector
vas there himself that the law was enforced
Flanked by Inspectors Russell and OBrien ano
Captain Palmer. Of the Coney Island station, Big
Max" went through the ocean resort ike a tornado
and when he finally left there, everything was pat
tened down tight and the proprietors had gone INTO
,bei- suhoeIlsrs TO escape the ravages Of the
schrnitrberger ryThoon- No favoritisrn vas shown
The entire city looked like a town thai had beeI
visited nv q Tesr5lence L decided 10 hold a
mass meeting Of indignant citizens in the admins
rrzrFon Building a DTeamland at II O'Clock inns
morning when a committee VIII be appointed 70 su
before the Mayor ard ask relief from Jhe PIeSel'
cordrioOs