New-York tribune., 1909-07-06
BIG DAY FOR ISLAND
Police IN THE BOUERY.
Shore Resort Welc0mes 35O,00O-
Beaches Cr07cded.

More than three hundred and fifty thousand New
Workers celebrated the DELAYED Independence Day
at Coney Island yesterday. and confined their out
bursts of patriotism to an enjoyable day and even
ing at the famous ocean resort Ii seemed that
they had determined show that they believed
in "saner and safer Fourth than do the ma
jority Of Americans in the United States. and in
spite of the great crowd that sUrged through the
streets of the pleasure city the police had prac-
ticaIIy nothing to do. There not 4 single case
of people being injured by the explosion of fire
works At the other beach resorts the number of
people who took advantage of the day to escape
the torment of bursting cannon whizzinE pnwheels
and other noise-creatng devices of the day,
totaled more than sixty thousand. At Happyland,
on South Beach, Staten Island, three persons were
hurt in a smash-up a miniature railroad. and
this about exhausted the list of accidents reported
by the police.
The results of Commissioner Bakers visit to the
island on Sunday shown when he gave orders
that fifteen policemen be placed in the Bowery.
This is in direct opposition to the rule made by
ex-Commissoner Bingham. who decreed that no
policemen should be detailed the Bowery
the ground that it private property, and
such should be polced by private watchmen. An
other innovation ordered by the Commissioner
was the placing Of four men each in Dreamland,
Luna Park and Stecpechase Park.
THAT the celebration of the day was not confined
to native born Americans was proved by the band
of Filipino head hunters in Dreamland, who were
awake at sunrise yesterday morning, prepared to
show their devotion the mother country. Just
the first rays of the sun We're streakng forth
from the east these inhabitants of the faraway
islands Of Uncle Sam gathered about their lone
temple, and there under the leadership of Captain
Sidney Ashe, the government official in charge OF
the village observed the occasion by singing songs
and making fiery speeches. Old Chief ChomingO
head of the tribe. led his followers through the
mazeS Of the Dance of Happiness, after which a
small boy and girl sang the hymn My Country,
'Tis Of Thee" Not content with this evidence of
SIN FiIiUIngS their greet
ings to President Taft, Beverly. Mass, in tee-
gram, in which Chomingo told the President of the
celebration that had occurred at sunrise and as
sured him of their loyal support
All the beach hotels crowded and there
We're many prominent persons on hand who joined
in the general merry making. At the Manhattan
Beach Hotel Tim" Woodruff seated at
table. with party of friends, and many others of
political prominence seen. At many of the
hotels it found necessary to place tables
the lawns so heavy was the demand for room.
where the diners with the salt spray from the
ocean dashing in fine mist their tables.
Ocean Parkway and the Boulevard were crowded
with vehicles Of every description. and it was
almost impossible to cross the street betweenr the
jam o wheels There were no arrests for speed
ing. perhaps because of the fact that machine
had a chance to proceed at more hurried pace
than a brisk walk Anticipating trying day for
his boys in blue Police Commissioner Baker sent
down an extra detail of policemen. but they had
little else to do than take in the sights.
Many found the fascination of a dip in the ocean
irresistible. and the shores of the Atlantic were
lined with "a tossing. yelling. fun-oving of
humanity. Some ingenious spirits among the bath
ers conceived the idea Of celebrating the Fourth
with fireworks in the water and all day long
there were mutfied reports of giant recrackers ex
pIodmg just above the surface OF water. held
by the hands of and boys whose bodies were
submerged. As evening wore on. these same ir-
repressibe persons along the hoardwalks pur-
chasing rockets. pinWheels and colored hrepots
and then plunged into the ocean. The sight
of rockets and brilant-hued inventions of fire ris-
ing. apparently, from the depths of the sea was a
novel one for the people shore. and a large
crowd watched the antics of the bathers
The resorts Staten Island had their fun share
holiday visitors and every ferry line leading To
each resort jammed with those able to leave
the city. The ferry to St George. Staten Island
ran on fifteen minute headway all day yet and
ing room was at a premium. Down at HappvIand
South Beach, the miniature railroad carried many
hundred children. and everything went along
evenly until Of the crashed into a most
beside the track and then broke loose from the rest
Of the train The upset and two men and
ur-year-old child injured. They were
rushed q Ninccnts Hospital. in Livingston and
then went To their homes
The tide / travel hOmeWdrd did set in until
nearly midnight, and then the lower
part of the city reminded OldtimerS of 4 PreSi-
dental election crowd 4 few bedraggled stras-
glers. the sporadic popping of hreCrackers and
Uttered streets the only reminders early this
morning of the big celebration.