The New York Herald Newspaper, July 27, 1873, Page 5

LAKE MAHOPAC. One of the Most Prosperous of the Season’s Resorts. DESCRIPTION OF A POND PARLOR, Why Should Not Pond Parlors Become Generally Fashionable? The Possible Effect Upon the Feminine Toilet. Petrie, Fairy and Black- berry Islands. Yachting, Especially the Pretty Little Yacht Trifler. How the Mahopacans Boat and Bowl and * Have Their Being. Lake Manorac, July 25, 1873. Do not tell me that all watering places are the game. I tell you they are not. Here is Lake Mahopac, stretching itself serenely and cheerfully ‘witbin sight of two or three excellent hotels, and fast as-different from other watering places in its surrounding attractions and in its whole temper ‘and spirit as can well be imagined. Lake Mahopac ta not loud, not boisterous, not demonstrative and welf-assertive like Long Branch; not exclusive like Newport; not prosy and monotonous like the Water Gap; not pretentious and hot like West Point, You might almost call it a fairy spot, were such an epithet not too gushing for a corre- Spondent’s cool and practical pen. Within fifty miles of New York city and 1,000 feet above its level, it unites as many of the charms of watering place life as can readily be conceived. confess ‘to being under the fascination’ of the pretty place. Imagine a broad, decp, sloping lawn, shadowed with silver maples and graded to the © of a spring-feq sheet of water, ao aoe aecitcbco nd gemmed with thse OF 4 islands. Imagine groups of children of all ages playing on the sward, adolescence deep in the in- $ricaciés of croquet, and tiny female children, masses Of frills, ribbons and embroidered skirts, ex- hausting the varieties of gambol. Imagine ashore fringed with rowboats, one of which every now and then is called into use, and, propelled away from its fellows, makes the cfrcuit of this small fresh- ‘water ocean. Imagine an occasional yacht career- ing in and out among the islands like a horse that Dag never known the bridle, quickemed by the spur of his own impulses. Add to these a piazza jade picturesque with varied groups; old ladies itting and gossiping, young ones reading “Middlemarch”! and “Kenelm Chillingly ;” invalids pot too sick to be graceful, reclining with not un- happy patience in easy chairs, and gentlemen with the irrepressible cigar seeking in tobacco that enjoy- ment which destiny denies them elsewhere. Mingle with these the clink of the billiard balls and bowling alley, the mild splash of fancy drinks in process of mixing, the softened clatter of the adjacent dining room, the whirl of the frequent carriage and less frequent stage, the happy sigh of the wind (as though Nature’s heart were too full for utterance) as it shakes the silver of the maple leaves, and the fult light, mellowea by the shadows and finding un- checked expression on the expanse of the lake. To be poetical no longer, Lake Mahopac is the eniy place which Ihave yet visited that deserves to be called a success in all the best senses of that term. The hotels are full; but not too erowded for comfort. The amusements are various, but the rush to enjoy them does not defeat its own purpose. The hop is of frequent occurrence, but the participants are less miscellaneous than you will find at most entertéinments of the kind. The Bappy medium appears to be struck between dull exclusiveness and loud heterogeneity. Most of the visitors are resident for the Summer, and the pumber of transient guests is small. The principal hotels are the Gregory House, of which Mr. Ram- pay still remains proprietor; the Lake House and Yhbompson’s. Of these the Gregory is, perhaps, the most pleasantly situated. Its smooth-shaven lawn slopes gently down to the very edge o1 the lake, and is abundantly shaded. A pleasure house @irectly overlooks the water, and numerous boats embroider the edge of the banks, like bugles to a Sleeve. Some picnic grounds are within easy distance, and have been much wisited during the season. All the hotels are, however, comfortably full and ali have had 9 sufiicient number of transient visit- Dra to prove that Lake Mahopac is gaining in popuj larity. All that the place seems to need is one or two more hotels and a score or so of cottages. This @ecessity will, probably, be supplied within the gourse of a few seasons. Since the completion of the railroad from Croton Falls incre: energy fas been seen in this respect. THE COTTAGES AND THE PEOPLE. The p ory ‘was formerly reached in part by stage, and, refore, offered less inducements than it bow does for those who desired to be within rapid feach of the city. The route now is entirely by ‘Several trains start daily from the depot at Forty-second street and Fourth avenue, and con- wey the traveller to Golden’s Bridge, where @ shange of cars is made. The whole trip fasts about two hours, and though the country ‘through which one passes is not apres attrac- Give, the reward at the end of the route is worth having. Tne cott: element, though not as large as it should be, and as it will be at no very distant Gate, is still on the increase. Here it is that Mr. Peter B. Sweeny built for himselt a little villa in one of the choicest nooks of the lake's environ- ments, Mr. Singer, who bas the proud satisfaction of having given fashionable interment to a large mumber 0! fellow beings, has an extremely spa- cious and handsome residence on the brow of one of the highest of the lake hills, It was to this neighborhood that poor, extrava- gant Bellini, the singer used repair Qiter the Spring season was over, and his nand his pocket needed repose. His organ got repose, his pocket never did, for Bellini, un- fortNpately, was never happy as jong as he hada penny about him. He was one of those reckless creatures who never learn anything in sutiering which they can teach in song, and who, with tue ‘ncome of a prosperous opera singer, squander money with the generosity and indiscretion of a prince—nay, with:much more generosity, for 1 do not know that your princes are particularly ad- dicted to that virtue. But oi all the cottages in ‘the place perhaps Mr. Ballard’s is the most curious and unique. Seen irom the lake it precisely re- wsembies one of those toy Swiss cottages that you can pick up and put in your pocket. In reality it {s commodious and elegant, But its peculiar fea- ture is its pond-parior, a sort of uquatic voluptuous- mess which many of the readers of the HERALD will not fail to admire. A pond-parior! What is that or ge say? I will explain. Looking at Mr. Bal- ’s cottage from the lake you perceive that ‘that portion of the building usually devoted in New York residences to the basement is occupied b; ‘water. The parlor or drawing room is immedi- ately above, and the’ curiosity is that a large, railed circular space in the middle of this room one to descend by a pair of stairs to the water beiow. A voluptuous and original ide: it not? Without leaving the house you can bathe, swim, fish and step into the boat. I don’t know ‘whether Mr. Ballard is in the habit of mingling the two things, but one can fancy a reception and a fishing party ring co atthe same time. I should hardly be surprised to learn that some of his tair ests have invented a toilet for the occasion, and t some fine morning more than one of them may be seen, dressed with faultless taste, oceupy- ing a fauteutl in the snug little Flor, rod in hand and eye intent, and giving the lic to Dr. Johnson’s declaration that a fishing-rod had a ‘worm at one end and a fool at the otuer. I rather like the idea myself—not Dr. Johnson's, but Mr, Ballard’s. It is something to have disvovered between fish and fashion a closer inquity than Shat of alliteration; and where ‘a Pwoman nets her ‘wits to work toinvent a new mode she is prett certain to evolve leapt: stunning, provid she is fen with @ new idea to work upon. Very likely pond-parlors will become the rage in time. There is nothing difficult in the practice it imvites. I see no reason why it should not become as popular as—as parricide, and as easy as an escape from Sing Sing. PLUASURE AT LAKE MAHOPAC, Children at watering places are not usually counted one of the elements of pleasure, but they seem to be tolerated here. They tumble out apon you at ail. times and pi the corridars, on the shore, in thé boats, on the grass-pjot among the Indian’ tents dor & number nd 'T, B, Kerr, ad NEW YORK HERALD. SUNDAY JULY 27, I873.—TRIPLE SHEET. Bine. o'clock aeenee, alley has House a is constaut euinidoo, ana‘ oe a biliard room. Fe! gym mi often. Is it not true that there fal in of a yor nat too strong & a smack of mi in it, Billiards are much more feminine, but even the nosiry of @ pretty female arm cannot quite kill the associations of the game. Who can think of bil- iiards without also thinking of brandy and cigars— an association which not all the ieminine beauty and sweetness in the world is able to te? You know there gre islands in the lake, and very retéy istands th too—Petri and Biaok rry. bentl rr one most —in fact, the others are a visited at all All three islands are wild and tangled in their beauty, and you mi imagine ‘ut, while threading them, yourself in the mazes ofa ‘Brazivan ving, ach &@ clatter of birds as there is, too! You would not expect to hear such quaint music within the bounds of civilization. Here the solitary eagic makes his home, here the lonely parroquet shrilly. There 13 a di morning prozer among these virds, it you want to hear {t you are obliged to get up before breakfast, Com tively litte bat ‘goes on, yet there is &@ solitary and retired a Of the shore, with shingiy and sloping beac where he boys occa- sionally dispor. vying 2p the 1 amusement, and evening at &t ttle lake alive with beats, some of them prepelied by young ladics. A yacht swoops in out at intervals filled with a pica party singing songs and having @ care- aely BY, time generally. The neatest and swiftest yacht here 1s the Trifier, owned by Mr. U. H. Crosby, who is stopping here for the season. Mr. Crosby has hig hands tull, as every one must have who is thoughtful eno! to proffer the hospitalities of his yacht to the company among which he finds him- self thrown. He isa skilful yachtsman, thoroughly conversant with the requirements and necessities of the D, and bringing to bear upon them a skill which is professional in its nicety. The boulevard that surrounds the lake is forty- five feet wide and offers a most lovely drive, Drives here are not sO much in order ag boating and yachting. A ball is given at some one of the hotels every Saturday evening, This isthe gala night, Dw the middie of the week the greater roportion of the gentlemen are in the city, leav- ing Lake Mahopac on Monday morning and return- ing on Saturday afternoon. en the band plays its hvelest and the hour of briluancy commences. Most of the residents are composed of wealthy New York merchants and their iamilies, Very little shoddy, little or nothing of the demi-monde, are to be seen. The fair adventuress, who is as beautiful 4s a butterfly and ag dangerous as a balloon ascen- sion, as plausible as an epitaph and as full of disas- ter as au American railroad, finds her field some- where else. Among the Gregorian guests are H, A. Bostwick and family, F. A. Brown and wile, BE. Elleworth and mily, Richard Butler and family, E. W. Lackemeyer, W. . Crosby, G. D, Pitzipio and wife, Charles Kerner and family, A. Harris and family, L. B. Root and, family, J.M. Dayies and family, H. pares and fami iG M. Stevens and family, J. E. ‘immons, J. J. Latting and family, G. G. Yvelin and family, E, B, Hart and family, W. 0, Ward and family, Christopher Moller and family, M. T. Bren- nan and family, JamesSmith and wite, W. Carhart and family, E. A. Smith and family, J. W. Goddard and family, E. J. Sears, LL. D.; 8. Henry Howes and family, Dr, McMillan, James Lunch and family, =" PANAMA HATS, Are youaware that very few men know what kind of hats to wear? They show just as little judgment and taste on the subject as ladies do with respect their bonnets. Bonnets, did I say! ou to show me bonnet nowa days. once endevored to angers nd the destinction between a female bonnet aid o female hat, and the only conclusion I arrived at was that one covered the head a little mo, then ik e eet The female ratte is AU I a subject re it right. But I 10 eH feopalt c) Ancing m) male readers. Hel woe Mahdpac air has cooled my spirits and c ened judgment and given me plenty of time to thik ‘the matter over. I have travelled hither and thither sufficiently to see a good many male tourists in a short space of time, and I r to say that the Panama hat 1s on the ee ‘ou almost never see one. And why not? 4 re ctable, 80 quietly elegant, so unob- Tusive and unpretentious, so lasting, 80 service able, that you might reasonably expect to see a littie more of it. But no}; you see these cheap straw hats with turned up brims instead—these vulgar chapeaux, with grand blue rribbons and dome-like crowns. Everybody wears them, from the statesman down to the Tiger and the gen- tlemaniy and self-possessed Panama is knocked completely out of sight. What can compare with the chastity of ita color and the neatness of its braid? It is as clean asa Quaker and as graceful as @ willow, a8 svothing as a nocturne by Chopin and as compact as an essay by Emerson. Its strength is too great for the present age. It is in Opposition to the nineteenth century. It looms among us occasionally like the despised voice of an old institution. Once in a while some gentleman puts one on, and it seems to invest him with an almost clerical air, There is an aroma of the pul- pit about him from that moment, unless he hap- ens to have a@ fierce mustache and dangerous ‘ooking eyes. Even at Lake Mahopac, where there seems to me more genuine, genial and cordial en- joyment and comfort than at most of the other watering places, there is a sad lack of common sense so far as the Panama hat is concerned. Or ts it myself in whom the common sense is lackivg? Is the Panama hat a deservedly effete institution, deserving to rank with the stagecoach and the bugle horn and the watchman with the lantern? I don’t know, I’m sure, and in this ignorance call on the acute reader to decide. RED BANK, N. J. A Few Words About the Pretty Shrews- bury Inlet Village of Red Bank as a Summer Resort. RED Bank, July 26, 1873, ‘The red-hot skies of Midsummer! and we feel their fervid glare even down here in Jersey by the sea. Here, at Red Bank, at the head of this Shrewsbury River, or inlet, we are some six miles from Old Ocean, though ina stormy night we can hear him roar. We are about the same distance from Long Branch on the one hand and frem the hotels of the Navesink Highlands on the other. We have direct communications with New York by the river steamboats, the Sea Bird and Helen, and bya branch line of the Southern New Jersey Railway to that line and ite steamboats from Sandy Hook. We have one of the prettiest and healthiest villages in Je , and nice accommodations for travellers. We are convenient to all the attractions of the Branch, and are not disturbed by its fuss and fum- mery, fashion and folly and noise and confusion. We have our own ds for oysters, crab! and fishing, and we are convenient to those ‘ ers of the sea” among the bluefish at Seapright and to the picnic parties at Pleasure Bay. Yea. more, we have our own picnic excurstons to the Hook or the Highlands or the Branch, and we have an occasional call from General Grant be- hind his cigar and his favorite ponies. It is almost @ continuous settlement between here and the Branch, aud the road is one of the finest drives in the country. But the most beautiful Summer drive within fifty miles of New York, or a hundred jor that matter, is the drive over the wooded Navesink Highlands; for on the crest of those lookout mountains you can see on the one side Red Bank and all the vil 8 to the Branch, and on the other side the Mook, the ocean, the bay and all the ships bound in ahd coming out of the Narrows ana up through the Narrows toGotham. And around these Highlands there are numbers of the cosiest Summer nooks and corners anywhere te be found, and chief among them is the retreat of the Neptune Club, From Thompson’s or Jenkinson’s Hotel you can get conveyances for the excursion over these hills, or from Red Bank, or cruising among them on foot, you May, with a time table in your hand, strike the steamboat at any of the landings on the river, The Sunday excursion of the Sea Bird down to “the Bank,’ with even five or six hundred passengers, has always been considered the choicest Sunday trip tor the day out of New York. Taking the hint, Jay Gould has introduced @ Sunday excursion by the Plymouth Rock to the Hook and thence by rail to “the Branch,” which is alsoa great hit, and there is room enough for more. Among allour Summer resorts Red Bank, with its sur- roundings and its convenient means of access to the city, nas advantages to the seeker for health, variety and pleasure which very many more pre- tentious places do not begin to possess. Let the unbeliever come and see, THE BROOKLYN YACHT PLEET, A Quict Day for the Yachtsmen at New- port—The Programme for Monday. Newport, R, I., July 26, 1873. ‘The Brooklyn Yacht Club fleet lay at anchor in this harbor to-day. A meeting was held last even- ing on board the flagship Madeleine, and it was then decided that the feet snould make trip to mae Point ee and on Monday sail a race to Martha's Vineyar Newport is rather dull at present and hotel keepers are rather anxious about the August rush. It is certainly rather early for the Newport season, but for many years there have not been sucha number of cottages to let. This morning it blew fresh from the southward, and at half-past ten the flagship Madeleme sig- nalled all captains to come on board, A meeting ‘was held, and as the anchorage off Rocky Point With a southerly breeze was said to be bad the Commodore decided not to leave the harbor. The sloops Addie and Commodore, however, made a trip on their own account and returned late in the evening. The fleet will sail a race to Martha’s Vineyard on Monday. Yachting Notes. ‘The following pased Whitestone yesterday :— Yacht Magic, W.Y.Y.C., Mr. Hatch, from New Yer! oruii eastwards, Yacht Faustine, N.Y, ¥.0., Mr. G. Peabody Russell, from .the east- Oe eT echt Amierions, My. Smith, from Ni York, east. 4 screams concert of’ [A TRIP TO NOVA SCOTIA. | ZAESearis anchor A Rural Retreat for the Seekers of inducement ior nei eat for the Seekers 0: mgorement for their complete protection. Pleasure and Peace of Mind. Chester and Its Sur- roundings. A PANACEA FOR DYSPEPSIA. The Story of Captain Kidd and 1 spon His Buried Treasures. THE MACKEREL AND LOBSTER FISHERIES, CuEstgr, Nova Scotia, July 16, 1873. Sixty degrees in the shade—gunstrokes. un- known; blankets—a pair of them at that—and | has aided large: these surmounted by a tolerably heavy quilt, an absolute necessity at night, Such, in brief, is a record of the Summer temperature in this pleas catching, or ravher ant, picturesque little seaport. Bilious complaints and disorders of the liver generally find no abiding place here, and the visitor from other climes ac- companied by such disagreeable companions is completely freed therefrom after a few days’ resi- dence in this part of Nova Scotia, Although at times the heat of the sun may be somewhat too fervid, yet his rays are never so flerce as toen- fand in time it ts e: that there annual supply ese Waters a8 a The fact that the rivers alluded to le will have comme, ced, when. thing in th need, when eve! ia the | shape of a boat will be dtted up and mustered into the service. Coopers will do a thriving business; the cry will be ‘Hoop! Hoop! Hurra!’ salt will be in great demand and the whole town of West- chester will be ina ferment and a pickle. Mack- eral No. 1 and mackeral No. 2and mackeral No, 8 will swarm toward the coast by the million, and the effective j r will do its deadly and effective work among the scaly visitors. The jigger is an ordinary fishing hook, the shank of which is weighted with lead, and as this is agitatea in the water it is seized by the mackerel, which is at once shaken off into the boat, to be 1ollowed b; hundreds, until the fisherman is utterly exhausted or the supply fails for the time being. A failure in the season is most Senne jelt by the people here. now of the immediate coast fishery; but vessels—stanch, séaworthy* craft, capa- ble of standing many a rough gale—fitted out tor the Gulf aud Labrador fisheries, which come home heavily laden with their fnny KarECe. ong these 18 the Bella , which has brought home many @ valuable frei eat for her enterprising owner, one of the most successful of those Ches- ter:ans who go down to the great deep in ships. In addition to the mackerel and herring fisheries, which are pursued with varying profit and success from year to year, there is THE LOBSTER BUSINESS, which is steadily growing in importance, and which 12 promoting the material inter- ests of Chester. It is now about twelve years since the Portland Packing Company commeniced opera- tions here and gave an impulse to the work of “rapping, ;this delicious crus- tacea, has now several factories located at various points, within @ coast range of 300 miles, some of which are also employed in the pack! of makerel, ‘It is astonishing the extent to which this business has attained, ie United States, Canada and Europe offer ready markets for the saio of lobsters pier in this form, and ag @ result thousands of people are em- ployed all along this coast the capture an are, as has been stated, curing of the fish. ar trapped, the contrivanve devised tor this purpose danger life or put a stop to outdoor work, while in | being a semi-cylindrical structure made of rough the shade the air is almost always cool, bracing and invigorating. I have been tola of people who came here from the West Indies in the last stages of malarious fever, con- tracted there, and ina few weeks after their ar- rival they have been almost completely restored to health. This, in fact, is one of the marked features of this delightful Sammer climate and has been Jaths nailed togettier, having a network covering at each end. I[n the centre of this network are two holes, sufticiently large to admit the lobster, and once caged it 1s impossible for him to escape, as the net is bent inward. In the centre of the trap is an upright stake on which the bait is ampere the whole concern Le as may be supposed, a sort of “walk into my (ny or”? arrangement. ‘The bait consists mostly of a sea perch and sculpia, the lat- ter being better known perhaps a8 ‘THE SBA TOAD, specially noted in nearly every work on Nova | a most unprepossessing customer, with head near! Scotia. But, while it is deserving of special praise in this respect, it is the very last place I would recommend as a Summer resort to patients affected with any kind of pulmonary complaints, It is almost invariably fatal to consumptives. Tne strong, healthy air of the sea and of the mou tains makes wud wos with the we while its effect, ‘on dyspeptics is fo set t ood in quicker motion and arouse the digestive organs from their torpor Into an active energy that tells materially on the hotel larders. My advice to all ‘Who would liberate themselves irom the hands of the apothecary, from pills, potions and the inter- minable ligt of naugeating remedies is to “Gur HERE BY THE QUICKEST ROUTE, and if their disease is curable a few days will restore them to their former health and strength. But Chester is not only a most desirable resort for bilious patients; it is a place at which any tourist might spend a few weeks with pleasure and advantage. It is one of the oldest towns of British settlement in this province, the next, I believe, in point of longevity to Halifax, and has many features of historical as well as of purely local inter- est to recommend it to visitors in pursuit of health and recreation, It was settled in 1769 by emigrants from New Englané@, and its inhabitants are a com- pound of Germans, French, Irish and English, as appears from the directory of the province. The process of amalgamation, however, has not effaced the national characteristics of the orginal emi- grants, which are still retained to some extent by their descendants. In some instances the accent is still preserved, and the German, Irish and French features are unmistakably visible after the lapse of several generations. About nine milés from Chester is Oak Island, no- torious as the supposed burial place of the treas- ures of the renowned Captain Kidd. During the last seventy or eighty years interested speculators and gullible dupes have, at intervals of ten or twelve years, renewed the old story of the buried wealth, estimated at millions of dollars in solid bars of gold, and aronsed the over-credulous to a fever heat of excitement. Upon the fiimsiest thread of circumstantial evidence—an old rope, ship’s block, a few old, decayed planks—stock jobbing operations that would throw some of those in Wall street far in the shade, have been too suc- cessfully carried on, to the heavy loss, in many instances, of confiding fortune-hunters and a cor- responding gain of the knowing ones of the Oak Island Ring. On the invitation of a friend I visited THE SITE OF THE BURIED TREASURE, buried so deep that the unlucky investors in the silly speculation will never reach their portion of it—and had ample opportunity of inspecting the work, The island itself is worth a visit, and is one of the most attractive and beautiful of the 355 islands with which Malone Bay is gemmed. A row of a mile and a half from the mainland brings you to its low, sandy and grass bordered beach. After ten minutes’ easy walk, partly through fine meadow land, beyond which is a splendid grove of tall oak, beach and birch trees, you arrive at the far-famed Oak Island Folly, where, it is estimated, over one hundred thousand dollars have been ex- pended in sinking four huge shaits to the depth of at least a hundred feet each. During the progress of this work thousands of people were attracted to the piace by interest or curiosity, some to have their expectations worked up to lever heat and others to wonder at the credulity of the Kidd treasure stockholders. As the excavation pro- ceeded various reports were put in circulation; un- mistakable evidence had been discovered of THE PRESENCE OF THE PIRATE CHIEF and his bold buccaneers. There were the cocoa- nut shells whicn they had brought trom the West Indies or South America; there was the fdentical ship’s block and shrea of a rope in the notch of a tree which overlooked the deep pit in which the untold treasure lay concealed; there, too, as if to confirm beyond ail possibility of doubt the won- drous tale, was a circlet of grass of a wholly dif- ferent character irom the common herbage by which it was surrounded. There could be no ques- tion that this was the precise place to dig, and dig es did till an amount of money that would have added, if properiy expended, Jargely to the agri- cultural wealth of the county ‘of Chester, as well asto the development of its mineral resources, was sunk beyond recovery in those four unsightly black holes, in which the tide now rises and falls, Of course the speculation was finally played out; the story of the discovery of foreign coin, and strange Inscriptions on stone was told too often; material aid ceased to come, the L id steam pump became silent, the operatives took their departure and the Oak Island Folly took its piace with the South Sea Bubble and kindred delusions. Now all that re- mains are a few grass covered mounds, a number of old decayed beams and pianks and the ruins of an inn that once did a thriving business, It 1s seven or eight years since the work was avan- doned, but there are some who still hold on to their shares, in the hope that sometning may yet turn up that may enable them to cover up at Icast @ portion of their losses. Two or three miles from Oak Island is GOLD RIVER, once celebrated for its salmon and sea trout, but now ina fair way to be ruined by the shameless indifference of the officials appointed for its care and protection. Netting and ipping and spearing by Indian Jobn and not a tew white violators of the law must eventually destroy the fishing in this really beautitul riyer. Ten or fifteen years o it was noted jor the number and e of its fish, but to-day they are w and far between. The ‘jumpers,’ as the grile or young salmon after returning from their first visit to sea are called by the natives o1 the place, afford fine sport; but, as I have said, they are too scarce to repay the trouble and time neces- sary for their capture, Still 1 am iniormed there is tolerably good fishing early im the year, say in April and May. East River, which is six miies, or about the same distance in another direction from Chester, is much better watctied, the warden, Mr. Frail, keeping a sharp lookout for torches, netsand spears, Although rather late in the season some fine grilse have been taken with a fly in @ue of ite mag- nificent salmon pools, nearly a dozen of which are to be found at @ distance of from half a mile to three miles from its mouth. Middle River bas also enjoyed the reputation of having been @ great re- sort for salmon grilse and sea trout; but I fear its glory has departed, owing to the depredations of young outlaws and the indifference 0 the proper authorities. The Commissioner of as large as the whole body and a mouth big enoug! for a lsh fifty times its size, He is, in fact, amon- ster on a small scale, and in his color as well as in the peculiar shape of his head, as likewise in his mottled skin, bears a pretty close reer iapyanice to ae Aad! the Git 3 frog must be near relations, for they are.‘ ‘aa two peas,” with the exception that the iatiok Rone Sh bvakentacios, or feelets, Ae out of his head, legiarely. over the mouth, and on the end of these is @ small, soit, flesh-like appendage, with which, as witn a bait, he lures, while he lies concealed beneath pieces or tuits of seawead, his unsuspecting prey into his capacious maw. This seulpin or seatoad, if he does not fish for himself, is used to fish for others, and this he does with reat success, If the old adage, ‘Handsome is as handsome does,” has any force in it, he is @ beauty. The lobster traps thus baited are sunk to the bottom, by means ofstones, and taken up between tides, when their unwilling inmates are transferred to the rowboats, pea Ory to being wee in the ish cars, where they are kept alive lk sept to the factory in the larger sail cr vesse! ia from ten to vere ele I ey are piled up, someti in huge heaps that would draw torrents of teats fro THE EYES OF TAK TENDER-HEARTED BERGH, and when the vessels arrive at the factory they are mercilessly pitched upon the pier in another indis- crimipate heap. Here they twist and wriggle and fap their propellers and interlock with their huge nippers, the whole heap presenting @ most ani- mated and lively mass of crustacea. From the pier they are at once taken to the huge kettles, where, having been sufficiently boiled, they are ‘ge in hermetically seaied cans, and, r still further boiling in these, the cans are labelled, boxed and sent off to their several destinations, The season begins about the 10th of May and closes about the middle of October, during which the Portiand Packing Gompany, in one factory alone, boil and can nearly seyen hundred thousand lobsters, In the capture of tnis number a fleet of 150 boats, each manned by two hands, is required, and these range along a shore of thirty or thirty-five miles, In pursuit of the fish these men sometimes frequent the most rugged and wildest part of the coast, where she restiess waves, even in the calmest days, surge and boil among the huge rocks, dash- ing the foam to the height of filteen or twenty leet. WOR TO THE HAPLESS VESSEL that misses its trackless way across the ocean and im treacherous fog or the darkness of the night rung upon this iron-bound coast. The fate of the Atlantic and of many a noble ship has told tales of disaster that have sent a thrill of horror through the civilized world. The crash and roar of these breakers can be heard at a distance of two or three miles, giving, one would think, sufficient warniug of the danger Here, amid these rocks, are the favorite haunts of the seal and the sea gull, the former atfording fine sport for the skilful marks- man. On this lovely Summer evening, the whole sea and sky suffused with the golden and purple glories of the declining sun and the bleak rocks rising pate and biack above the giit- termg foam of the broken waves, we have a scene Of grandeur and beauty rarely surpassed. Here we have a splendid view of the coast for a distance of twenty mies, with its beautiful little bays and coves, the shores of which are in many Ese thickly wooded down to the water’s edge. rom this we can see not afew of the islands of Mahone Bay, and which are so numerous as to furnish one lor every day in the year. Where did they find names for them all? And why did they nof, to save trouble, begin in the work of designa- tion with January 1 and end with December 31? How economical! But itis not too late, and the people of Chester are hereby given full right and title to the Bint, to be by them used, employed, &c., for the beneft of themselves and their descend- ants for evermore, WATERING PLACE NOTES, The guests hopped at the Columbia Hotel, Sara- toga, Friday night. Those at the Grand Union ditto, Ex-Governor Aikem and wife, of South Carolina, are at Saratoga. General Rufus H. King, of Albany, is at Congress Hall. . Great improvements are being made at Mon- mouth Beach. A lack of mail facilities is complained of at Long Branch. Males are numerous, however. Sherman is to sup with Tom Murphy at the Branch, General John I, Barlow, of Kentucky, is at the Ocean Hotel, Long Branch. In a cistern on the Highlands of Navesink, it is said, William F. Howe recently caught a seventeen pound sheepshead. Howe’s that? Last Saturday week the arrivais were :—Sara- toga, 442, Long Branch, 425; Atlantic City, 432 and Cape May, 616. Cape May roosters crow in consequence, A soft-headed fellow wrote his name witha dia- mond on @ Saratoga window. A miss wrote un- der:— WoT bee a looney’s name n upon & Iknow he ow ‘a dinthond And his father owns an ass. The Fifth Maryland regiment are quartered at Cape May. The Saratoga Sentinel sa law is rigidly obeyea. General Sheridan, of Louisiana, is sampling Sara- toga water, A Louisiana colored delegation are coming North with the proceeds of Kellogg's State warrants to becloud the seaside resorts. The mosquitoes must look to their laurels, Pedestrianism is popular with Lake Mahopac ladies, A proposition has been made to form # company to stock Lake Mahopac with fish. Delmonico talks of building a hotel at Lake Mahopac. General Le Fever, of Michigan, now at Saratoga, is reported betrothed to a Miss Snow, It is the first instance noted where snow is recommended for the fever. Morton McMichael, of the Philadelphia North American, is comfortably domiciliated ina neat cottage at Cape Island. Secretary Robeson will leave Washington this week for Rye Beach, N. H., to spend a few weeks with bis family there. During his absence Commo- dore Reynolds, Ohief of the bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, will act as Secretary of the Navy. that the Sunday Liquor CENTRAL PARK METEOROLOGICAL DEPART- MEN eg hp | My to Le Ln a his matter and ascertain erson: vestl- | Abstract of Report for the Week Ending tion the cause of the Tne of salmon Gehing in these. really ‘noble streams. at One P. M., July 26, 1873. have travelled several miles along their Barometer.—Mean, 29.912 inches; maximum at banks and bear cheerinl testimony to the | nine A, M., J 30.246 inches; minimum at six beauty of tne scenery and the great attractions | P. M., July 26, inches; range, 0.368 inch. which they present as breeding piaces for that Thermometer.—Mean, 78.3 d proudest and gamest of all game fsh—the saimo | at four P, M., July salar. It may be remarked here that the decay of | five A. M,, ‘20, 62 degrees In these rivers in- Remarks.—No rain this week. Dista: jalmon and sea trout fishin; jurlonsly affects thevcoast fisheried,.a8 experience | by the wind dnring the week, 1,066 miles. A CHAPTER OF FIRE. The Losses by the Baltimore Conflagration on Friday. $800,000 TO $1,000,000. Dreadful Alarm and Subsequent Illness of a Clergyman. Portland, Me., Visited by the Fire Fiend. INCENDIARISM AT NORFOLK, VA. Property Burned in New York, Illinois and Massachusetts. Bautmore, Md., July 26, 1873. Mr. Weber, President of the German Fire Insur- ance Company, of this city, reports the following risks and losses of his company :— Estate of Henry Deiter, on two ¢wellings on Saratoga street, two on Clay street and two small buildings; ingured for $9,700; estimated loss, },000, St. Anthony’s Orphan Asylum, in charge of the Sistera of Notre Dame, Nos, 100 and 102 Saratoga street; insured for $8,000, Henry Litz, on Saratoga street, $7,600, A. Ostendorf, Saratoga street, $3,700. Thomas Lautner, Saratoga Cpl Read John Weiss, Saratoga street, $3,000. ide Landwehr, - Clay street, $1,350, rgman, Clay street, $1,300, Patrick Roagers, $1300.07 © Edward Graefe, No.9 Clay street, $1,200, Also & number of small insurances, ranging from $200 Lo $1,000, making the total loss’ to the company a little less than $50,000. THE BALTIMORE COMPANY REPORTS euooo $15,000 and losses between $10,000 and The Firemen’s, of Baltimore, reports risks of $30,000, including $13,800 on Thomas’ planing mill, $5,000 on Stewart's stables and $2,500 on Hogg’s carpenter shop. The Equitavle, of Baltimore, reports their risks about thirty thousand dollars. The Howard, their losses between $10,000 and $12,000. Of the foreign companies the agents report as follows — Royal, one risk, $3,000, London and Liverpool and Globe, the Queen’s and Lancashire, no risks in the burned district. The Imperial had several policies on the north side of Saratoga street, but report no lose. < The Home Insurance Company, of Baltimore, re- port risks of $7,000, including $3,000 on Thomas & Sons’ mill, and $2,000 on T. C. Burton's build- ings, §1x_fhousand dollars will eover the com- pahy’s 8. Along the risks in the Equitable Company are the Central Presbyterian church, $6,000 $0 000 oP the St. Alphonsus school, $3,600 on the dwelling 106 Saratoga street, unoccupied; $7,000 on three houses on the northwest corner of Park and Olay streets, $4,000 on 47 Mulberry street and $3,000 on the dwelling on the north side of Clay street, owned by Joseph Garan and by Lizzie Miller. ‘There was also an insurance of $3,000 on the fur- niture in this establishment A the American Fire Insurance ele of Baltimore, The Maryland Fire Insurance Company report their only risk $1,000 on Stewart's stables, The Associated’ Firemen’s, of Baltimore, state their losses will not exceed $5,000, The Hanover, of New York, report their risks at $1,500 on Lexington street and $600 on 41 Muiberry street, Its entire loss cannot exceed $2,000, THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, The insurance on the First English Lutheran church, on Lexington street, formerly known as Dr. McUrow’s church, was wholly in Baltimore offices, a8 follows:—In the Howard, $4,000 on the church building, $600 on the organ, $150 on 1urni- ture and $2,500 on the parsonage; in the saltimore Fire Insurance Company, $4,000 on the church, $150 on the church furniture, $600 on the organ and $1,000 on the lecture room; in the Firemen’s, of Baltimore, $800 on the study attached to the parsonage. ‘The total insurance was $13,800, The estimated loss of the congregation, dacloding. church, parsonage, furniture, &c., is $20,000. relbshe library attached to the parsonage was saved, THE PASTOR OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OVERCOME. Rev. Dr. Barkley, present pastor of the church, was in Philadelphia when the fire occurred, havin: an engagement to preach at Easton to-morrow. Learning of the fire he took the evening train for Baltimore, arriving in the city at ten o’clock P. M. At Wilmington, Delaware, and at other points on the road he heard most exaggerated aecounts of the fire and that it was attended by a great loss of life. As soon as hereached the city he made his-way to the church and parsonage, where his family resided. On reaching his home he found the church in ruins and the parsopagt burned. The street was blocked with excited people, and he could gain no informa- tion whether bis family had been lost or, if saved, whither they had gone. Overcome by excitement and apprehension with regard to their loss the reverend gentleman fell insensible on the street and was borne thence to an adjacent drug store. Shortly afterwards some of his friends, learning his condition, went to his assistance and took him to Mr. Miller’s, where his tamily had been carried in safety. Dr. Barkley remained insensible during the night, but this morning, though completely prostrated, is much better. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, under Marshal Grey and Deputy Marshal Frey, with 300 men, rendered most effective servi during the fire in removing furniture and main- taining order. The coolness of Marshal Grey, harrassed on all sides by the volunteer advisers, was extraordinary. During the height of the ex- various localities to stop the progress of the flames, but the Marshal, satisfied that such ex- treme measures were unnecessary, confined his labors to be ate 3 the farther progress of the fire. Aid was tendered from Philaaelpnia and Harris- burg, Pa., and Alexandria, nd other points, which was promptly acknow’ d by the authori- ties here, with the request that it be held in readi- ness in case it should be needed. AN AID TRAIN FROM WASHINGTON, with three fat cars, having on board two steamers and two hose reels, and one passenger car with firemen, lett the Washington depot of the Baltimore and Ohio Ratlroad and arrived at Cam- den depot, in this city, shortly after one o’clock, making the run in forty minutés, averaging, a mile a minute. These two companies from Washington, with ten fire and three hook and ladder companies of this city, were all that were e and did their work nobly in staying the conflagration. The insurance in the burned district is estimated at $200,000, and the entire loss is not estimated to exceed $1,000,000 by any one, and some insurance men still say the loss will not exceed $400,000. Acommittee appointed by the City Council is in session relieving all cases of distress, and afford- ing means to carry them over to Monday. JOURNALISTIC ESTIMATES OF THE LOSS, The Sun this morning estimates the loss by the fire yesterday at $500,000, and states that good judges estimate the damage as low as between $300,000 and $400,000, The Gazette estimates the loss at from $500,000 to $800,000, and the American says the loss will closely approximate $1,000,000. Losses of New York Insurance Com- panties. The New York Fire Insurance companies suffer very little from the Baltimore fire. The part of the city that was burned was coutroiled almost en- tirely by Baltimore companies. From conversa- tions held yesterday with some of the principal in- surance men in this clty it would appear that the New York companies do not lose in the aggregate more than about $25,000 or $30,000, The losing companies, however, are reticent in regard to their losses, small as they are; but in insurance circles no serious attention is paid to the losses from the fire, it being generally conceded that they are too trifling to cause any alarm. Destructive Fire in Portland, Mc. PORTLAND, Me., July 26, 1873, At a little after two o’clock this morning a fire broke out in the paint shop of the Portland Company’s works, which destroyed the paint shop, 200 feet long, the car shop and several smaller bg buildings. The main buildings were in minent danger, but were saved. Toere is an insurance on the whole works of $137,000, of which but little over one percent applies to the property burned. The insurance on buildings, machinery, &c., 18 a8 followe:— Hanover, of New York...... +. $5,000 Commercial Union, of London. bet Phoouix, of New York . B00 American, of Philadelpi 5000 Springfield 500 London... $000 Manhattar, of New-York... ‘ :. 5,000 Insurance Company of NorthAmertea,Phiiadelphia 5,000 Pawnix, of Hartiord National, Hartford es 3,000 101000 Firemai Cal x First Nagonal, Wore Br Royal, Liverpool. 20,000, Westcheste: herd pennery 19,000 Frankl: 10,000 ‘Traders’ 5,000 Brewers), Milw: 2,500 Amazon, th. 2,500 Nearly nine-tenths is on main buildings, citement he was urgéd to blow up buildings in || eae es gk 7 wniew were saved. ‘There was 9 consideravig tof partly finished work in the buildings, ea peel aI ig on the Grand vicinity, were endangered, but werd rel saved. The heat was very intense — the fire, which at first looked very threat ening. The directors of the Portland Company stat that their loss on stock is about forty thor a making @ total of $60,000, A large amount of hard pine lamber in the yard was burned. 4 new locomotive was damaged to the extent $600, Two other engines belonging to the Inter. cotatae Railroad were burned ; a@lotof dump tracks, In the moved and Fire No. 2 at Portland. PORTLAND, Me., July 26, 1873, At one o’clock there was a slight fire in the chambers of Syivan, Shurtleff & Co., shoe manu- facturers, in the Thompson block, Miacle street, which was extinguished with trifling damage. Alleged Incendiarism in Norfolk, Va. NorrFoue, July 26, 1873, About one o’clock this morning an incendiary fire broke out from a building on the west aide of Market square, occipied by Hofhetmer & Co., boot and shoe dealers. Owing to the bursting of a water main the day before and the limited re- sources of the Fire Department, the fire gradually gained headway and finally extended on the northern side as far as Archer & Co.'s drug store, on Main street, destroying and damag’ F 9 he buildings ying ing six or ‘al loss 1s estimated at $150, wi partly covered by insurance, nie Pel Mgt lotheimer & Co. and J. T. Grittin, tg and shoes; W. R. Hutchins and Taylor, Martin & Co, hardware; Epes & Co., crockery, ‘and Archer & Co., Singers The latter damaged by water. Pire rocket signals which were sent up brought over three engines from Portsmouth and one trom the Navy Yara, which rendered great assistance in preventing the further spread of the fire, Fire in Hyde Park, Mass. Boston, July 26, 1873, A fire in Hyde Park last night burned the awell- ing and store for, the sale of sewing machines of J. W. Dowes. The loss is $2,000; insured. Forty Thousand Dollars’ Worth of Prop= erty Burned at Clyde, N. ¥. ROCHESTER, July 26, 1873. The Clyde Glass Works were partially destroyed by fre on Thursday night last, involving a loss of over forty thousand dollars, Only a small portion of the oss is covered by insurance. A fire engine and considerable hose were abandoned to the flames and lost. A Waukegan Pump Factory Burned. WAUERGAN, ITl., July 26, 1873, J. F. Powell’s pump factory in this city was burned at ten o'clock last night. The loss is $20,000, There was no insurance on the property. A HYBRID SMIMMING MATCH. Naiads Sporting in the East River for Gold BraceletscmA Masculine Match to Blackwell's Island. The most interesting swimming matches of the Season came off at half-past four o’clock last even- ing at the foot of Fifty-fourth street and East River. Thousands of spectators thronged the rocks, the natatorium, the capacious balcony and the eages of the water at both sides ofthe river. At half- past four o’ciock seven stalwart and much re- puted swimmers were stripped and arrayed in tights ready to baMle waves and currents, | The following are the names of the contesting parties:—Mr. William F, Wolff, of the firm No, 50 Broadway; Mr. David Habn, Mr. Charles H. Keller, who won the last $40 medal on the 4th of July; George Oppenheimer, J. F. Dunn, Edward J. Gubelman, one of the best of last year’s swim- mers, and Thomas L’Estrange, a remarkable diver of the Seventh ward, Mr. Daniel Hurley acted as umpire. The distance was about one mile and a quarter across, The waves were higher than usual and made exceedingly rough by the passing of the evens ferrycoats to Harlem and elsewhere. Mr. vol TURNED THE STAKE BOAT FIRST, leaving his companions a long distance behind. Keller came up strong, and turned the stake boat about two minutes alter Wolf. Distance, 234 miles. Time, 22 minates. After the conclusion of the men’s race THE BOYS’ MATCH ‘was inaugurated. The following young men engaged in the adven- ture.:—Otto Wollf, Philip Ganes, George Win- ters and Maurtce Allen. Young Ajlen turned the stakeboat at Blackwell’s Island first. George Win- ters closed in after him and swum side by side back again to the winning point. The other two were taken up on the accompanying boat, in which the umpire presided. Winter came in only about twenty feet ahead, and young Maurice Al- len, who is not apparently more tnan thirteen we old, came in aiter him. The two young fel- lows were cheered, Distance, 1% miles, Time, 19 minutes. ‘The last match was between FIVE YOUNG LADIES, for a pair of gold bracelets and a pair of coral gold earrings for the second heat. They were all neatly attired in bathing suits, They gave their names as Miss Mary Jane Walters, Miss Katie Allen, Miss Ellen Alien, Miss M. Cunningham and Migs Frederica Sands. At the start the waves were rough and tossed by passing ferryboats, The stakeboat was in the centre of the river, which was first turned by Miss Katie Allen, who has never been beaten in a swim- ming match yet. She was followed by Miss Ellen Allen, Miss Sands and Miss Walters, and the three young ladies came in in that order after each other, followed by the other two. Miss Katie Alien de- clined to accept the bracelets and presented them to Miss Ellen Allen. Miss Sands was presented with the pair of coral earrings, which were valued at $10. Distance, half a mile. Time, 15 minutes, NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. As the time of the officers and men on the Ticon- deroga, South Atlantic station, will soon expire, the vessel is ordered to return home in December next. The Ussipee, now at New York, will be ordered to be prepared for sea, and will join the fleet at Brazil to supply the place of the Ticon- deroga. Pay Director Bradford of the Navy will be absent ‘on leave for some weeks, and the Secretary this morning appointed Pay Director J. H. Watmough, Chief of Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, du: the absence of Mr. Bradford. Naval Orders. Commander R. L. Phythian has been detached! from the Nipsic snd placed on waiting orders. Lieutenant Commander A. G. Caldwell, Lieu- tenant Charles H. Judd, Masters M. Thackaray,’ A. P. Usborne, Assistant Surgeon James M. Scott, First Assistant Engineer A. G. Greene and Second’. Assistant Engineer N. H. Lamdin have been de~_ tached from the Nipsic and placed on wait-. ing orders. Lieutenant Samuel Belden has* been detached from the Nipsic and _ or- dered to the Powhatan. Lieutenant Asa Walker has been detached from the Powhatan and ordered to the Naval Academy. Passed As- sistant Paymaster J. Q. Barton has been detached from the Nipsic and ordered to settie his accounts.. Assistant Surgeon B, P. Bielby has been detached from special duty at Washington and placed on waiting orders. First Lieutenant Thomas Mason, of the Revenue Marine Service, now on leave at his home in New Jersey, has been ordered to the cutter Jona A. Dix, at New Orleans. ATTEMPTS TO CREATE ANOTHER STATE. Mempnis, July 26, 1873. ‘The movement to create a new State out of West Tennessee, North Mississsppi and Soutnern Ken~ tucky meets with but little favor here. A small meeting was held here last evening, and delegates were appointed to a convention to be held at Jack- son, but the people generally regard it as the work of politicians and orfice-seekers, DECAPITATED BY A LOCOMOTIVE. Sr. Louris, Mo., July 26, 1873. Aman, name unknown, was run over by a raik road train, on the levee, between one and two o'clock t! morning, and instautly killen The: head was severed {rom the body. CALIFORNIA POLITICS. Anti-Subsidy and Anti-Chinese, “Mum” on the Senatorial Matter. SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 1873, The Republican County Convention to-day adopted an anti-subsidy, anti-Chinése platform, Resolutions were passed in favor of @ general tem of water front and extension facilities bringing ships and cars together; requiring all legisiative candidates to pledge themselves in writing to sustain the platform, and to remain un pledged on the Senatorial question, FIFTH MARYLAND REGIMENT AT CAPE MAY. Care May, N. J., July 26, 1873. Governor Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, arrived here to-day in the noon train, and will review the Fifth pf regiment this evening, during but. ther