To Coney Island - or not - 1852

TO CONEY ISLAND.--Montgomery Queen, Esq., Alderman of the 9th ward, and proprietor of the Fulton avenue and Bedford stage route, has extended an invitation to the Press of this city, to accept a ride in one of his new stages to Coney Island, this afternoon. An afternoon ride to the classic shores of Coney Island during the present weather, must be attended with very agreeable results. We shall have something to say about the jaunt to-morrow.

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Wednesday, June 23, 1852

An Excursion.

Yesterday afternoon, a number of the Brooklyn Aldermen, ex-Aldermen and city officers, with some other-gentlement, proceeded to Jamaica in a new stage, got up for pic-nic purposes by its enterprising proprietor, Montgomvery Queen, Esq., in accordance with an invitation extended by that gentleman. The invitation specified Coney Island as the place of destination ; but owing to some delay in starting, the party changed the route to Jamaica….

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday, June 24, 1852

Well, how boring! The stage was drawn by 16 horses and held at least 30 people (!).

Interestingly, another newspaper reported the group DID go to Coney Island. I think the Eagle was the correct source, particularly since the journey didn't start until 2 o'clock, which sounds like a delay to me! But this goes to show that not everything reported in the newspapers actually happened.

PLEASURE JAUNT.--A number of the members of the Common Council and others connected with the adminstration of city affairs, paid a visit to Coney Island yesterday, in compliance with an invitation from Alderman Queen. The party, consisting of several stage leads, started from the City Hall about 2 o'clock, and proceeding on their jaunt, enjoyed a very pleasant time. They returned to the city early in the evening, well pleased with the afternoon's proceedings.

--New-York Daily Tribune, Thursday, June 24, 1852

Clams v. Oysters! - 1852

Apparently people in 1852 were not above wanton reports of silliness.

POSTSCRIPT--Tremendous excitement--Later from Coney Island and WIlliamsburgh.--By arrival of the clam boat Mud-Gutter, from Coney Island, we have our usual files of exchanges from the Island. A tremendous insurrection had been discovered among the clams; the insurgents having resolved to rise in arms against the oysters while the oysters had fraternised with a colony of lobsters to put down the clams. Several of the insurgents had been arrested and executed, and "war to the knife," declared against the oysters…

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Tuesday, June 8, 1852

Body NOT identified at Coney Island - 1852

The New York Times mentioned another mystery male body found at Coney Island Point in their June 2 issue. Not only was his identity unknown, but so was his cause of death.

--The New York Times, June 2, 1852

The Brooklyn Eagle was a bit less timely, but had more details.

ANOTHER INQUEST AT CONEY ISLAND.--Coroner B. Donly was called on Thursday afternoon to hold an inquest on the body of an unknown man, that was found floating near Coney Island Point, by a colored man named Isberal Peterson. The body was very much mutilated, having been in the water it is supposed about five or six months. He was dressed in black pantaloons, checked shirt and coarse boots. The jury returned a verdict of "death from causes unknown," The body was taken to Flatbush for burial. Further information can be had by applying to Bernardus Donly, the coroner, at his store, in the village of Gravesend.

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Friday, June 4, 1852

The New York Daily Tribune reported basically the same thing on June 5, 1852.

Body Identified at Coney Island Point - 1852

How sad. (The two stories directly below this were also about drowned people!)

IDENTIFIED.--The body found in the water at Coney Island Point, about a week since, and upon which an inquest was held, has been identified as that of John Flood by his wife. Deceased was formerly a workman in the lead pipe manufactory of Mr. Cornell, Water-st., New=York.

--New-York Daily Tribune, Monday, May 3, 1852

Storm at Coney - 1852

CITY ITEMS.
---
THE STORM of Wind and Rain which began on Saturday night last is still raging (9 P.M., Wednesday) with scarcely noticeable abatement. There have been a few brief intervals of calm, but for at least seven-eighths of the time rain has fallen incessantly. We are not quite discouraged, however, for we have a vivid recollection of similar weather last spring, when the sun was invisible for an entire week. But the damage done by the present storm, in this vicinity, has not been remarkable. The Sound steamers have been somewhat retarded. Many of the fishermen on Coney Island have lost their boat, nets and tackle, and the boats brought to the dock at that place to be used in raising a sunken schooner driven out to sea, with chains, screws, and other articles on board….

--New-York Daily Tribune, Thursday, April 22, 1852

The New York Times reports the Coney Island road was damaged by the storms.

--The New York Times, April 27, 1852

And speaking of plank roads - 1852

NEW PLANK ROAD.--The Long Islanders are getting their eyes open in reference to the value of plank roads. Not long since the one from Brooklyn to Coney Island was completed, and we now hear of another company formed for the construction of a plank road from 4th avenue, at the new entrance of the Greenwood Cemetery, in a direct line to Bath. This will greatly shorten the route to that beautiful watering place, and incalculably increase the value of the land through which it runs. This road will probably in a few months be extended from Bath to Coney Island and will become the favorite route of those frequenting these watering places.

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Wednesday, March 17, 1852

A New York Times editorial (?) from June 19, 1852 explains the wonders of plank roads in allowing people to travel without their carriage wheels sinking into the mud, etc. Amazing that less than 100 years later paved roads would traverse the whole country.


The New York Times also reported that "Monday" (April 5, 1852) the tide rose level with the road on the Coney Island Plank Road near 3rd avenue and 9th street.

--The New York Times, April 8, 1852

Property Sale on the way to Coney Island - 1852

Included for two reasons. First, these listings are probably almost half of what comes up if you look up "Coney Island" at the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Second, there's reference to how popular the Plank Road has become....though in fairness, I'm not certain that's an accurate assessment, given they're surely trying to get the best price for the property being auctioned...

JAMES COLE, AUCTIONEER.--EXECUTOR'S SALE OF VALUABLE REAL ESTATE, in the cities of New York and Brooklyn, and Lewis County N. Y., late of John Tredwell, deceased.

The following property will be sold at public auction on THURSDAY, 25th day of March, 1852, at 12 o'clock, noon, by James Cole, Auctioneer, at the Merchant's Exchange, in the city of New York, under the direction of the executors….

25th. That large edifice now being erected on the Plank road leading from Brooklyn to Coney Island, with the land adjoining the same, comprising about two acres and 3 77-100 perches, bounded easterly in front 255 feet by the Plank road, northerly 410 feet by Johnson avenue, westerly 240 feet by a street to be laid out by the United Freeman's Land Association, and southerly 324 feet by a street to be opened, which separates the premises from land of the Hon. John A. Lott.

The property is part of the farm formerly of David Johnson, Esq., dec'd, and opposite the residence of Alonzo G. Hammond, Esq., dec'd, and opposite the residence of Alonzo G. Hammond, Esq.; it is about half way between the Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn, and Coney Island, and the plank road is fast becoming the most extensively used route for pleasure drives in that part of the Island. The buildings included for a hotel and boarding house are nearly completed, but will be sold in their unfinished state. The above Association contemplate an early improvement at their tract.

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday, March 11, 1852

St. Patrick's Society - 1852

As always, this is a historical quote; either this is a crazy parody, or a reflection of pretty strong anti-Catholic bias...

ST. PATRICK'S SOCIETY.--This society, celebrates the Anniversary of their patron Saint, on the 18th instead of the 17th, on which the anniversary occurs. The reason is not that there is to be a Sunday in the middle of next week, but because there happens to be a fast day in its midst. Wednesday on which the celebration ought to take place is a fast day, and so the St. Patrick's Society have shoved over the celebration till the next day. We must confess we don't much like this move. St. Patrick himself was a "rale (?) old Irish gintleman (sic)," who lived a life of self-chastisement, and mortification in subduing the ferocious instincts of the flesh, and bringing it under the dominion of the spirit. He did not pamper his appetites, but chased all the reptiles, toads, bed bugs and other varmint out of the green Isle, by the downright dint of prayer an (sic) fasting : he fasted himself to the bare bones, and prayed the lives out of them entirely. We can therefore see no propriety whatever in declining to celebrate his memory, because it cannot be done with roast beef and venison--things that, ten to one, the good saint never tasted in his life.

The society can have plenty of stewed eels and fried oysters, and any number of Coney Island clams; and if that don't satisfy them they are no better than ordinary christians (sic), and not fit to celebrate the memory of Saint Patrick. Suppose the festival had occurred in the week preceding Easter, when no flesh is to be eaten during the week: would the society have staved off the celebration for an entire week ?…--PADDY.

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Monday, March 8, 1852

Schooners sunk - 1852

Capt. Morrell of steam-tug Hercules reports a fore and aft schooner sunk in Coney Island channel.

--New-York Daily Tribune, March 1, 1852

And more bad news!

SCHR. AURORA, Babcock, of New-Jersey, loaded with coal, went ashore at Coney Island on Friday night, at 2 o'clock and sunk. The captain and crew, five in number, lashed their trunks and themselves in the rigging, and remained there until Saturday 3 o'clock P.M., when Capt. Alfred Monroe, of schr. Eliza discovered them, and went with his crew to the Government boat-house, where they procured the lifeboat, and brought them safe to shore.

--New-York Daily Tribune, Wednesday, March 3, 1852