January 14, 1861, The New York Herald
Notwithstanding the sharp frost and bitter cold which greeted the sun as it made its appearance yesterday morning, the Park was visited during the day by at least seventy five thousand people, the greater part of whom were present between the hours of eleven and three o. At half past two o’clock there were not less than forty thousand people on the pond amusing themselves, some with walking, others sliding, many riding on chairs, but the greater portion skating.
ON THE ROAD.
But the pond, although a great source of attraction, was not the only one. By actual count it was ascertained that up to three o’clock over two thousand five hundred sleighs and cutters entered the Park, and the drives were literally alive with them. Every kind of decent vehicle on runners was present, and the working man’s single horse cutter, in which he drove his family around the Park, was to be seen mingling with the dashing four-in-hand equipages filled with gayly dressed and buffalo robe wrapped ladies from Fifth avenue. Bells jingled on every side–silver bells, bell metal bells, brazen bells, and bells of every other kind of sounding metal. Everywhere this music could be heard, often accompanied with merry laughter. ‘What laughter on the Sunday? ‘we fancy we hear some sanctimonious Sabbatarian say. Yes; actual laughter, heartfelt, and produced by the action of pure air on the lungs. No long faces, but the merry rosy cheeks of health greeted the observereye. No boisterous laughter of drunken mirth, but the delicious music of pleasure, brought forth from a heart, for the time being, devoid of care, either monetary or political. The Park seems to be an antidote as it were for the poison of anxiety and the canker worm of care, for no sooner does the smoked-up down town citizen find himself there than he begins to assume a form of countenance as different from the one he usually wears as day is from night. Let all who can go to the Park, and take their sweethearts and wives, their children (if they have them), or their little brothers and sisters, and, depend upon it, they will feel much better in the evening than if they stayed home moping over the fire.
ON THE POND there was a gay scene. The ladies pond was visited by nearly two thousand females, many of whom skated, but the greater part merely walked about on the ice, acting the part of moving spectators. The principal amusement seemed to be produced among the ladies by being propelled along on the ice chairs. A pretty scene was enacted yesterday by a circle of skaters forming along the outer edge of this reserve, alternately a lady and gentleman, and skating in single file several times around the enclosure. Suddenly one person took the lead, and, passing through the lane to the larger pond, followed by the whole line, mingled with those outside and were soon lost among them. The larger pond was literally black with the sombre hued attire of the masculines, especially at the hour before named, when they were in the thickest numbers. The slides were patronized by hundreds, one party alone consisting of eighty-three, who were sliding one after the other one two slides, going northward on one and southward on the other. With the exception of one broken nose and two slight cuts on the head, no mishap occurred during the day, and every one enjoyed himself, except one young man, who indignantly threw his brand new skates away, because, as he asserted, (they) threw him down. ‘There was so great a demand for hot coffee and hot lemonade that the refreshment saloons could not keep pace with the demand, the counters getting far ahead of the cooks, although they worked like niggers. One saloon was yesterday shut up by the police for breaking the following clause of their contract of agreement or license–No malt liquor or cider is to be supplied to visitors on Sundays–and was kept closed during the greater part of the day. This doubtless caused somewhat of a rush upon the others. The ladies’ saloon, being in full blast, did a very good business, being crowded nearly the whole day. This saloon has been very conveniently located on the ladies’ pond, and a large flag states that it is for their accommodation. Speaking of flags, late in the day they looked very sad indeed, for there was not wind enough then to blow them from their staves; so they hung down in despair. Notwithstanding the quiet of Boreas, the cold was intense, though not biting, and the sun shone quite cheeringly, making it appear warmer than it really was.
Several articles, such as keys, &c., have been lately found upon the ice. All articles found, no matter of what kind, are deposited in the round house in the centre of the pond, and any person losing or finding articles will please call upon Captain Renwick, of the Park keepers, whose station is there situated.
A Central Park Skating Club is at present in embryo, and may probably be completed and made practicable this season.
SLEIGHING AND SKATING IN BROOKLYN.
The fine frosty weather of the last two days has caused the inauguration of another skating carnival in the suburbs of Brooklyn. Yesterday the temporary ponds in the hollows of vacant lots situated in the vicinity of Fifth avenue and various parts of Williamsburg were crowded by thousands, who gladly embraced the opportunity of enjoying this delightful exercise; and now that we are about to have moonlight nights, advantage will doubtless be taken of the circumstance to protract the health giving recreation far into the night. The recent fall of snow, too, has had the effect of turning out innumerable sleighs, and the several avenues leading out to the suburban districts are rendered musical both by day and night by the cheery tinkling of the merry sleigh bells, and the frosty air rings with the silvery laugh of belles of another kind. Many and fervent are the prayers that are put up every minute to the ‘Clerk of the weather’ for a continuance of his bounties.
ICE IN THE RIVER.
The effects of the nip of Saturday night were greatly apparent in the Hudson. Large fields of strong ice floated with the tide during the entire day and rendered the travelling in the ferry boats tedious and difficult. The greatest caution and care were necessarily introduced in the guidance of the barks’ of the Hoboken ferry–notwithstanding which, however, several times during the day the passengers were greatly frightened with the idea that the hulk had been pushed away and that they occupied unenviable quarters on a field of ice.
FROZEN TO DEATH IN JERSEY CITY.
Coroner Gafney yesterday held an inquest on the body of Michael Hanlon, who was found frozen to death in Greene street. The deceased had been in the habit of wandering about the city mending old tin ware, and was generally of a loose and vagrant disposition. It is supposed that while in a state of intoxication he laid down, and was frozen in the manner mentioned.