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Copyright 2011 by William A. Mays, Proprietor
Richard K. Fox had a residence in Red Bank, NJ, which is a good location for those interested in boating and a life by the sea. Fox was certainly wealthy enough to afford whatever hobby he chose, but he loved the sea, cruising in his yacht, surf bathing and picnicking. His yacht was an expensive private ocean-going sailing vessel that he named the "Richard K. Fox." He fancied sailing the Jersey Shore, the Northeast, and extending further to the blue chip beaches of New England and Cape Cod. Fox sponsored many competitive events, including seafaring ones, such as the first trans-Atlantic rowboat—named the “FOX”—in 1896. In fact, Fox managed to include almost every aspect of human activity imaginable under the category of sports.
In 1883, Fox published a book titled Coney Island Frolics: How New York's Gay Girls and Jolly Boys Enjoy Themselves by the Sea. Included were descriptions of women in the surf, various amusements of the late 19th century, the social changes of the era that made water-based activities possible, and it served as an instructional manual and visual travel guide to the beaches of the Northeast. Described were beach- and water-based activities on Manhattan Beach, NY, and Brighton Beach, NY.
Alexey Bauman, writing for the Female Single Combat Club, describes Fox's impact on 19th century female athletics: "There is no question that Richard Fox and the National Police Gazette were an integral part of the development of the professional women boxers, wrestlers and strongwomen of the 1880s and 1890s. Though many upperclass Victorians may have viewed these athletic activities as unfeminine and even demeaning, these female athletes were seen as competent, professional and, in many ways, the equal of their male peers. It is important when looking at these women, however, to keep in mind how limited their professional options truly were. The fifteen to twenty-five dollars a week women boxers earned at places such as Harry Hill’s Saloon in New York City, no doubt proved a powerful incentive for women whose primary employment options were back-breaking factory work or prostitution. Furthermore, these women knew that if they became good enough... that there was a realistic chance that they could earn even greater sums by defying the traditional ideals of Victorian womanhood."
Regarding the Police Gazette woodcut engravings, Fox was notorious for not giving credit to his artists and writers. There were virtually no bylines on Police Gazette stories, as well as no artist signatures on the illustrations. But the woodcut artists were first class. One couldn’t find better quality in the medium of woodcut engraving. Sandwich Island Girl's woodcut engraving represents a small sampling of the National Police Gazette's artistic treasures. Though artists for individual works can't be identified, it is known that Matt Morgan, Charles Kendrick, Philip G. Cusacha, George G. White, George E. McEvoy, and Henry W. Troy all did illustrations for the late 19th century Police Gazette.
There was also a world famous wood carver on the beach in Asbury Park. In the winter of 1888, Palace Amusements was founded in Asbury Park. Palace provided refined amusements and became famous for having one of America’s greatest hand-carved wooden carousels. Charles I.D. Looff was a master carver and builder of handcrafted wood carousels. Early in his career, he found work as a wood furniture carver and took wood scraps home, carving them into wooden carousel animals and more. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island, NY, in 1876 and is credited for creating the Coney Island style of wood carving. The significance of Looff’s presence in Asbury Park in 1888 is that there was a wood carver available, on the beach, to carve a surfboard. Charles I.D. Looff and his son Arthur Looff also built the Santa Monica Pier in 1909.
Just off the coast of New Jersey exists the Gulf Stream, a powerful, warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that attracted whaling ships in search of whales. American whaling soon spread from the East Coast to the American colonies in the 19th century. The early whaling voyages and whaling era had a phenomenal impact on 19th century America, both East and West Coasts. In the early 1800s, Hawaii was a favorite destination of whaling vessels, and their crews were in direct contact with surfers. Some whaling crews jumped ship once they arrived in the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands. Many, including Herman Melville, jumped ship, apparently without repercussions. Once the original crew jumped ship, many Hawaiians were hired to work aboard whaling vessels. Hawaiian crewman were sailing to the United States by the early 19th century. It is probable Hawaiian crews were sailing in ports on the East Coast. By about 1840, more passengers and greater tonnage of cargo came through New York than all other major harbors in the country combined. By 1900 New York was one of the great international ports.
There remains the philosophic burden of proof, an obligation to provide sufficient evidence that Sandwich Island Girl's three-day surfing exhibition occurred in Asbury Park. The logical possibility, with its direct and indirect evidence, that this occurred in Asbury Park is reasonable. The fact that her mythic tale is being told at all allows scholars to use her in commentary about cultures that produces and circulates legends. It’s a tricky domain, but for most of us, her legend and her image are enough. Hopefully, the daring Triton will begin to get the attention she deserves.
In 1883, Fox published a book titled Coney Island Frolics: How New York's Gay Girls and Jolly Boys Enjoy Themselves by the Sea. Included were descriptions of women in the surf, various amusements of the late 19th century, the social changes of the era that made water-based activities possible, and it served as an instructional manual and visual travel guide to the beaches of the Northeast. Described were beach- and water-based activities on Manhattan Beach, NY, and Brighton Beach, NY.
Alexey Bauman, writing for the Female Single Combat Club, describes Fox's impact on 19th century female athletics: "There is no question that Richard Fox and the National Police Gazette were an integral part of the development of the professional women boxers, wrestlers and strongwomen of the 1880s and 1890s. Though many upperclass Victorians may have viewed these athletic activities as unfeminine and even demeaning, these female athletes were seen as competent, professional and, in many ways, the equal of their male peers. It is important when looking at these women, however, to keep in mind how limited their professional options truly were. The fifteen to twenty-five dollars a week women boxers earned at places such as Harry Hill’s Saloon in New York City, no doubt proved a powerful incentive for women whose primary employment options were back-breaking factory work or prostitution. Furthermore, these women knew that if they became good enough... that there was a realistic chance that they could earn even greater sums by defying the traditional ideals of Victorian womanhood."
Regarding the Police Gazette woodcut engravings, Fox was notorious for not giving credit to his artists and writers. There were virtually no bylines on Police Gazette stories, as well as no artist signatures on the illustrations. But the woodcut artists were first class. One couldn’t find better quality in the medium of woodcut engraving. Sandwich Island Girl's woodcut engraving represents a small sampling of the National Police Gazette's artistic treasures. Though artists for individual works can't be identified, it is known that Matt Morgan, Charles Kendrick, Philip G. Cusacha, George G. White, George E. McEvoy, and Henry W. Troy all did illustrations for the late 19th century Police Gazette.
There was also a world famous wood carver on the beach in Asbury Park. In the winter of 1888, Palace Amusements was founded in Asbury Park. Palace provided refined amusements and became famous for having one of America’s greatest hand-carved wooden carousels. Charles I.D. Looff was a master carver and builder of handcrafted wood carousels. Early in his career, he found work as a wood furniture carver and took wood scraps home, carving them into wooden carousel animals and more. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island, NY, in 1876 and is credited for creating the Coney Island style of wood carving. The significance of Looff’s presence in Asbury Park in 1888 is that there was a wood carver available, on the beach, to carve a surfboard. Charles I.D. Looff and his son Arthur Looff also built the Santa Monica Pier in 1909.
Just off the coast of New Jersey exists the Gulf Stream, a powerful, warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that attracted whaling ships in search of whales. American whaling soon spread from the East Coast to the American colonies in the 19th century. The early whaling voyages and whaling era had a phenomenal impact on 19th century America, both East and West Coasts. In the early 1800s, Hawaii was a favorite destination of whaling vessels, and their crews were in direct contact with surfers. Some whaling crews jumped ship once they arrived in the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands. Many, including Herman Melville, jumped ship, apparently without repercussions. Once the original crew jumped ship, many Hawaiians were hired to work aboard whaling vessels. Hawaiian crewman were sailing to the United States by the early 19th century. It is probable Hawaiian crews were sailing in ports on the East Coast. By about 1840, more passengers and greater tonnage of cargo came through New York than all other major harbors in the country combined. By 1900 New York was one of the great international ports.
There remains the philosophic burden of proof, an obligation to provide sufficient evidence that Sandwich Island Girl's three-day surfing exhibition occurred in Asbury Park. The logical possibility, with its direct and indirect evidence, that this occurred in Asbury Park is reasonable. The fact that her mythic tale is being told at all allows scholars to use her in commentary about cultures that produces and circulates legends. It’s a tricky domain, but for most of us, her legend and her image are enough. Hopefully, the daring Triton will begin to get the attention she deserves.
"Sandwich Island Girl"
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Continued from Previous Page