Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-10
THE T0B0GGANING SEASON
AUSPlClOUS OPENING OF THE ed
MUNOS SLIDE LAST EVENING.
Fantastic Spectacle at the SIide-Decora-
tions and Pyrotechnic Displays Illu-
mine the Scene-IIundreds Assist
in the Opening Festivities.

The Burlington Coasting club inaugur
ated the tObUgganing season last night
with grand toboggauing party, the oc
casion being the opening of the Edmund,
Slide. The NIGHT was most favorable IL
regards temperature, the arrangements
were complete, the attendance was large
and the event was a gratifying success
A force of men had been engaged some
time in preparing the channels of tine
slide and during the previous night the
slide was flooded with water which fruze,
rendering the surface is smooth as glass.
The scene AZ the slide was picturesque to
the extreme. The summit Of the chute
was decorated with an elaborate display
of flags and bunting, and was illuminated
Will large number of torches and Chi
uese lanterns while at frequent intervals
Nrote hhical displays added their bril-
liancy to the scene. The slide was illum
mated lis entire length on both sides with
torches rendering the darkness invisible,
The spectacular effect of the scene was en-
hHHced 10y the gay cOlOrS OF the tODOggau
costumes worn by the members of the
club, which presented a weird appearance
in the glare of the torches
The Attendance was much larger than
was expected there being in addition to
prominent residents of this city number
of visitors from other towns. The rerula-
tons enforced at the chute were admirable
auu no accident marred the enjoyment
OF the evening. The slide being in first
class condition, the descent of the tobog-
gnus with their precious burdens was I'M
usually swift and one enthusiastic visitor
compared the passage from the chute to
dropping through the air. When short
way from the chute he managed to grasp
WIN dlillculty to his companion. "You
won 7 cate me here again" but before
the foot OF the slide was reached he had
regained both his breath and confidence
ana was eager for another slide He went
down the second time and at once became
one the most enthusiastic tobugganisls ON
the slide. TINS seems to be the general
experience and 1t Is marked evidence OF
the fascination of the sport
Neither was the evenings programme
without It's humorous incidents, and the
most amusing case was that of Il well
known gentleman witt a marked adipost
tendency which has been well developed
lie trusted himself to the guiding foot OF
an amateur, and it threw him. All went
well until about half of the length Of the
side had been covered When the ballast
surGed to one side, causing the tOhOggal
10 shoot up on the side of the track Al
opposite lurch of the principal rider sent
1t To the opposite side, but the foot of the
Steersman hHu lost control, and after 4
serles OF mad jumps from one side of the
track to the other the toboggan overturn
ed, sending the fat gentleman rolling III
the snow, SO that when he stopped he re
sembled Il biz snowfall such aS school
boys roll, rather than Il piece of exhaust ed
humanity.
Another instance of the humorous side
OF the event was the case of a gentleman
with unnaturally long EGGS. When the
tobOggan on which he was the front rider
was well under way his legs became an
uncertain quantity; first striking WILDLY
To one side and then standing out i'm front
like the bowsprt of san boat, then M,
feet would scrape into the snow, dashiug
up spray which WAS RATED up the
trousers legs of The unfortunate man by
the toDoggan' momentum till at last the
foot of the slide was reached aud his
trouble ceased. These incidents, how
ever, only served AS sauce for the more
solid enjoyment of the evening and the
opening OF the slide was most successful
and enjoyable event.