Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-26
BURLlNGTON'S CARNIVAL.
THE WEEKS SPORTS HAVE A MOST
AUSPlClOUS OPENING.
Bright Skies Smile Upon the Coasting
Cuba Much Larger Attendance
Than was Expected-The Carni-
val aGrand success.

val aGrand success.
The grand carnival of winter sports, for
which such extensive preparations have
been made, and which has 80 long been
the topic of interest, not only in Burling-
ton, but throughout New England, open
ed Monday, under the most favorable
circumstances. The sun rose in clear
and cloudless sky and shone brightly
throughout the day, just tempering with
his beams the keen, inviXorating air. AT
an early hour the city Began take on a
holiday appearance. Flags floated from
almost every stafl in the city, and many
private residences and business blocks be
gan to he gay with flags, bunting and dec
orations Toward noon the streets became
thronged with guests and citizens in gay
and striking tobaygan costumes. and the
music of sleigh bells filed the air, as
handsome eQulpages dashed through the
streets The morning hours were utilized
in showing the guests of the carnival
about the city, and giving them glimpse
of our handsome residences and me pubic
buildings, all of which were greatly adj
mired one enthusiastic Albanian re-
marked that "Burlington knocks Nbany
cold ON handsome residences" which re-
mark was not only appropriate to the sea
son and the occasion, but highly Creditable
to the taste of the person who made 1T.
In the early afternoon the sports of the
carnival began. Hundreds betook them
to the tob0ggan slides, and other hun
dreds to the Coasting hills. Every
where the bright and picturesque
costumes of the carnivallers filled
the streets, and the merry laughter
and shouts of the coasters, rs they sped
down the chutes and the hill, rang out on
the cold air With the assembling at the
various points of interest of the guests of
the carnival, it became evident that the
attendance at the first days sports was
much larger than was expected All 1ears
on the score of slim attendance were i'm
mediately banished aud instead the var
ious committees began to be alarmed lest
they should be unable to provide oppor-
tunty for all who wished TO ENJOY the
sports. But, 50 admirable were the
ARRANGEMENTS that in spite of the large
numbers in waiting, all had u chance to
enjoy the several sports Main street pre-
scented Il lively sight. From the top of the
coast to the foot the hill was lined with
interested spectators, which the traverses
shot by in rapid but regular succession,
each carving its gay load of coasters, and
making it's course ring with gong and
shout. The hill had been carefully rolled
and iced and an embaukment cast up on
either side of the track, which was prob
ably never in so fine condition before.
The speed of the traverses was something
terrific, and is thought to be greater than
was ever realized on any coast in Bur
lington.
The Myrrhine tObOggan slide was
crowded, the entire afternoon, and tobog-
gan followed toboygan down the long
chute as fast as the starters would per-
nit. At the Russian slide, the eastern
portion of which only was in readiness for
use, Yesterday, the throng was no less great.
The chute had been carefully iced and the
speed of the toboggaus was very exciting,
many of them gong almost out to the
breakwater from the impetus received.
One party, consisting Of two ladies and Il
gentleman had rather ludicrous 'spill'
lust at the foot of the chute, when going
their swlftest, but no one was hurt, and
the little episode was only productive of
innocent merriment
In the evening the elaborate preparations
for the illumination of Main street were
carried into effect and it is Il long time
since Burlington has had any thing that
would compare with the brilliant scene
presented by the coast and its immed-
ate vicinity. Rows of torches light
ed the hill from either side while colored