The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-05
THISTLE CLUB GAMES.
List of the Prize Winners at
Shell Mound Park.
Kendall Wins the Professional Race-Seottish
PastImes and Dances-An Enormous
Attendance.

Yesterday, from 9 o'clock in the morning
till in the evening, the San Francisco
Scottish Thistle Club celebrated the ma
tional holiday, provided royal good time
for all who chose to participate, and did the
same for themselves, by holding their
eighth annual picnic and games at Shell
Mound Park. Berkeley.
The club is popular one with the public,
and the attendance yesterday fully proved
it. The crowd present was simply enor-
nous, ana was estimated by the club Off
GERS as fully one-third larger than at their
last years celebration.
No more favorable weather could have
been had if it had been made to order,
though the Games Committee and officers
thought it was rather too hot for them as
they rushed about the track arranging the
different races.
Royal Chieftain Hugh Fraser, who was
absolutely dazzling in his full Highland
costume. every accessory being complete,
looked as if he had been grilled over
French restaurant broiler tor a few days,
but stuck to his post manfully, land had
every event come off at the time set.
Both pavilions were jammed with the
dancing section of the attendance, and the
money fully. The best of order was main
tanned, and none of the disagreeable incl
dents frequently observed at picnics Oc-
Cured.
Taking the lengthy game programme all
through the events were most interesting.
though the mile professional race was of
course the chief feature. Six starters came
out, and Little was selected as the winner
He trailed the leaders for six laps, and
then went to the front, only to be passed
in the eighth by Kendall. who ran
well-iudged race and won by about twenty
feet in the good time. for the track, of :411
The track itself was not in the best order
for showing fast work. 1t is said to meas
ure ten laps to the mile, but may prove
little short. The footing was much cut up
and full of pebbles, making 1t very hard
running Both runners and bicycle-riders
complained of it as being difficult to make
time over.
The tug-of-war called out the full sympa-
thies of the crowd. 1t was case of the oat-
meal Of auld Scotia against the roast beef of
old England. and the vegetarians had much
the better of it all through, easily defeating
their opponents in straight pulls.
In the reporters race one well-known
sporting editor was thought to have GER
tainty of winning. Unfortunately he was
absent, fulfilling an important engage ment
to distance Mount Shasta grizzly over a
canyon track three miles from Trout Creek
opponent and skinned him, there is a little
balm in Gilead for him after ALL
The half-mile amateur race was an easy
victory for the winner, as was the amateur
bicycle run, chiefly through the other two
contestants taking number of headers at
various points of the route.
Much amusement was provided by the
obstruction race. the contestants having to
crawl through barrels, under nets, under
strings and climb poles placed on the track
Most of them left few sections of epider-
mis- in their efforts to secure the laurels.
The Highland dances were very interest
ing and much enjoy ed by the lookers-on.
The prettiest of them was the Shean Trews
dance for little girls. 1t is descriptive of
the completion of the harvest in the High
lands and the winner showed much Terpsi-
chorean ability.
The caber-tossing, high-pole vaulting,
light and heavy hammer and stone throw
ing were very closely contested and the
records show that the work done was ex-
cellent. Altogether the clubs outing was
most successful and enjoyable.