The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-05
PARTLY CELEBRATED.
Three Thousand Visitors Out at the
Broad water for a Days
Outing.
The Boat Races and Base Ball
Games Interrupted by
Rain.
Nature Furnished = Display Of Her Own
as Compensation for the Dis
appointments

Notwithstanding the threatening aspect
of the weather yesterday afternoon about
5000 people vent to the B%roadwater and
points near by for a days outing. The
electric and steam motors were taxed to
their utmost to carry the throng.
People waited for hours at Main
street and Sixth avenu in order to
get on a car. Every car that went out was
loaded, seats, aisles and platforms being
crowded. People eager to get out in a
hurry chung to the rails on the car plat
forms. The conductors found ii almost
impossible to squeeze their way through
the cars. The management of the electric
motor service was not praised. A delay of
several minutes occurred just az a car with
a trail attached started to leave Main street.
The conductor could not be found. Halt q
dozen passengers volunteered to collect
the fares. General Agent Edgar of the
Northern Pacific was on the trail car and
his quick eye caught sight OF Superintend-
emit Iurnbull. of the electric road. who put
a man ON board to collect the dimes. All
traffic on the electric line was stopped dur
ing the storm, as a precaution against &C
cidents. The excellent programme which
had been arranged for the exercises was put
out of joint by the rain. About the only
thing which it did not disarrange was the
splendid concert given bv the Helena brass
band lead by Liberati, The concert was
given on the east veranda of the hotel.
When the rain began to fall the wide cor
ridors, parlors, billiard room and lobby
were sought for refuge. The Moratorium
also furnished shelter for hundreds. At
Athletic park about 250 people remained
under the roof of the grand stand until
the skies cleared. The game was
interrupted just as the first
ended. While the spectators were held
prisoners under the grand stand roof they
enjoyed a Fourth of July celebration not
down on the programme. Nature furnished
her own fireworks. 1t was a grand sight.
The whole scope of country to the east OF
the grand stand furnished the theatre OF
action. In the mountains to tho right and
left the white streaks of lightning played
among the blue-black clouds. Every few
seconds the thunder doomed and rolled,
broken at intervals with a great crash.
Within a few minutes every depression was
filled with water. The ball field itself was
almost a lake, here and there little TUFTS o.
grass appeared which made the place looA
like a marsh. It seemed as 1t the clouds
had dropped close to the earth and were
d~ischarging their contents in great sheets
The big rain drops came SO fast against the
ground, houses. fences and trees that the1I
spatter rose in wreaths like white smoke.
Shortly after five O'Clock the sun came
out and the people flocked out on the lawns
The electric motors were in operation
again. Every Cur coming from the city
had a full load. Men, women and children
who were anxious to get home raced up thu
tracks to the hotel to got seats in the cars
The hundreds who went home at this tim,
did not lessen the number in the crowe
about the popular resort. For every ca
load that left the place another came. SOM
disappointment was expressed because tht
exercises were interfered with by the storm
1t was a great big. good-natured crowd
however. and the rain had cooled off thu
air which made every one feel comfortable
1t was better than a blazing sun and clouds
of dust. About six O'Clock the militia mel
who had been detained in town began tt
arrive. Their manoeuvers and drills on thu
lawn in front of the hotel was witnessed
by a large crowd. The swim.
ming matches in the natatorium were ais
quite an attraction. What the peopl
missed during the afternoon was made ~
partly by the magnificent display of fire
works which took place on the hill opposite
the hotel at night. The rockets and roman
candles sent into the air could be seen from
points miles away. After the exhlbitio1.ther
was n great rush for the motor lines ant
hacks and it was after midnight when man,
of the pleasure seekers reached the city.