The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-14

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, June 13.-There is
this to be said for the consolation of those
who have not seen and will not see the
Venetian Water Carnival, that they will
never know what they missed. The i'm
aglnation will lend itself to the description
of this sort of thing as it happens under
the glamour of distance, the shadow of ST.
Mark 5 and the traditions of centuries.
But here in California it is different.
The imagination will not support either
black-and-white telling of the truth about
1t with no background to build upon.
And so those who stay away can never
learn what is happening here in Santa
Cruz this week. The thousands who have
for two nights packed the long reaches of
trlbunes extending along the river are
coming new words in their efforts to ex
press the surprised delight the brilliant
scene has given them.
Venice has not been reproduced here. of
course, for the marble-lined waterways,
with the moses of the middle ages still
upon them, cannot be reproduced in six
weeks, but living picture of what has
been written of the life and movement and
color of her gayest streets in their gayest
holidays is presented here with features
that add something more than has been
written. The scene tonight was as much
better than that of last night as a clear
sky is an improvement over a foggy one,
especially as background for fireworks.
The fireworks of tonight, however, were
not on the programme to any great extent,
their place being taken by the fountain
and the waterfall. The display of illumi-
mated water craft was even better than
that of last night, although most of the
floats were the same. The night was cool,
but perfectly clear, and every condition
favored the realization of the highest
dreams of the projectors of the carnival.
The attendance was such as to present
solid bank of humanity along the shores
of the lagoon where preparations had been
made for the spectators. The spectacle
began to arrive on time, and at o'clock
stream of bombs and rockets in the air from
the lower bridge announced to the throng
that the line was in motion. Then line
OF red fire, like a succession of signals,
sprang into life along the further bank.
Except for these lights the margin of the
lagoon was not well defined, although un-
der the thousand electric lamps burning
overhead the water in the stretch between
the bandstand and the tribunes was as
light almost as day. Beyond that and
through the marsh opposite were placed
great numbers of Chinese lanterns, which
carried the illusions of wide stretch of
the lagoon in all directions The colored
fires, lighted at the beginning, were kept
burning at distance both up and down
the river, and clouds of smoke of their own
color floating away from them formed a
sc i IL
To the accompaniment of rockets and
Roman candles, and as she drew nearer,
the stirring music of the big concert band,
the barge of the Queen came out of the
dim distance down under the broad white
light of the canopy of electric lamps and
TO all the rest was added the applauding
of her people. Away down the river in the
opposite direction burned the deep glow of
red fire, bringing the people in the banks
and the bushes, back of which it is planted,
out into weird silhouettes.
The procession takes the same course as
it did last night. Red and green fires are
burning now on the bridge from which it
started. On it comes past the Queens
throne, which is as yet tenantless, on down
to the other bridge, gondolas, floats and
barges with graceful canopies under which
hang tiny glass lanterns of different colors
swinging the more somber Chinese Ian
terms, or, again, the sparkling vari-colored
lamp of the Turk and Hindoo.
The ample floats and gondolas are occu-
pied by gentlemen and ladies, some of
whom are singing the soft melodies
of the South to the music of guitars.
They return and the Queens float passes
on up to the upper bridge again, while
many OF the others are grouped in front of
the bandstand, the active generals in swift
little electric launches patrolling up and
down the channel to keep it clear The
Queens float and its immediate attend
ants return and the beautiful spectacle of
the landing as seen last night is repeated.
The picture now from the tribunes is
such one as those whe saw it cannot
convey to those who did not. The
floats and barges are grouped at their best
and swing their lights into wonderful
combinations as they move slowly here
and there-the smaller and swifter craft
threading the labyrinth of the greater