St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-02
COMO OVERLOOKED.
Multitudes Went Out to Witness
the Cake Walk


the Cake Walk.
The cake walk at Como park last
night proved the greatest drawing at
traction yet presented at that resort.
but the walk" itself was not any
great shakes, and the unexpectedly
large crowd was not particularly hap
Ply, because lack of accommodations
to see the performers caused a general
feeling of dissatisfaction The per-
Torrance took place out on the little
band float, and there was no oppor-
tunity for any one to see it except the
few who happened to get stations on
the veranda of the pavilion overlooking
the lake or close to the pavilion on
either side along the lake shore. AS
not more than one-third of the crowd
could find places in these small areas.
the jam and scramble that was con-
stantly kept up by those in the rear
may be better imagined than described.
Long before the performance COM
menced every available inch of space
from which the float could be viewed
was taken up, and when the musicians
made an effort to reach the front of
the veranda, it was next to impossible
for them to do so. Two policemen and
bolted through the throng and began
driving the crowd back, but it was like
trying to turn back the tide. When
an opening was finally made through
which the manipulators of the horns
managed to squeeze into the little area
in which a couple of dozen seats were
reserved for them, the band struck I'D
tune, and wild yell told that the
cake walk had begun, the Surging of
the crowd crushed those in front al
most beyond endurance. The pavilion
was thronged, and everybody was try
ing to reach the door to get a view of
the colored folks. The ladies' who hap
pened to be in that crowd will hardly
care for any more squeezing for sew
eral weeks. Men stood on chairs, while
women stood on the backs of the same
chairs, looking over their lovers
shoulders, and it kept the walters busy
keeping people from climbing on the
railing of the lunch counter
1t was $3.50 before the walk began
and it lasted about forty minutes. The
affair was under the management of
Col Mckenzie. Shirley Tyler was floor
manager, and J. NJ. Oliver assistant.
The cake was awarded to little ONEIDA
Porter, aged five years, and Bessie
Bailey, aged six years. The walk
opened up with an old aunty and her
son on the stage. They began to discuss
arrangements which had been made
for the evening, and while they were
In the midst of the talk, in came the
crowd, and the walk began. After
several turns around the stage the
four best couples were selected from
the rest, and continued the parade.
In this way the number was finally re-
duced to a single couple the little
pair, to whom went the prize Incl
dental to the affair was a lot of sing
ing by the celebrated cake walk quar-
tette, and jig dancing by the leading
bucks of the company, which was en-
Joyed more than the cake walk
Those who had to endure the fortunes
of being squeezed to death in order to
get glimpse of what was going on
were glad when it was over, for they
were hardly able to stand up, especial
ly the ladies'
The electric current got grounded
when the first trains We're halfway
to the city coming in, and it took a
long time to reach town. The cars
being crowded to their full capacity
made the wait rather tiresome 80" %
1t Is the intention of the street rail-
way company to give another enter
tainment of the same kind in the near
future, and it will most likely be given
on platform in front of the pavilion.
SO the crowd can view it from the
hillSideS