The San Francisco call., 1896-04-24
Thrilling Competitive Events
Draw a Vast Throng to the
Athletic Arena.
ILLUMINATED STREET PARADE
Colored Lights on Buildings Blend
With the Brilliant Rays on
the Floats.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, April 23.-Straw
hats and overcoats form a rather grotesque
combination, and yet there are scores of
them among fiesta sightseers in this city.
The hat is the result of somewhat too pre-
vious purchases out of regard to the posi-
tion on the calendar of the month of A priI,
and the overcoat remains in use as re-
minder that the royal chief weather clerk
is doing some, record breaking Just now all
over California. Every afternoon the cold
winds coming from old Neptune's home
are uncomfortably cool, hence the linger-
ing overcoat which should have been
closeted two months ago. This afternoon
was no exception.
The great throng of people who rushed,
walked or rode on the single car line from
the business portion of town to the Ath-
| letic Park experienced brisk cold breeze
| for about three hours, but nothing daunted
remained on the grounds until late hour.
| 1t was fiesta games day in honor OF the
Queen, who with her maids of honor
graciously attended. Her Majesty wore
dress of white mousseline de sole over
white satin. Over this fell yards and
yards of fiImy Valenciennes lace.
| A Spanish founce finished the skirt,
which was ornamented with garlands of
green and white tendrils and Nile-green
roses. A white hat, white silk and lace
| f1ounced parasol, long white gloves and
white satin slippers were part of this
costume. The Royal Lancers, mounted,
went to her Maiesty's castle at 1880 P. NJ.
and accompanied her to the park.
! Thousands of people attended these
| games. Hundreds went to the grounds in
carriages. Everywhere about the park
were gayly decorated equipages. The great
grandstand was a mass of humanity, and
there was not an inch of unoccupied space
upon the benches. Many of the specta tors
were compelled to stand up for want of
| benches.
| Queen Mildred and her maids occupied
| conspicuous seats and attracted much at
tention. The spectacle presented by the
great gathering of spectators in the grand
stand on the bleachers and about the
grounds surpassed anything ever seen at
the Athletic Park. The maids were all
tastefully attired, and everywhere were
the fiesta colors.
| The tribe of Pueblo Indians from Isleta,
N. Mex, were there, and took conspicuous
part in the sport. Jose Torres of this band
of braves won in two footraces from about
dozen of his own people, making 440
yards in min. and sec., and in the one
eighth of mile run he left his competitors
in struggling string of from 100 to 800
| yards to rearward.
| The caballeros with their gay trappings
were again on hand, and entertained the
people in various feats of daring horse
manship. The foot and bicycle races oc-
cupied most of the time on the field, but
were all amateur events. In the 100-yard
dash Joe Ryan of the Los Angeles Athletic
| Club won from Broughton of Santa Bar
bara and Howard of Los Angeles in 10 As.
Whitman won from Cromwell, Cowan and
Barnett in the half-miIe heat bicycle race
in 1 ia 3-5. Stimson won in the second
heat half mile from Valiant and Bell in
10:11 2-5.
| In the 44O-yard run Broughton of Santa
Barbara won from Morrill,, Elliott, Rya
Wilson and Howard in 55A seconds. In
the mile bicycle race, which was very
pretty contest, Bell won from Bennett,
Stimson, Valiant, Cromwell, Cowan and
Whitman. The latter met with an acci-
dent and fell in this race, which fortu-
nately did not result seriously. Bells
time was 2:27 3-5.
In the 880-J ard run Morrill, won from
Golding, Birtch, Broughton, Hale and
Brossner. Time, 2:13 1-5.
The interest of the afternoon centered
in the competitive la fiesta drill by COM
panies of the Seventh Regiment. N. G. c.
Only two companies, B of San Diego and
/ of Pasadena, could muster sufficient
mum Der to take part. The judges for this
contest were Captains Bougham of Pasa-
dopo n0doa ~ Con niar0 apd oh Of
Pomona. The award was made of the first
prize, an elegant blue silk banner, to
Company of San Diego.
Then came the individual drill in COM
| petition for the la fiesta brigade medal.
Great interest was manifested by all the
officers and privates in the field over this
contest, which began with about twenty
| men. The judges were Captain Alphonse,
Lieutenant Redlands and Major Prescott
of San Diego. As the drill progressed the
men we're dropped by the system of ex-
cluding those who failed in the order of
errors made. The elimination proceeded
| amid low muttered disapproval and COM
plants by on-looking privates, but the
drill went on to the end, and William
Wheeler of Company B, San Diego, COM
monty called IN urphy," won the coveted
brigade medal.
In announcing the decision and extend
ing congratulations to Private Wheeler
Colonel Berry said that some OF the SOL
diers had been let out not because of de-
feet IN the drill, but on account of careless
ness in dress and general defects in per-
sonal appearance which might easily have
been remedied. Sergeant H. H. LAWN of the
same company has won the medal once,
as has Corporal Granger. Both of these
forfeited the medal by non-attendance at