The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
Gallant Knights Participate in a
Tilting Tournament as a
:: Farewell Coup.
HER MAJESTY SEES THE RACES
Wheelmen Spurred to Greater Efforts
by the Bravos From the
Royal Suite.

. SANTA ROSA, CAL, May 2.-The car
nivaI closed in veritable blaze of glory
tonight. Ten thousand people gathered
around the courthouse square to witness
the fireworks display. The usual chorus
of "ahs" and. long drawn out expressions
nf delight were not missing, for the exhi-
bition was creditable one and the spec
tators returned to their homes well pleased
with their evenings entertainment. There
were many handsome and striking set
pieces, including profile OF Queen Laura
an immense jumping Jack, beautiful set
OF revolving stars and many minor de-
signs. The exhibition lasted about an
hour and ended with the usual letters of
fire bidding the audience good highland
Santa Rosa's carnival of 1896 was at an
end.
The clerk of the weather has been kind
to the end of the rose carnival. ALI day
1t has been ideal May weather, with bright
sunshine and a warm breeze that was
scarcely strong enough to ruff1e the leaves
of the roses.
Early in the morning people began pour
ing in from all parts of the country as
well as from Napa County, ana the stream
of visitors continued for the greater part
of the day. Many of these came from
Healdsburg, Cloverdale Geyserville, Guer-
neville, Sonoma, Forestville, Occidental.
Petaluma and other towns, which were
wellrepresented by carriages, carts, bicycles
and even milk-wagons, while there were
numbers OF bicychsts and Observation-Disclosures.
The trains brou ght crowds of other people,
but Santa Rosa has been city of vehicles
to-day; the trafhc on Fourth street was
continuous. and during the afternoon
when the buggies were thickest there was
one jam, in which carriage containing
two ladies and several children narrowly
escaped being wrecked. Fortunately an
accident was avoided by the prompt action
of the bystanders.
During the afternoon there was sort of
unannounced dress-parade. Ladies of
Santa Rosa with their. friends and
visitors appeared on Fourth street arrayed.
in all the gloty of crisp muslins, organdies
and silks. In some cases the gowns worn
were almost as elegant as dinner dresses,
and the streets had dried up so well that
few young ladies ventured out in white
and light-tinted shoes to match their cos
tunes.
There was q certain amount of uncer-
tainty about the mornings proceedings.
A bicycle parade had been announced
around the courthouse, and grand tourna-
ment was to take place close at hand, on
MendocIno street. a large crowd assem- bIed
in the expectation of seeing both events
simultaneously, and the courthouse steps
and dome were thronged with people, who
rejoiced in having secured such a good
vantage ground. Packs band, at the top
80 10 -.
the distance the Alesander Valley knights,
in suits of armor, could be seen moving
about on prancing steeds, bat the BIZ
cyclists tsrried.
Just before. noon there was q cry, "They
come" and all eyes were strained down
Fourth street, in the expectation of seeing
long line Of wheels gay with flowers and
carnival colors.
What people saw was from forty to fifty
wheelmen; without any attempt at deco
ration, so much as by flower. In the
whole procession there were three bicycles
which had been decorated and the only
one that ELECTED much admiring com
ments was that of little boy.
1t Is understood that the putting off of
the bicycle parade until to- day on account
OF the rain was the cause of the non ap-
pearance of procession of decorated
wheels.
The bicycle parade having proved some
thing OF a. disappointment the crowd
turned for comfort to the grand tourna-
ment and found the balm 1t sought in ad-
miring the dashing horsemanship of the
knights.
If the afternoon crowd had assembled
all at one point there would probably
have been a.great jam, but the people di-
vided themselves between the bicvcle
races, the balloon ascension and the prom
enade on Fourth street. where thew adj
mired the toilettes and the stores.
The bicycle races drew large mum ber of
spectators, but there were also about 2oOo
people assembled near the schoolhouse to
see the balloon ascend. At 8 o'clock the
balloon was loosed and sailed straiqht
upward for about 600 feet, when it yeeTed
east toward the mountains. At the height
of about 1000 feet the parachute descent
was made, the aeronaut sailing SLOWLY
and safely to terra frma amid loud ap-
plause. After the descent the crowd dis
persed, and either joined the promenade
or went to the bicycle races.
1