The San Francisco call., 1896-08-12

back into the element whence they came
The water was very clear and it reflected
almost every atom of fire that moved in
the air.
Once there was trouble aboard the raft
that made the fireworks operators start
for the boats. BY some mischance about
a dozen skyrockets and fully as many
Roman candles became. ignited, and all
simultaneously started to show their
beauties to the admiring throngs ashore.
They performed curious gyrations all over
the raft. One skyrocket darted out upon
the water and started over the surface at
q lively rate toward Capitola. Another
made off straight across the bay Tor Mon
terey. Only a part of the rockets was
submerged and the sticks Kept them
afioat. They emitted trail OF SPARKS 1or
a long distance as they skinned with the
swiftness of flash over the calm surface.
This scene, though an accident, was one
of the prettiest of the exhibition, and the
spectators cheered and applauded.-
When the supply of fireworks was ex-
hausted the crowd turned its attention to
the swimming races in the plunge baths.
These were witnessed by about 400 specta-
tors. What appeared to be purely an
accident early aroused a lively interest
among the spectators. Some boys who
were climbing around among the rafters
high above the tank were commanded by
the management to descend. A moment
after one of them fell the distance of
twenty-five feet down into the deep water
of the tank with great splash. He arose
to the surface several times and appeared
to be drowning. The ladies became greatly
excited and exclaimed "Save him; Save
himW Attendants rushed to the rescue
and, as they do in melodrama, grasped
him by the extenued hands/as he was
sinking the third and last time.
He was dragged, apparently more dead
than alive, out from the promenade at the
side, where he lay convulsiVeIy gasping.
He was finally dragged off the floor and
deposited in dressing-room. He was w.
G. Sparrowe, trick swimmer of the Cali
fornia Swimming Club of San Francisco.
Sparrowe subsequently, appeared in full
dress in other nautical events of similar
nature, such as diving into the water with
a lighted cigarette in his teeth and comm G
up with it still burning.
The first event was a 50-yard candle race
by four boys. They swan on their backs
with lighted candles between their teeth.
Two finished with the candles still lit
They were Orby Burroughs, who won, and
James Mills, second.
Two other Santa Cruz boys, Seymour
Kittrell and James Bowman. swan 5O-
yard race. The former wou.
The next was a 100-yard race, for q
medal, between Il. B. Cornell of San
Francisco and Clyde Hawthorne of Santa
Cruz. Hawthorne won. Time. 1:1213-
Orby Burroughs and Charles Washburn
tied in 50-yard race. Time, :45.
In the fat mems race there were only
two entries, Herbert Leibrandt and Lloyd
Uhden, both of Santa Cruz. Leibrandt
won easily in 43 seconds.
Some very good juvenile spring board
diving was the next exhibition. K. B.
Cornell, J. H. Hobbs ana w. g. Sparrowe,
all of the California Swimming Club of
San Francisco, gave exhibitions of somer
saults from the spring-board into the
water.
novel swimming race was the one be-
tween Jack Hobbs, r. B. Cornell and W.
G. Sparrowe. They swan across the tank
and back, holding glass of beer above the
water. The beer had disappeared before
they finished, but it is safe to say that it
was not mingled with the water.
Seven-year-old Lloyd Bowman, "the boy
diver" plunged into nine feet of sea water
after a nickel that had gone on before.
The child returned to the surface in a few
seconds with the scent piece and the
crowd applauded him enthusiastically.
But 1t was not explained whether it was
the same nickel or not.
An exhibition of fancy and very graceful
high diving from a trapeze was given by
Cornell, Hobbs and Uhden, and the inimit-
able Sparrowe with all his clothes and his
shoes on added a few clownish features
which pleased the spectators. Several
ducks were turned loose in the tank and
several boys attempted to catch them. 1t
was humorous and very active scene and
the ducks were finally captured. A ten
minute game of tag in the water was the
last principal event in the baths.
The evening at the beach closed with a
ball.
This afternoon the Turner's began to find
their way to their various homes, and to-
morrow the sixteenth BeZirk funniest will
be entirely a memory. The funniest has
been one of the most enjoyable and profit
able ever held. The gymnastic contests
were close, and many diplomas were
awarded. The winning team from San
Francisco, as mentioned yesterday, are six
fne-looking athletes, and they are credit
10 the verein and the City they represent.
The Santa Cruz executive committee is
given credit by all who attended the Fest
with excellent management, and the peo-
pie OF Santa Cruz made it as agreeable for
the visitors as they knew how. The busi-
ness men subscribed literally to the ex-
penses of the Turnfest, which was sue
cess in all respects. As the Turner's leave
town tomorrow they will behold the deco
rations, which are still in place on the
business streets.