The San Francisco call., 1897-04-24
CLIMAX To GALA DAT.
Fiesta Vfsffors TieiU a Dazzling Spec
tacte on the Woter.

Fiesta Vtsttors Ti.tU a Dazzling Spec
tncte the Water.
LOS ANGELES, CAL, April 23.-The
water carnival at Westlake park this even
ing was fitting climax to one of the most
successful days of the fiesta. Thousands
of people lined the banks of the lake on
every side and cheered enthusiastically
each successive feature of the programme,
from the picturesque arrival of the queen
and her court at $50 o'clock to the last
rocket, which was fired shortly after 10
o'clock.
A salute of twenty-one guns announced
the arrival of the royal party at the east
side of the park. escorted by the queens
Iancers. Here they embarked in a Vene-
tian gondola beautifully illuminated, and
after making detour of the lake were
itself presented a pretty spectacle. espe-
cially when viewed from the center of the
lake.
Its upper portion, originally a band
stand, provided ample accommodation
for the queen and court and was brilliant
ly illuminated with yellow, green and red
incandescent lights arranged symmetri-
ca lily In pyramid form.
The waters of the lake were dotted In
all directions with illuminated craft, and
the floats formerly used in the street pa
rsde were placed on RATS and anchored in
the center, their fantastic outlines rem
dered clear and distinct by an ingeniousy
arranged system of lights. The lake thus
presented the appearance of an almost
Iimitless expanse of water, and the illu-
sion was made still more com plete when,
shortly after . O'Clock, the pyrO technic
ispIay commenced.
Th is portion of the evenings entertain
me mt was gorgeous and effective to a de-
gree. The display included production
of the cele brated Wooded Island iilumina-
ton at the Worlds Fair. Six illuminated
balloons, thirty feet high, were released
early in the evening and these were fol-
lowed by volleys of rockets, shells and
parachutes. A fairy fountain played in
cessantly on the eastern side OF the lake
and a splendid succession of water fire.
works added 10 the magnificence of the
spectacle
One of the most effective pieces of the
display was a cascade OF LIQUID golden fire
forty foot long and falling from an eleva-
ton onto the lake. A grand finale was
produced by the simultaneous discharge
of $50 variously colored rockets from diff
ferent points along the shore of the lake.
The Catalina band supplied appropriate
music during the evening and added
greatly to the enjoyment of the visitors.
The water carnival as a whole was pop
ularly voted one of the most imposing
features of the entire fiesta. The arrival
of her Majesty in particular suggested
scene from romantic opera, and when
subsequently she and her court ascended
to the roof of the boathouse, where the
whole scheme of color was exposed to the
vivid rays of hundreds of incande.cent
lamps, the effect would have been well
worthy of reproduction at the hands of a
Titan or Veronese. Every detail of this
ella borate function was carried out with
out single hitch of consequence, and now
Mr.. Kirkland, the chairman of the water
carnival committee, is being universally
congratulated on tn happy result of the
efforts of himself and his colleagues.
READ Howard V. Sutherland's wit and satire
in to-dsy's Star.