The Newtown bee., 1898-02-18
Town TOPICS.
The Ice Carnival at Saranac
Lake, N. Y.
DESCRIBED BY MISS BESSIE
L. BEERS OF NEwTowN.

The foll)wing is an extract OF letter
received by friends of Miss Bessie L.
Beers, describing some features of the
ice carnival, recently held at Saranac
Lake, N. Y:
"The village was beautifully decorat-
ed with green trees and flags and pre-
sented a very festive appearance. A
number of people from New York and
other cities came to the carnival, and
little Saranac Lake seemed quite an i'm
portant place. The parade of decorated
floats and sleighs was held yesterday
afternoon, going through the principal
streets of the village. The decorated
sleighs were handsome. The prize, a
string Of bells, was awarded to Mrs
Dennison, the owner of the Berkeley.
Her team was a fine one of beautiful
black horses, decked out with violets
and great bows of violet ribbon. Mrs
Dennison and her mother, who were in
the sleigh, each carried an immense
bunch ef violets. Another Of the sleighs
was drawn by white horse beautifully
decorated with pink ribbons and flowers.
OF the floats, of course 1 was most
interested in the "Fram," gotten up by
committee Of Sanitarium people, OF
which was one. 1t consisted of the
bow of large boat, supposed to be STALL
ed in the ice and snow, the mast and |
ropes covered with ice. Five fur-coated |
and hooded 'explorefs" stood in the |
were placed large sledge, several pairs |
of skees and snow-shoes, and Nansen( % |
himself stood in the bow. Another of |
the floats represented hunting |
In the background was large log cabin,
in front, about half dozen rough-look-
ing men sitting around a camp fire,
smoking, singing and telling stories.
Oae of them was making hot Scotch. In
side the cabin hung rifles, skins, deers'
antiers and other trophies of the hunt.
An Indian wigwam, with several very
genuine-looking Indians squatting be-
fore it, was splendidly arranged. The
Pontiac Club was represented by caooe |
containing the grand old Indian chief,
Pontiac, in all his waT-paint and featn
era. There was also long line of trap
pers and guides with their trappings,
snow shoes, blankets, etc. Then there
we're the usual 'tUncIe Sam's," ''Fairy
Queens" and Liberties" all very pref
ry. The procession came to halt at the
Pontiac Club house, on Flo Rer Lake,
where there was an exhibition Of fancy
skating, snow shoe and skating races,
and a hockey match. In the evening
was the most interesting event, the bonn.
harding of the ice fortress. This was
built Of large blocks of ice and was 100
feet long and 80 feet high. Colored
lights were placed in and behind it and
the effect was most beautiful. Three
wings Of the attacking party were seen
advancing from the hills, each bearing
colored torches, and winding in and out
thi ough the fields, until, at given sig
nal, there was volley of rifles and fire.
works-Roman candles principslly-and
with shout, the party rushed up to the
fort, which replied with whizzirg rockets
and all kinds of fireworks. The attack
ing party was driven back and made |
another attempt which was unsuccess-
full, the defenders in the fort bravely |
resisting. They finally conquered, and |
celebrated their victory by a gorgeous
display of fireworks.
You cannot imagine how strange it
seemed to be sitting on grand stand at
an outdoor entertainment with the ther-
mometer lowering about zero, but with
warm clothing and furs, we were very
comfortable"
-<s~--