The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-04
SHORT BEACH'S GALA DAY
ANNUAL CELEBRATION THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL IN YEARS,

SUCCESSFUL IN YEARS.
Yacht Race and ChiIdren's Games In
the Afternoon, and Grand Illumina-
tion and Boat Carnival In the Even
mg-Delightful Hop ut the Churchill
Cottage.
illumination night for so to the Short
Beach cottagers has come and gone, but
its memory will linger in the minds of
the cottagers and their guests for many
a day. Never in the history of the old
est cottager has the annual event been
made SO much of, and never has the IL
Elimination been so beautiful.
Early in the morning the cottagers
were up and doing, spreading bunting,
hanging japanese lanterns and giving
their cottages a general holiday aspect.
They We're assisted in this by their
guests to a greater or less extent, for
the colony at the popular watering re-
sort has been augmented more than
ever by visitors from out of town. In
expectation of the earlier events of the
day large crowd of people had gath
cred along the beach walk and on the
bluff as early as 10 o'clock, but it was
about II o'clock before the five vessels
entered in the yacht race had crossed
the starting line. They were the fol-
lowing: Ruth William Barnett; Freak,
Harvey Shepard; Siren, Robert A.
Brown; Sea Gull. Henry K. Murphy,
and the Carol, Mr.. Brady. The wind
was light and unsteady and the race was
exasperatingly slow, but most of the
spectators remained until the finish,
when they had the satisfaction of see
ing the prizes awarded. The first boat
in was Mr.. Shepard's boat the Freak;
and the second was the Siren, which
was sailed by John Kellam Murphy.
Both were awarded handsome cups.
BY the time that the yacht race was
finished it was we'll on to lunch time,
and most Of the cottagers retired to
their homes, 1t was not long before all
We're out again, however, to witness the
annual contests and games for which
the day is noted, These began shortly
after l o'clock on the handsome lawn
between the Bungalow, the handsome
cottage of Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox,
and the Aldersea. The events were I'M
der the direction of William Hall and
Charles Pincher of New Britain The
list of entries was large and each con-
test was most interesting. The specta-
tors sat around on chairs and piazza
seats on the lawn and applauded each
event loudly The list of events and
the winners were as follows:
Boys running race, prize knife-Won
by Charles Hamilton; second, George
Footh.
Sack race, prize silver pin-Won by
Hamilton Roberts; second, George KEEL
lam
Boys potato race, prize knife-Won
by Charles Hamilton; second, Hamilton
Roberts.
Girls potato race, prize necklace of
beads-Won by Nina Damon; second,
Mary Hall; third, Marjorie Lawton.
Girls running race, prize pocketbook
Won by Nina Damon; second, Ethel
Swain; third, Mary Hail.
Boys rope-climbing contest, prize sill
yer scarfpin--Won by Curtiss Hall; sec
ond, Charles Hamilton.
Girls and boys sailboat race-Won
by Charles Pincher; second, Polly Well
and Clara Cory.
This closed the events of the after
noon and after the awarding Of the
prizes by Jesse WEIGH the cottagers
dispersed to prepare for the evening
celebration.
This in splendor outdid anything of
the kind ever attempted at Short |
Beach. At o'clock the illumination |
began, and in an incredibly short time |
all the cottages were ablaze with light.
Myriads of Japanese lanterns hung
from the verandas of each cottage and |
when all lighted the scene beggared de-
scription. From the Bungalow to the
lit cottage of Mr.. Corey
Up on the bluff, the beach presented a
scene of brilliancy and gayety. Women
n light summer gowns and men in neg
igee attire th-onged the walks, while on
he verandas were seated hundreds Of
,thers Bicyclists and those who came
lown merely to see the illumination
began to appear and before 8
lclock the beach was crowded.
At this hour the grand water parade
tarted, and as it wendell its way slowly
Icross the little harbor, with the strains
# Hands Across the Sea" breaking
trough the laughter and conversation
# the spectators, the annual event of
interest to Short Beach bottagers-tha
niht-could be said to be
veil under way The boats were in tow
# Mr.. WEIGHS naphtha launch and
hey made q beautiful appearance as
he procession moved along. Among
he prettily decorated ones We're MOTTO
d those of Messrs. Shepard, Seely,
Pincher and Perkins. The
arade lasted for nearly an hour before
reaking up.
During the parade the fireworks We're
ct off and added further to the beauty
f the scene From the big barge which
,as in the procession were set off many
so1nan candles and balloons while
rom the lawns, amid the blaze of red
re- the set pieces were fired off. 1t was
} o'clock before the illumination was
ompleted and the New Haven visitors
ad departed.
For the cottagers, however, the best
art of the celebration was yet to come
the annual gala day hop. This was
cid in the handsome summer home of
ne Churchill family, the Linden. 1t
as attended by all the youth and
eauty of Short Beach and was a most
nioyable affair Music was furnished
I, q c+rjnp orchestra and light rafraSb-