The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-08-23
FAVORED THE
SPORTS OF YESTERDAY,
The Many Events on Program Pulled
on Without q Hiteh-Large
Crowds Present,


lacking as features OF the second day
OF the great water carnival, A murky
strata OF threatening cloud hung
high above the city from early morn
till the twinkllng lights gemmed the
darkness at nightfNl But It didn't
rain, While the canopy above was
menaolng. Il is said that the regatta
committees, angercd at the despicable
conduct OF the storm on Monday walt.
ed on Weather Prophet Johnson and
explaining the situation, threatened
for him consequences Of n dlrrful ma
ture in case one drop OF moisture was
permitted to descend and mar the pro-
eeedlngs OF Tuesday, Mr. Johnson
was lntimldated, lie retired In pri-
vste with his barometer, studied It's
fluctuations. and secrcctly forced up
ward the mercury to trustworthy
notch above the mean height. Then he
appeared with buoyant ssy and
promised day Of unwouted quality,
While the blue of heaven was 10 BE-
efrdced. Il was simply that the sparkle
Of the sun might not flare In the river
ard thereby dazzle the eyes OF the
competing oarsmen. or course the
committee was delighted. The crowd
was satisfied, Tor Il came out In great
numbers, flooding the grand stand and
pouring over onto the stretching ex-
panse OF the dock on either side,
Everybody was happy. Jokes were
cracked. bantering humor assalled the
ear, and laughter and applause pune
tured the buzzlng hubbub, which ebbed
and flowed with the recurrence OF the
events.
There was an Incident which infiu-
eneed the general gayety. however-On
unexpected happening that almost re-
solved itself into q tragedy, The meri-
ment was at It's height. The exercises
were progressing to the pleasure and
qualification OF all. when a boat, man
ned by a farmer. and carrying his
daughter. drifted from beneath the
grand stand and found its way into
a perilous position on the line Of the
course. There was hootIng from the
landing, and shouts OF ''clear the
track" which ratified the poor country
man and caused his daughter 20 spill
her sunshade. which went floating
away on the water Although def
Client In the art OF rowing. the old man
was determined 10 rescue the headgear.
He arose. stumbled forward. and in his
clpmsiness upset the girl. who scream
ed and floundered over the railing. The
father described one or two evolutions,
and grasped the helpless maiden by the
waist. ripping II loose and relieving
her OF such apparel as is usually con-
ventlonal In public.
The fair creature would no doubt
have perished. had not an acqualn-
tanea leaped from the dock and swan
valiantly 10 her side. She was taken
In tow by the hair and finally dragged
safely again into the boat. The high
diver who was poising in mldair, pre-
pardtory to n hazardous plunge, be-
came excited and fell headlong from
his perch. s. ]. Pembroke. who is the
Moses of the visiting California oars
men. claims that the event was pre-
mediated and that himself and cham
plon Howard Brewer were the authors.
But their story is not as yet substaptl-
ated, and the observers will be 10th to
believe that a circumstance so fraught
with danger can in any manner be
construed as a hair-ralslng prank. The
music was admirable The First Reg
iment Band occupied the pavilion and
dlscoursed a repertory Of popular Sc
lections., while the Astoria organiza-
tion played aboard both, the Manzanita
and the Columblne.
Doubtless the most beautiful and
pleasing Of the program numbers was
the marine parade OF the regatta
queen. This event was announced for
two o'clock and the staunch steamer
Columblne was chosen for the royal
function. At the hour mentioned. the
boat was loosened from her moorings
at the lower dock, and with the queen
on the aft deck, attended by her maids
OF honor. and a notable company OF
invited guests forward, she steamed
northward on the river, and travelling
a graceful crescent, made fast at the
grand stand. where the sovereign and
her retinue were duly escorted TO the
throne Of the pavilion. The spectacle
was an enlivenlng one, and melted the
onloolsers TO a high pitch Of enthusi-
asm.
The diversions Of the day were by no
means limited 10 the printed list on
the official circular. Early In the fore
noon, boys swimming race was
sandwlched between the regularly
chronicled aquatic amusements. The
entries were Tommy Ross, Joe Han
son and a youth whom the spokesman
introduced as an unknown, from the
far-off lands Of the antipodes. The
youngsters when lining UP, seemed
anxious for the contest, and required
the sharpest Of coaching to restrain
them from breaking in an uneven start.
At a given signal, the trio shot for
ward, and with splashing and clashing
Continued on page three.