The Topeka state journal., 1901-07-01
TWENTY DAY FIESTA
Has Just Closed at San Juan,
Porto Rico.

Correspondence of Associated Press
san Juan, Porto Rico. June 25.-Yes-
terday was observed as a holxiay in
honor of San Juan. the patron saint of
the city, and incidentally, as a feast
day. for every Juan and every Juan
ita. throughout the island. where ones
saint day is more celebrated than ones
birthday. The San. Juan News, the
American daily, gave a holiday to its
employees and issued no paper this
morning. For two weeks san Juan has
been enjoying a 20-day fiesta Thous-
ands OF dollars were collected by
committee appointed by the alcalde,
and San Juan prepared a prolonged eel
ebration, unequalled by any of the
past. A special programme was prepar-
ed for each day. There was music ev-
cry night. money prizes were given for
athletic contests, for bicycle, boat and
horse races. big public balls were given
at the theater and scores of private
functions were held The plaza has
been brilliantly Illuminated at night
and thousands of dollars have been
burned up in fireworks. Licensed gamb-
ling has been conducted openly.
On Sunday there was a series of road
races with $500 in prizes, one 500 prize
and four of $50 each. The horses were
not trained for racing and there was no
jockeying, but thousands of people wit
messed the event and consider mon
ey changed hands. What is called a
ribbon race, but would be more proper
y termed a competition, was also held
For this young society ladies prepared
a lot of ribbons an inch or two wide
and yard long These were hand
painted or embroidered and each bore
the makers name. The ribbons ere
suspended across the roadway frann a
WIRE Ihey hang about a foot above
the riders bead. To the lower end Of
each ribbon is attached a small steel
ring.
The rider is armed with a wooden
lance with which while riding at high
speed ne attempts to capture as many
ribbons as he can by inserting the end
OF the lance in the small ring One is
an expert who can capture half dozen.
A committee of the young ladies judge
the contest. Nearly a hundred riders
participated in this amusing event on
saturday. Bicycles are also used in
this game. Last night there was a very
hne public exhibition of fireworks, all
OF native m anufacture, and each piece
was loudly applauded by the spectators,
particularly by the Americans
Yesterdays fiesta began with bands
playing in the streets at daybreak, and
ended at daylight this morning, when
the theater ball broke up
During the week there have been
daily sports for the populace.
The fiesta of San Juan began June 10
s-AAG t1CAS are YET AAFc udyS more OF II,
and then three days rest before the
Fourth OF July celebration.
Governor Allen has appointed a COM
nlittee to prepare for the proper otserv-
aDce of the Fourth. with DR. Brum-
laugh as chairman, and this conlmittee
appointed over a dozen subcommittee
All are working hard, and the celebra-
ton bids fair to excel any celebration
that Porto Rico has ever seen. There IS
2 government appropriation of $780,
y whicn with the contributions Of indi-
Viduals viii enable San Juan to observe
Independence day in a manner which
would do honor TO any American city
of its size.