The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-09
MILKFEST AT THE BATTERY.
THE CHRISTENING or ANOTHER
PLAYGROUND.

Apples, lee Cream, Cake and MINK for the
Youngsters, and a speech by Acting
Mayor FOrnes. Who Didn't Have as
Much Fun There ms Some Other Folks.
The new playground in Battery Park
was opened yesterday by the Park De-
partment and a free outing was given
there under the auspices of the Citizens
Union of the First Assembly district. Fiji
teen hundred children attended it and
were banked ten deep along the wire feace
which incloses the playground long be-
fore l o'clock. which was the time set for
the formal opening,
When the signal that they might enter
was finally given the children climbed
over, ducked under and filtered through
the fence. In less than a minute they
were in possession of the sixteen swings,
the see-saws, the climbing ropes, the
parallel bars the four sand piles and other
paraphernalia Of the playground.
Acting Mayor Fornes attended the out
ing and made a speech. The Chi ldren
somehow gathered the impression that lie
was about to distribute the refreshments.
and in an instant he was surrounded by a
vociferous mob and hundreds Of small
petitioning hands were raised toward him.
A few grimy paws actually seized him by
his coat, and one man, who appeared to
be taking notes, was swept off his feet
by the rush
Capt. Burns Of the Second precinct was
there with ten patrolmen and a roundsman,
and they found their work cut out for
them. -Four stalwart patrolmen fought
their way with difficulty through the eager
throng and rescued dhe acting Mayor.
He said:
Through the kindness OF the Park Depart
ment we have tried TO Civ" you place where
you can enjoy yourselves, We know that
where there is play there il never anything
harmful done. The boys and girls Of years
ago had not your chance to play They had
no Fairgrounds and no such magnificent
The city always wants to take care OF its
Ilttie ones, ana we want YOU TO be able TO
therefore we will be good in the world
Tho children then scattered about the
playground. The babies crowded to the
mud riles. whence sounds of woe proceeded
when they got sar d in their eyes Two
hand organs played popular music. Three
boys were seen star ding on their heads
together ard declaring that they could
stay In that position for an hour and half.
the refreshments were TO be dist ributed
the children crowded To the southern fence
again, this time from the inside. Then
barrels OF oranges, apples ard bananas
were opened, and boxes OF cake ard 1000
cakes of ice cream were made ready.
The crush at the fence was SO great that
the committee filled their hats with apples
ard tossed them TO the children in the back
of the crowd. The scheme worked well,
ard the pressure agar st the shgcirg fence
was somewhat relieved III oil the distribr-
tioA Of l20 quarts Of milk began. Then the
fence swayed perilously and many an in
fant IN the front row was doubled over the
wire ard had to he righted before matters
could proceed satisfactorily.
The committee Mastered to get the dis
trihution over with, ard the Police cane
nobly to the rescue, Then was seen the
extraord cry sight Of a policeman bearing
a brimTing cup Of milk in each hand.
Milk dripred over all the children. and
presently the distributors began to dodge
as the half-drar @ | cups were thrown back
over the heads of the crowd. The pressure
on the wire fence Increased at every TO
INe"t. ard Tolicenan was heard TO remark
as he showed back two ambitious urChirs:
I'D sooner be in the Beer WIZ than here.
I never seen anything like it,
Fortunately nothing more serious hap
pened than 2 few nose bleeds resulting
from excessive compression.
i'F' ~ 'N'lN I GIN E'h'N ~ ''It IL 'Ie
fourth Of the kid 10 be opened by The Park
Department 1t is directly under the ele-
vHted road opposite the curve in State
street. The precaut'oN has been taken Of
stretching wire netting screen between
the elevrted pillars so thrt the children
will ret climb up on the swings and ropes
and come in contact with tho third rail
The three Fairgrounds which were pre-
viously opened We're Seward Park, 1T
Canal street and Ensr Broadway. opened
June 30; Corlear's Hook Park, opposite
the BROOKLYN navy yard and John Jay
Park. which runs from Sevent y-siXth TO
Soventy-eighth street along the Fast
River.
Four more fairgrounds are to be opened
this week. They are Hudson Park at
Hudson and Leroy streets; Tcmpkins
Square Park. ut Avenue A and Seventh
street; Hamilton Fish Park, IT Houston
ard Pitt streets. and De Witt eli ton Park,
AT Fiftv-third street ard Eleventh avenue,
Joseph II. Steirhardr, chairman Of the
district. furnished the refreshmarts for
yesterdav's outing. and Thomas F. Lewis
aud Cherl,s p, S over, Superb terdent OF
Public Fairgrounds, were on the committee.
The Hon Jacob A Cantor s,0t his regrets.