The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-08
LADOR'S GALA DAY
OVER TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUN
DRIED PEOPLE AT TYBEE.
SAW ATHLETICS ON BEACH.
TUG OF WAR POSTPONED AND MO-
TORCYCLE RACES CALLED OFF.

All Of the other Events Finished.
Orders for the Prizes Were Given
Inv the Judges-Dnncing and Surf
Rnthinr the other Amusements.
Fifteen Hundred People Were on
the Beach at NiEht-The Day
without an Accident to Mar Its
Pleasure.
Under a cloudless sky and cooled by
the salt sea breezes, thousands of people
spent yesterday at Tybee, where in
honor Of Labor Day, the largest pubic
celebration of this character ever held
in Savannah. was given. Tybee has
been the scene of the annual ceiebra-
tions for years. but never before have
so many people spent the day on the
beach on Labor Day.
The day was ideal and the programme
of races and contests of strength ana
skill were the most interesting that
have ever been prepared for Labor
Day celebration, and everybody was
happv. Many of the hundreds who
were the first to reach the island in the
morning were the last to leave at night.
Not an accident marred the day.
Late in the evening there were few
scuffies which caused momentary ex-
citement, but all We're quieted in their
incipiency, and they had no sooner
ended than they We're forgotten. The
events were carried out on the pro
gramme with the exception of the mo-
tor paced cycle race, which failed to
materialize, owing to the breaking OF
two of the motors, and the tugof-war,
was POSTPONED until the smoker, which
will be given by the union men to those
who devoted a large part of their time
and energy in arranging for yesterday
ENJOYMENT. There were many entries
in the races, and with more than usual
enthusiasm, as though influenced by
the 'invigorating breezes and the break
ing of the surf. the crowd of specta-
tors lined UP for a quarter of mile
along the beach and cheered the win
ners of the running and bicycle events.
2,5S5 ENcursiOnists.
Every train from the city brought
hundreds of new arrivals and the re-
turning trains carried almost empty
coaches until after dark when the peo-
pie began, reluctantly, to leave. Dane
ing and bathing were the two means
of enjoyment and during the day more
than 900 people entered the surf. The
road dancing pavilian was crowded
with happy couples. The orchestra and
band played alternately all day and
until the last train left for the city
and there was not a moment during
the day that the pavilion was not
crowded.
The exact number of people carried
down was 1855 Last year the cele-
bration was planned on an equally
large Scale, vet the attendance was
500 less. The first excursion train left
the city at 10 o'clock and consisted
of thirteen coaches filled to their ut
most capacity and with the s. r. Q.
sign displayed even on the rear plat
Horm. After that trains were run
all day, leaving on the Sunday
schedule and each train was more
than crowded. At night the number of
excursionists rapidly increased and it
was with difficulty that the trans
portaton facilities were afforded. The
afternoon and early evening trains
We're divided into two sections and
two engines were used, one leaving
the Tybee depot few minutes ahead
of the other. Despite their unusual
number, the people were handled with
out confusion by the railroad COM
pany and contrary to the predictions
of many, no accident occurred.
At midday there were more than L.
500 people along the beach, in the surf
and on Bohans dancing pavilion and
the beach presented a sight that form
ed an irresistible attraction to many
a photographers camera. The white
sand hills capped by green canes We're
dotted with little groups of picnickers,
gathered around the omni-present
lunch basket.
The Athletic Contests.
Despite the counter attractions of
surf bathing and dancing, the athletic
contests received more attention than
IS generally accorded them. With boots
of derision at the unsuccessful can
didates in many of the more comical
events such as the pie eating contest,
catching the greasy pig, climbing the
greasy pole, etc, and with loud plaudits
for the victors of the athletic contests
a large majority of the picnickers
threw themselves into the spirit of the
occasion and added much to the inter-
est of the programme. Nearly all of
the candidates who had entered for the
events. took part in them and there
was at no time a scarcity of partici-
pants.
The outdoor sports We're in progress
all day, and did not end until nightfall
The tug of war was not witnessed, ow-
ing to the fact that it was one of the last
events on the programme, and many OF
the participants had become too much
attached to other features of ! amuse-
ment to amuse others by taking part
in this contest. 1t will, however, be
seen at a gathering of a more private
nature to be given the gentlemen who
had this days celebration in charge
and the prizes viii be awarded at that
time
The judges of the contests We're Sc
lected by the Executive Committee as
follows: ]. NJ. jackson, car workers
union; Sergt. Crump, FIT Screven; ]. B
Mack contractor and builder. Their de
cisions were in all cases apparently emf
nently fair and not a single ruling was
challenged by either the participants o.
the witnesses.
The Prize winners.
The prizes were awarded as follows
100 Yard Foot Race Boys Under Fiji
teen-First prize, Job Ballantine BoyC
Wells, second prize; Robt. Grey THIRD
prize.
Pie Eating Contest-First prize
Edgar Rabey; second, Job Ballantine
third prize, Alice Berry.
Fifty Yard Foot Race, Girls Unde
Fifteen Years-Alice Sullivan frs
Teddie Harris, second; Mary Harris