The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-05
River Blazes with Lights While Pa
rade of Floats Sweeps Along i'm
WeII-Ordered Array.
ADMIRAL TYNDALL IN COMMAND
FRED KRAUsS's BARGE VOTED THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL.
Pirate Craft. with Skull and Cross
Bones, Menaced the Peaceful Mer-
chantmen-Other Floats.

lnOldUdDOlS 1dlOt 1luO NdS III "a wiz
beautifully decorated canoes last night at
the water carnival given by the members of
the Canoe Club. The quiet river was trans
formed. Thousands of Chinese and Japan
csc lanterns with an abundance of fire.
works added greatly TO the spectacle. The
water pageant was one that will not soon
be forgotten by the crowd that witnessed
it. 1t was a picture which imprinted
itself indelibly on the minds of the thou
sands of spectators who lined the banks of
the river for several blocks.
For weeks the members of the Indian
apolis Canoe Club have been preparing
for this event. Last year when arrange
ments had been completed for the clubs
first water carnival rain fell in torrents
on the night of the show and the festival
was called off. This year the members were
determined that if the weather permitted
they would give the p~rettiest water spec
tscle ever seen in this city. Every member
of the club who owned a canoe entered
into the spirit of the show, with the result
that last nights exhibition was pronounced
superior to anything yet attempted in that
line on local waterways
CROWD WAS IMMENSE.
The procession of gayly-decorated boats
was announced TO start at $50 O'Clock. Sew
eral hours before that time the street car
company had its hands full in transporting
the immense crowds to the vicinity of Riv-
erside Park and the club grounds. Thou
sands went out to the grounds in carriages.
Long after the parade of floats started
down the river the crowd continued arriv-
ing. The downtown streets were lined
with people unable to get street cars. Many
came down town expecting to get a car
at Washington and Illinois streets, and il
was necessary for them to go to South
street, where they had difficulty i'm board
ing the cars, SO greatly packed were they.
When the cars came around the first spun
at Riverside Park the beauty of the exhi
bition broke suddenly upon the visitors.
Across the open park could plainly be seer
the thousands OF pretty lights that dangled
over the river.
The grounds of the club presented a more
striking appearance. Hundreds of lanterns
and vari-colored incandescent light were
strung about the grounds and over the
clubhouse. Prettily-gowned women sitting
under the lights made the picture more en-
trancing. From the clubhouse to the wag-
on bridge over the river at Thirtieth street
was another string OF japanese lanterns
Board aided in the work of decoration
Two strings of lanterns were strung from
Thirtieth street to the railroad bridge, two
blocks north. on the east bank of the
river. extending from the clubhouse TO the
Big Four Railroad bridge. more lights add
ed TO the beauty of the scene.
About two blocks above the railroad bridg,
the boats sembl and were arranged in
their respective positions by Admiral Rob
ert H.. Tyndall, who was assisted by Vice
Admiral Robert Smith.
a HOT COMMANDMENT.
Before the parade of boats began A. II
position on Fort Clyde Power, in Riversid,
Park. and bombarded each water craft tina
got in the path of the parade. For full,
t.oIf oo bo,.r xoIioxc 90 Dor,o, or1Io. -
shot across the water. A good deal of fun
was had by those in charge of the hreworka
when they aimed their Roman candles a
some dark craft slowly stealing it's wa!
across the river.
The steamer Helen Gould was tied I'D a
Port De Norville, near the park, and thi
craft was also nicely decorated. Hundred
OF people swarmed on its decks, and tn
boat listed greatly.
Exactly at $50 O'Clock a warning gun wa
fired from the deck of Admiral Tyndall'
flag ship. The boats that had been maneuv
ering about in the water for half an hou
rowed into their positions for the beginnin,
of the parade down the stream. Five min
utes later another gun was fired. and 4
the strains of music from the lndianapoli
Military Band, stationed on the grounds o
the clubhouse. the water parade began
Slowly the boats glided down the stream
Admiral Tyndall and Vice dmiral Smitl
led the procession. Following. at almost
boats length behind. came the other canoes
When the first boats made their appear
ance under the railroad bridge cheers an,
handclapping greeted them. The applaus
was taken up by those down the stream
and ii gave evidence TO the members of tn
club that their efforts to give a water car
nival on a gigantic scale had been success
full.
The line of floats glided down near tn
| right bank of the river like a fiery dragon
IL continued until about one block beloy
the wagon bridge at Thirteenth street
where a turn was made and the procession
returned on the left bank. where a larg
crowd had gathered on the grounds of tn
clubhouse TO review the spectacle.
FORTY BOATS IN PARADE.
1t was estimated that there were fort
decorated boats in the parade. OF thi
number the most pretentiously decorate
was that of Fred Krauss. 1t was a fla
patterned after the barge of Cleopatra. Tw
canoes had been put together and covere
with canvas. Rising from the stern an
p~rotruding forward to the middle OF TN
boat was a long strip of canvas I'm tn
shape OF a lily petal. Under this wer
seated Misses Helen CAGE and Eta Kraus.
in the front and attached TO the boats wer
four imitation swans OF large dimension:
Sitting astride of these swans and holdin
paddles were Fred Krauss, George r. Han
ma. Edward +. Jones and j. ID. Prevo. A
this float glided down the stream and IN
attention of the great crowd was called [
IL cheer upon cheer went up and IL wa
voted the finest attraction on the waite
Nying with Mr.. krauss's float was one /
charge Of 'the pirates" This was a barg
l built on coal oil barrels, over which wer