Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-08-20
TWAS A HUMMER
THE FIRST iNrEs-MouNTaiN FESTIVAL
SCORES BIG SUCCESS.
ENTERTAINED A LARGE CROWD
livery AovErisEp FEATURE PRESENT
Eo-A PERMANENT FIXTURE

Cet your fortunes toiu, tnc PAST pres
eut and future" take shot at the COON"
"the Bohemian glass blowers, spinning
and weaving glass of all kinds" the
Topsy Turvy hotel, the house upside
down." "Edison's moving pictures;''
"see the snakes. from a ella monster to a
hernless rat,ler," and the big show was
opened.
The elements smiled upon this city
Thursday and gave US just such dsy
as would have been desired and had it
been made to order it could not have
been more auspicious. Opening with
lowering skies that were most forboding.
at O'Clock the heavens cleared and
spread canopy of blue over all which
gave assurance of favorable weather that
continued throughout the day.
II was Idaho Springs FIRST festival day.
and taken as a criterion was but tore
runner of many similar events that will
follow.
The early train from the west brought
hundreds of pleasure seekers from the
upper end of the county headed by the
Silver Plume band of so pieces, and in
town, Lawson, Duuont and Empire, be-
sides the mines and mills lying in the
surrounding country. And from the
sounds Of the first strains of music until
the close of an eventful day, there was
something doing every minnie.
The trains from the valley unlosded
coachload after coachload of people until
a conservative estimate placed the num-
Der of visitors within our gates at $500.
Central City and Black Hawk were espec-
tally generous in their patronage aud
thus more finely cemented the neighbor
ly friendship long existing
Commencing Immediately after dinner
at the carnival grounds at the cold soda
snring opposite the Newhouse tunnel. the
days program Of sports took place in
rapid succession, witnessed by all our
visitors, the crowd being augmented by
representatives, OF every family in the
city.
The burro races were among the most
interesting events of the day. There
were six entries, and the usual talk
among the contestants as to the merits of
their mounts. Roy White of this city
captured first prize, and Vim. Buxton Of
Silver Plume took second money.
lvy Baldwin made as fine a balloon
ascension as was ever witnessed in the
west O~ing to gust of wind tearing a
rent in the first balloon delay Of over an
hour was occssioned before second was
inflated, but this was properly alled and
Baldwin went some 1000 feet in the air.
descending to the ground by means of a
parachute.
The shoveling contest had four entries
Arthur A. Steele made the best time, un-
loading three tons of crushed ore in 7
minutes and a seconds. Louis Hiatt
took second money just four seconds
longer time. The other contestants were
each over a.minuie behind time.
The change of scene of activity trans
ferred quickly to upper Miner street at
Depot square where the volunteer fire
department made tests of speed for the
amusement of the guests. The result OF
these tests were as follows:
Hose No. 1 made the first run and sue
ceeded.in getting the nozzle to the top OF
the building in good time, but the boys
below the ladder took hitch in the hose
and did not let the water up as fast as it
should Hose No made connections
and got water through the nozzle on top
of the Ireland building in So o-Io sec
onds. Hose No. 3 was unfortunate IN
having the cap blow off the plug when
water was turned on.
A part of the days amusement that did
not get on the ublished programme was
the broncho busting that followed the
fire tests, and it proved to be the most
fascinating sport of the day. The vicious
broncos were at their worst and it was a
thrilling exhibition.
In the evening at the Trocadero was
given one of the finest athletic contests
ever witnessed in this city, 1t being
handicap wrestling bout between Harry
Hanson, of this city, and j. r. Cerarden,
director of athletics of the state agricui-
tural college at Fl. Collins, both men
having enviable records throughout the
country in this line. The rules provided
that Hanson was to secnre two falls In 90
minutes. which he succeeded in doing,
getting the firsf one In 7S minutes and
the second in SIX minutes Both con-
testants made . clean-cut battle OF 1t,
working to the highest tension at all
times aad introducing scientific locks