The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-07-07
CELEBRATION IN NORFOLK
FAIR WEATHER, FIREcRAcKERS
AND STREET SHOWS.
RAIN SPOILED THE RACING
But In Spite OF the Weather Man, the
Crowds Which Came to Norfolk
Stayed All Day and Had a Good
Time-Features-Ac dents.
tFrom Wednesdays Daily1

From Wednesdays Daiy.l
A third of July with unusual fea.
lures and large contribution of
moisture caused Norfolk to awaken
slowly to the enthusiasm of the
Fourth. The streets were inches deep
in mud, the decorations were faded
and bedraggled and the first gathering
Of the crowd looked more like It had
time to put in and didn't know how
to do II than one early and eagerly
astir to see a program that the mud
and wetness could not interfere with.
Enthusiasm and certainty were lack
ing and it depended on the day as 1t
advanced to supply the lack That it
did develop was due to the fact that
people were determined to have a cell
ebration in spite of adverse condi-
tions. All reserve, care of dainty
boots and heed for the color of skirts
and dresses had to- be overcome be
fore the spirit of enthusiasm could be
brought to the surface.
1t was fully 0 o'clock before there
was any movement to indicate that
celebration was on. 1t commenced
with the assembling of the Valentine
band on the band stand at the corner
of Third street and Norfolk avenue
There a pleasing concert program was
rendered and the crowd of several
hundred driftcd there to listen to the
music, occupying the walks and try
ing to keep out of the mud. Soon af
terward the carnival band attracted
the crowd to the platform in the same
neighborhood where a "boneless" man
held the attention of the crowd for
time, then to the swinging rings be-
tween Fourth and Fifth streets. Fol
lowing this was the water fight be-
tween Fifth and Sixth streets that was
contested with vigor and persistence
by both teams. one of which was final
ly drowned out. Then came the high
dive. The strong wind prevailing
made the position of the man on top
of the high and narrow tower exceed
ingly precarious and he was some
time in gauging his descent, but he
finally cut loose, turned over once and
lit in the shallow tank with a splash
Immediately afterward appearing
above the surface of the water and
climbing over the top of the tank
Another water fight took place be-
tween Second and Third streets, and
then the crowd was left to find its
own amusement, which it did with en-.
thusiasm, making the rounds of the
various attractions, good naturedly
showing and jostiEg for places on the
walk and looking I'D places for dinner
BY noon the crowd had swelled until
the walks were taxed to accommodate
them and they were splashiug through
the mud with small heed to couse-
querces.
1t was a bright day overhead and
the wind helped to dry up the mud
rapidly. Warmth came with the ap.
pearance of the sun, and at midday
there was on tap the usual Fourth of
July conditions, lacking the dust.
In The Afternoon.
The afternoon, according to the pre-
Viously arranged program, had been
scheduled for the races at the track
but the rain of the day before made
the course unfit for the horses and
the speed feature had to be abandoned
entirely.
At 2:15 Professor Dana Thompson
made another of his high dives from
the lengthy ladder, which attracted
much interest Then the shows on
the street, belonging to the carnival
company, started up and did business
all the rest of the day The shows
are clean and above the average of
their type.
The warm sun made genuine Fourth
of July weather in the afternoon and
the bowery, the shooting gallery, the
man with the wheel who gave away
watches and lead pencils. the ferris
wheel and the tent shows had crowds.
Rain in the evening frightened many
away and a strong wind threatened to
overcome the high dive stunt but at
O'Clock the wind had gone down and
Mr.. Thompson climbed to the top of
the ladder. Amid a blaze of redness
he dropped off in the night, turned
over once and lit right side up with
care. Thompson does not dive head
first. He jumps off. turns one somer-
sault backwards and lights in a dou.
bled up.
Pandemonum reigned after dark.
with rubber bladders predominating.
| GIRL is SHOT IN CHEEK.