The Detroit times., 1908-08-12
WA TER CAR N WAL
IS BRILLIANT
SPECTACLE
SCORES OF CRAFT, ABLAZE WITH
LIGHTS, PARTICIPATE IN GREAT
RIVER FETE-slGH VIEWED BY
THOUSANDS.

Detroit has found the possibility of
its river as an attraction. Such was
the beauty and success OF the water
carnival held Tuesday evening that
IL will be- perpetuated as an annual
festival To which will flock thousands
from all parts OF the country annually
The contrast of dark water and
brilliant illumination. OF fitting lights
on the waves and steady. brilliant
light on shore made up the charm of
the great spectacle. The success OF
the fete demonstrated that Detroit has
never appreciated the wonders OF her
clear and beautiful river before.
AS soon as darkness fell. the scene
from any point along the docks. from
Belle Isle or from the great passen-
gers steamers anchored in the tream.
was one that came as "A surprise.
Lights were everywhere. The Casino
and other buildings on Belle Isle
stood picked out in tracer of lights.
Beneath this the staring lights OF hun
dreds of automobiles glare dout In
great semi-circle around the lower end
OF the island. Still farther down. in
the shallow waters below the island.
hundreds OF brightly decorated canoes
drifted In a maze of slow evolutions.
On the dark stretch of the river be-
low that, hundreds OF power boats and
yachts were in motion. their many-col-
ored lights shining doubly by refec-
ton. Opposite Walkerville a long
line OF passenger steamers fiaring with
light from main deck to bridge, swung
in the current
And Yet More Lights.
And yet there were other lights.
Belle Isle bridge stood distinct in VIII
outline and along the shore manufac-
turing plants were Illuminated and
freighters and docks bore beacons or
red fire. Moving searchlights from
the passenger steamers fitted about.
picking out some object in broad re-
lief. TO shift instantly TO another
The yacht feet under Commodore
Kotcher's command, assembled north
of the bridge In the American chan
mel soon after . o'clock. and started
away on its journey around Belle
Isle. Immediately after its departure
in the blackness OF the eastern wa
tiers, the main river was illuminated
by calcium lights from bargeA, and
the fire-boat Elliott suddenly tprled on
all her powerful engines and spread a
great fan-like cloud OF foaming water
in the air high above her A dozen
streams from her powerful nozzlas
united and wove In a great aerial cas-
cade through which the colored ligh-s
played.
This spectacle lasted for a hs.f
hour when the parade was sighted
coming down the river with all lights
aglow This was the signal for the IL
Elimination OF the fireworks boat, anch-
ored below the island. The rockets
red glare and bombs bursting In air"
showed the line OF launches drawing
past the islands end. Whistles from
every craft along the river greeted
them as they proceeded down to the
Nile buoy off JOS. Campau-ave., where
wide loop was made so that the
launches returned on the Canadian
side OF the passenger fleet lying above
the turning stake.
Boats and Cars Congested.
One regrettable feature OF the
nights display was the great difficulty
experienced in handling the crowds.
Every car line was burdened heavily
and most of them were fairly swamp
ed with the rush of eager people de-
string to get to the docks or to Belle
Isle. Men and women fairly fought I'm
some places to get into the already
crowded cars.
At the ferry docks there were more
wild scenes. more people wanting to
get on the boats than could be taken.
Belle Isle bridge was choked with
the rush of humanity islandward, and
thousands braved the evening dews to
sit on the sward where they could
view the spectacle.
In getting home. the rush was even
worse. Not until long past midnight
did the island crowds get passage
homeward. Hundreds were caught In
the midnight shower and drenched.
The ID. U. K. maintained a 30-sec-
ond service on Jefferson-ave., but
some difficulty was experienced with
the temporary tracks on the street.
The rails were warm from the cleo
trio current passing through them and
the great pressure OF the heaviiy.lad-
en- cars "ironed out" the rails to such
an extent that II was necessary to
change their position two OF three
times. The company had every avail
able car In commission.
The judges awarded prizes az fol-
lows for the most artistfcally decor
ated boats.
CLASS A-YACHTS 80 FEET IN
LENGTH AND OVER.
First prize-Board OF Commerce
solid silver gold-lined pitcher; will
anna" C. w. Kotcher.
Second prize-Board of Commerce
solid silver cup, One" w. Reed Hill.
Third prize--Yacht telescope. dom
ated by the L. Black Co.; Little
Lady" w. f. Scripps.
Fourth prize-Set OF silver knives
and forks, donated by Freeman. Della
mater Il Co; "Jessamine." s. o. Rich |
ardson, Jr.. OF Toledo.
Fifth prize-American flag. donated
by the j. c. Goss Co.: Dream VIM. |
Sixth prize-Yacht design. donated
by the Sieder Tent & Awning Co;
"Althea." c. Hayward Murphy.
CLASS B-YACHTS UNDER 80
FEET.
First Observation-Disclosures association
solid silver pitcher: Solvay Boat club.
Second prize-Wholesale associa-
ton solid silver cup; outing w. F.
Gennicke.
Third prize-Silver cup. donated by
the Scripps Motor Co: iClytie." f. 3.
Goodenow ~
Fourth prize--Brass lantern. donat-
ed by RI. ID. Edwards & Co; Electric
Sparg," J. Schug.
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