Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19
Potomac River Front Ablaze
With Pretty Lights.
SPECTATORS WERE MANY
Wate1 Carnival Supplements the
Boat Races.
LAUNCHES AND CANOES IN LINE
Music by Two Bands Enlivens the
0ccasions-Old King Cole
Delights Children.

Ablaze with many-colored lights. the
Potomac river along Potomac drive
presented a spectacle last night that
delighted the thousands who journeyed
to it's banks to view the water carni-
val. which followed the regatta of the
Potomac Regatta Association. soon
after darkness fell the spectators be-
gan to gather. The western rail or
the Highway bridge was the most popu-
lar viewpoint for those who were not
boats that were anchored in midstream.
The rest of the crowd was strung out
along the river wall.
The beginning of the illuminated
boat parade was signaled by a blowing
Of whistles from the torpedo boats and
other craft Far up the river lights be-
gan to flicker, and soon a snake-l1ke
line of small water craft crept slowly
down toward the bridge. Twisting ana
turning, 1t followed the river wall down
to where the revenue cutter swung at
anchor in midstream, then mace
semicircle and moved back upstream.
passing directly in front of the row OF
torpedo boats.
Mingled with the electric lights ana
Japanese lanterns Of the launches ana ca
noes that formed the parade were the
fiery red lights with which the torpedo
flotilla was festooned and the cold glare
of the searchlights from various Vesseis
that cut silvery paths through the oiack
canopy of the sky. Every now and then
a sky rocket would hurst In the air
above The whole effect was one OF a
lurid, Kaleidoscope mixture of lights or
many colors.
Throne of Old King Cole.
At 1.-THE conclusion of the water parade
the crowds turned back from the river
bank toward the bandstand. where a
section of the Marine Band. under the d.
icreton of Lieut.. Santelmann. was giving
a concert Another band had played near
the river wall during the parade: Near
the bandstand was the throne upon
which Old King Cole, his pipe and ms
bowl. his testers and his fiddlers three
were ensconced. This was the ob)ectlve
point of all the children that went to
see the display, and the youngsters rs
danced and played about the throne OF
the famous Mother Goose monarch.
And there were many little ones there,
too. Most of them began to grow urea
long before the program was comoie.eu
and their weary fathers and mothers ana
nurses were forced to trudge back to the
city with sleeping burdens in their arms
During the band concert the fireworks
were sent off in the reservation TO the
west of the railroad tracks at the foot OF
18th street. There were illuminated bal
looms. air displays and set pieces. me
first flash of a rocket drew the crowd TO
the immediate scene of the fireworks
The space from which they were sent up
was carefully roped OF to guard against
accidents, but the crowds were allowed
to come near enough to get good look
at all the set pieces. The majority, how
ever preferred to stand at distance
and get the full effect Of the air pieces.
Balloons Most Attractive.
The balloons attracted the most atten-
ton. They shot straight up until caught
by the breeze, which bore them south
west, across the river and over the Vir-
ginia hills, until they became mere specks
of light, scarcely distinguishable from the
small stars among which they were
finally lost to view.
The crowd went to the river bank In
every IMAGINABLE shape. There were hum
dreds OF automobiles banked around the
driveways. Every car that left the sta
ton of the Washington and Alexandria
Electric line carried double its usual load
of passengers, all bound for the highway
bridge, but many of the spectators walked
from most points as far away as Penn
sylvania avenue.
The festivities came to an end shortly
after 10 o'clock, and an apparently end
less stream of humanity poured its weary
way back to the city. In the darkness
there was no way of estimating the size
of the crowd, but it was unusually large
and thoroughly enthusiastic.