The San Francisco call., 1909-10-23

tola festival committee.
But what was most worthy of re-
membrance was the novelty of the day.
The stadium at Golden Gate park is a
wonderful amphitheater. from the rim
Of which the Pacific ocean may be seen
on to the west. and on all sides of
which the forests OF the park stand
guard against the rancor of the wind
On the face Of the stadium is the green
sward, the sIoping sides Of which were
bright yesterday with 1000 or more
persons who gathered to see the ath-
letes and the queen
WEARS HIGH HAT
John Hammersmith of the Portola
committee wore a high hat. aIhanomaly
at 2 field meet, in honor OF the royal
visitation. and when the queen did
come Hammersmith stood bareheaded
for the greater part of the time for all
his glory Of glittering tile.
Through the north portal came the
queen and her retinue of green and
scarlet Portola dragons at o'clock
The strong and feet young men of the
meet were striving for their prizes. but
the royal approach took records out
Of jeopardy for moment Queen Yer
gilia was in a carriage. attended by
Governor Don Gaspar de Portola- The
gallant outriders led the way.
Hammersmith helped her majesty
and the governor to their tribune and
the games went on. while the queen,
in her gorgeous brown and golden
habit a huge bunch of orchids at her
oorssge. smiled encouragement TO the
swift and the strong.
HUMAN HULK APPEARS
Then it came the time for the prizes
10 be awarded on in the middle of
the field stood q hulk Of a man. known
from Shepards Bush to the Farallones
is the mightiest weight thrower in the
world He had been tossing weights
10 advantage during the afternoon.
Two victories had already been won
by Ralph Rose, the Healdsburg giant,
and two laurel wreaths were due him.
He was led up the steps of the tribune
10 the platform on which Queen Yer
Silia stood with a wreath of bay, fut-
tering with red and yellow ribbons, in
her hand The giant was too tall for
the queen. He had to bend low his 2SO
pounds of weight that she might top
his smiling countenance with the re-
ward of victory
Say thank you to the lady" shout
ed small boy in the crowd
RaIph's lips murmured some bashful
sentiments and he stepped down from
the stand. circlet of bay dangling
iauntily rom one side of his curly
head.
Then he went of and won another
victory
And the bright colonies of the Amer
lcan flag and the Mapping pennants of
he Portola colors rustled in the
breezes.
The queen bestowed other honors on
other athletes Then. with the scarlet
and green encourage, she left the field
which was to become the scene of fur
ther athletic triumphs, but not of more
gracious royal favor.
sEAMEN TOP OFF DAY
Scarcely had her majesty gone when
a body Of international sailors, part of
the crowd Of seamen entertained by
the Portoia committee with an auto
mobile tour of the city. entered the
stadium. They saw the sports. and as
a closing feature of the successful
meet a race was improvised for them
with two prizes of SO and s5 put UP.
TWO sturdy lads from the British ship
Bedford won the event, which was a
quarter Of a mile race. An American
boy from the training ship Pensacola
was leading. but fell when near the
tape, a second Dorando in short
Marathon.
About the city during the Afternoon |
were several events which had they |
not been combined in the big Portola |
frolic would have stood out in highly |
interesting lights In Union square
there was an exhibition OF novel Ian
anese daylight fireworks. Acting jan
snese Consul General N. Nagai ten
dered q reception during the afternoon
10 the officers Of the Japanese cruiser
Idzumo. TO which. were invited many
prominent citizens
At night there was the crowd which
can not stay away from Market street.
There was confetti, there was noise
making machines, there was the white
ness Of the overhead ilIuminations But
still the Portola festival was as if If
were behind dam. gathering robust
unip OF mirth and noise and jubilee.
which viii break over the walls to-
night The roar OF Niagara VIII be
quiet enough tonight to eat from the
hands OF a policeman. Nothing else
viii be
sAHEsT CLIMAX TONIGHT
There viii be a merry masque down
Market street which is to be clear Of
All vehicles save those needed for the
electric parade. There viii be gascon-
-