Douglas Island news., 1910-07-06


 and garlands. The children with their happy, expectant faces exerted an in- ffuence so magnetic that the rain was forgot and the sun seemed to be shining in through the windows,
 When the stage curtain--which had been left down--was raised, the audi ence was greeted by the Goddess of Liberty and her train of attendants oc- cupying the center of the stage, fauked on either side by members of the coun- cil, the orator of the day and the of. 6cers of the Fourth of July association. After singing America" and listening Go several band selections the audience listened to a short address by President Of the Day J. F. Mcdonald. The ad dress was punctured by the bright shafts of wit SO natural to Jack and which never fail to bring the laugh. The appearance of the ''chiefH made Us think of the Bible verse which reads, SAnd Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these"
 Again tbe two bands yied with each other to produce sweet strains. The Treadwen Club band has lost so many of its old mem bers that it cannot be said to be up to it's old standard. New players expected from the states failed to arrive in time for the celebration. The Native band from across the chan ael deserves special praise for it's pro auctious throughout the day.
 The Declaration of Independence was read by Mir. F. F. Summers.
 Hon. s. P. Chapin, of Cordova, de- livered the oration. MT. Chapin is a ready talker, never wants for a word to convey his ideas and was blessed with a most attentive audience. He spoke for the most part on the importance of loyalty and complimented the people of Douglas on the patriotism displayed on this occasion.
 At the conclusion of the exercises in the hall, every body was anxious to get down to Treadwell to witness the hose races. The rain had almost stopped. The hose races have become an import ant part of the celebration on Douglas Island. Eleven men constitute racing team, and each hose company is allowed to enteY a team. The teams run Q yards to plug, or hydrant, attach the hose, lay 150 feet, attach nozzle and get water. The prize offered is S200, first; Sl00, second. And the trick must be done in less than thirty seconds or it's no race. At the starting point drop, painted white and in plain view of the judges, is liberated by the first move ment of the racing cart, David kiuzie had charge of this part of the business and bore the title of Official Starter" Near the other end of the course the three judges occupy an elevated stand. Each judge is provided with stop watch. When the drop falls at the start each judge starts his watch and when the water bursts from the nozzle at the. ether end of the course the watches are stopped. The time is so short that when the race is ou and a team is tearing madly down the course. the excitement is intense. And there is "many slip" A stumble, fall, a jammed connection, and team has failed and is out of the race.
 A team from Skagway first took the track, but it's members were not fa miliar with the apparatus ard they made "no time." A Douglas team came next, handled the thing nicely and the blackboard at the judges stand bore the figures 26. 1-5 seconds. Next came the boasted Machine Shop team, trained to the minute and dressed like racers. Every breath stopped as they tore down the cinder path. The hose Is attached, ,. the nozzle man and bis companion are at the coupling frantically trying to, break the hose, but jam has sealed it against all effort and second later the water is in the cart. Too bad; it was noble race, but it took two good wrenches to break the damned coup ling. Some of the. boys didn't spell iammed with iin talking about that coupling, either. But who. can blame them?
 The Bullion boys who came next made their preparations carefully, came, down the course with long leaps and the bulletin board announced s21 4.5, seconds" Now that is pretty good