The San Francisco call., 1910-07-10
BY ARTHuR MORGAN LANGwoRTHY


quest to come to town for the fourth
of July week. Joe's chums also Joined
in the invitation. his previous visits
having gained him a fine reputation as
resourceful leader and juvenile
amusement provider. SO Frank had
barely arrived before he was planning
how to spend independence day. Here
is the program Frank finally worked
out:
"a. M.-Grand hotilla leaves old
wharf at 9:S0 o'clock. Arrives Sandy
beach at TO- After saluting American
flag the water baseball game begins.
Lunch after game
P. M.--Day fireworks to usher in
reading of declaration of Independence
followed by motor boat races and water
sports"
This met with the boys enthusiastic
approval. and as 1T required several
days busy preparation I will pass over
this time and begin the history of the
great aquatic fourth as Frank called
it, at once.
The Old wharf juts out into the
Prairie river, which flows through this
suburban section of the city. Every boy
who owned boat and every other boy
who could borrow one came there early
on the morning of the fourth.
But judging from the frowning faces
and excited gestures of some the occa-
sion was not quite as pleasant as it
ought to be.
Enough had happened the preceding
night to spoil one event on tlte sched-
ule, for the little waterside shed which
the Junior motorboat club used as its
clubhouse, had been broken into and
every motorboat stolen! Not trace
of the thief was discovered, but this
didn't prevent certain person being
suspected. However, nothing could be
done. and starting time compelled them
to leave for Sandy beach minus their
boats and their tempers, too.
But the splendid grand 1otiIla" soon
caused them to cheer up. And it was
: an imposing parade that sailed down
stream to Sandy beach. The motor boat
Zip III headed the line. She was the
only unstolen motor boat left. and she
was real one and not a toy model
like those taken. You probably remem-
ber Zip III if you read what Frank did
with her after the great junior boat
regatta.
The Zip II was gayly decorated with
bunting and made slow progress be-
cause of her rather long ''tow," which
was hemmed in on either side by all
sorts Of water craft, from salboats to
rowboatS, rugged out with flags and
banging small cannon every other min
ute.
Finally the Zip III arrived at the
beach and the ceremony Of saluting the
American flag took place. large silk
nag was unfurled at her bow while
every one took off his hat first and
hred on crackers and toy cannons in
salute.
The the Zip proceeded to dispose Of
her tow and we come TO the water
baseball section of the program for
the tow consisted of no less than
nine small RATS. But first great
shedding of clothes occurred in the
lighthouses along shore, as everybody
put on bathing suits. Then they laid
out the playing field on the broad
reach OF smooth water off Sandy beach
Each OF those nine RATS represented
players position on the water diamond.
The largest raft, made of pine boards
~ Feet long by feet wide, however,
contained three positions--for catcher,
batter and umpire-with home plate
marked out. First, second and third
base floats were feet square and
large enough to hold both base Swim
mers' and basemen. Pitchers. short
stops and the three outfield floats were
rect square and only buoyant enough
70 support the single player necessary
for these positions. The water dia-
mona was laid out on much smaller
scale than the shore diamond. being
only about two-thirds as large.
The opposing teams were the Water
DoBs VINO were really proficient water
baseball players. and the Land Crabs.
The Land Crabs, as the Water Dogs
nlcknamed them, were known ashore as
the lnvincibies and boasted that "base-
ball was baseball on land or water"
and they'd show the Water Dogs
some real baseball now" etc.
Frank played the part OF umpire and
general director. for when you arrive
at the dignity of promoter OF amuse-
ment enterprises" you can't very well
play on one side and direct both sides.
SO Frank in his bathing costume swan
TO the umpire's position on the big
float. Ten minutes was given to the
accompanying fleet TO resolve itself
into lot of floating grand stands
spread out in a half circle at the back
and sides OF the water diamond, leay-
ing the outfeld free expanse of water