The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-06
WATER PAGEANT
SHOWS SHIP
HISTORY
Vast Crowds See MARITIME
Fete on Potomac River.
Mishaps Are Few.

The maritime history of the
world, as reflected in the vessels OF
all the periods Of civilization.
passed before the eyes or thous-
ands OF Washington's visitors yes
teiiay afternoon. on the historic
Potomac river, as q demonstration
Of the progress of mans conquest
OF the seas and as a proof or the
fact that washington possesses g
river harbor which may ultimately
make her one Of the commercial
seaports Of the Atlantic coast.
The great event, triumph OF
pageantry, came as q fitting enter
tainment5 to follow the glitter Of the
great parade OF yesterday morning
which officially opened the session.
The power Of the American navy
on the seas was represented BY the
greatest gathering Of vessels q the
modern navy in the history q the
city. .
mar the affair and neither Of these
resulted seriously.
Wharf COIlapses.
The first came when q pier at
the foot Of Thirty-fourtn street
northwest collapsed under the
weight Of spectators, dropping =
score OF people to the muddy bank
OF the river. Six persons Were IN
jured, sustaining cuts ana bruises.
They are Mrs. Lizzie Poston, fiftys
one wears old. SO4 Portland avenue
southeast: her daughter and SON
in.Iaw. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank A. Sim
mons. 10 FOxhall road northwest
and three children Of the Simmons,
Donald, six months: Robert, two
yesF. and Marie, ten years old.
They were taken to Georgetown
University Hospital and discharged
after treatment for. shock and
The second gave the United States
coast guard an opportunity TO prove
its efficiency. The barge repre-
senting the ship Sarah Constant
which brought the Virginia colon
lists to America coIlided with q
pier Of the highway bridge AZ It
was being tOwed through the open
Ing and the jar threw two women
and two coast guard cadets through
the canvas side Of the vessel into
the river and an aged woman to
the deck, shaking her up badly.
The women thrown into the
river are Mrs. William Smith, $50
Tennessee avenue. and Mrs. Walter
e. Fowler, 5O4 East Clifton Ter
race. Mrs. A. Z. Fischer. S64O
Eleventh street northwest. was
hurled to the deck and sustained
escaped falling into the river.
All Quickly Rescued.
Almost before the quartet were
in the water q half dozen coast
guard men. on the barge and on
the patrol boat Relief. dove in. in
fun Uniform, to the rescue. The
women were taken aboard the coast
guard cutter Apache, anchored at
Highway bridge, and given restora-
tives and then taken by the Relief
to the Naval Reserve wharf, where
they were put into automobiles and
taken home.
The entire incident was over 50
quickly that but few OF the spec
tatOrs realized that anything out OF
the ordinary had happened.
The pageant was led by the barge
OF Rear Admiral John H. Dayton,
commandment Of the Washington
navy yard, who served as grand
marshal Of the Congress- Of the
Seas. w. r. Roberts was pageant
chairman in charge. He was assist
ed by Lieut.. Tulley Shelley, Mrs.
Title C. Chauncey, grand matrOn
Order of the Eastern Star; Marie
Moore Forrest. general director;
Bess Davis Schreiner, personnel
director, and Caro- G. Moore, cos
tune director.
The marshal and his staff were
following the United States sub
marine chaser 30, training ship OF
the District naval reserve force,
which carried the Zurah Temple
Band, OF Minneapolis, and other
Shriners. She was commanded by
Commander John A. SchofieId.
The first float was the Welcome
Shriners' barge, carrying scores Of
girls in gay costumes, representing
all parts Of the nation. The line
Of order follows:
Division Tug Fort Washing
ton," towing Welcome Shriners
float.
Division Tug District" tow
ing the barge Of Neptune and his
court.
Division 3-Tug "Coast Guard"
towing CIeopatra's barge. bearing
l7ITEE