Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-07
trout CAMERA MEN
| AT APPLE FESTIVAL
State Police Precipitate Near
Riot by Attacks at Win
chester Show.
B. = star Correspondent Of The star.

By = star Correspondent Of The star.
WINCHESTER, Va, May RE-
porters. newspaper photographers and
news motion picture operators left
Winchester last night with protests
against the matchmaking accorded
them at the coronation of the queen
and the pageant which followed in
Handley Stadium at the Eighth Annual
Apple Blossom Festival
A veritable riot was precipitated
when Virginia State police, operating,
they said. under instructions given
them by festival authorities, swooped
down on the photographers and or
dered them to clear out of it,"
The police undertook to shove the
men bodily from the field. The motion
picture camera of the Universal News
Reel operator was knocked from its
tripod to the ground.
Protests Save Cameraman.
Andrew May. photographer for Har-
riS & Ewing of Washington, was grab
bed by the neck and half dragged q
hundred feet before protests of news
paper men and nearby witnesses caused
the State policeman to release him.
John Thompson, photographer for
the Newspaper Enterprise Association
of Washington, and Edward OHara,
photographer for the Associated Press.
also Of Washington, were roughly
pushed over a wire guard line and
into the arms of the milling throng
of spectators, where picture-making
was impossible. AS the two men
sought to retrieve their camera cases,
containing Photographic plates, they
were pushed backward and their cases
L. -
ton of their forced retreat
Reporters who attempted to witness
the pageant from vantage points which
would enable them to write adequate
descriptions we're ordered back of the
lines and considered themselves fortu-
nate If they could worm their way
into the packed mob close enough to
recognize the various dances from the
printed programs.
Movie Operators Leave.
Incensed by the attacks. the motion
picture operators packed up their
equipment and left the stadium. still
photographers of several newspapers
and newspaper press associations left
with the motion picture men, while
two or three remained through the two
hours Of the ceremonies to await q
post-coronation, staged for their bene-
At through the graciousness Of Miss
Patricia Morton, who then was Queen
Shenandoah VIII, and Rear Admiral
Richard z. Byrd, naval flying explorer
and native son of Winchester, who
crowned the festival queen.
Just as the coronation was the feature
of the festival, so was the manhandling
accorded newspapermen az the same
ceremonial the climax Of q continuous
program of shoddy treatment. After re-
peated efforts to photograph the Queen
ND hAp YNriPRaecaR amid the few annIn
blossoms. photographers finally were as
Sured that an assembly would be ar
ranged for them in a specific orchard at
a specific time After two hours OF
waiting. word came from festival head
quarters that the royal party cannot
get there" Feeble explanations of mot
enough time" and too many social en-
gagements" were forthcoming as the
weary newsmen returned to town.
Passes Prove Futile.
As photographers and reporters alike
fed before the State police when
the coronation took place, they feebly
them by festival authorities and which
bore the signature Of c. w. Hollis, chief
of police Of Winchester. These passes
were addressed to Police and. trafnc
officers" and stated, 1.-THE holder Of this
card is an oflcial of the Apple Blossom
FESTIVAL and Is TO be passed through the
lines at any time, unless q parade u
actually passing your post"
Yeah" one State policeman replied,
them things is all right, but try to
make 'em work."
The Queens ball last night was Miss
Morton's final appearance in the regal
robes OF queen, for today she and her
mother. Mrs. Edward j. Stroud, will
leave for Washington on their way back
to their home in Winchester. England.
Winners in the feature parade which
climaxed the festival yesterday included
the Cadet Corps Of the Washington and
Lee High School of Arlington County.
which was awarded first honors as the
best-appearing unit in the military
school section. The Veterans of For
eign Wars Drum and Bugle Corps of
Washington won the highest award in
its section.
Other winners included the Bank of
Winchester, for the most artistic float:
the Northern Virginia Power Co., for the
best commercial float; the Girls Athletic
Association Of Winchester, for the best
decorated automobile; York Post of the
American Legion, for the best Army
veterans musical organization, and the
Washington County Boy Scouts. for the
best appearance in the fraternal sec