Evening star., 1953-04-13
Visitors Leave
After Weather
Spoi|s Festival
Outgoing Traffic
Heavy; Rain Ends
Blossom Fete

Thousands of tourists. disap.
pointed by the cancellation Of
the second Cherry Blossom Fes-
tival Pageant because of rain.
headed homeward last night.
Airlines, railroads and bus
companies reported yesterdays
traffic was much heavier than
usual, since many sightseerS
came to Washington for the one
dismal day
Before leaving. many visitors
did look over the city's museums
and other attractions. however.
When it became evident that
the downpour would make it
impossible to stage the second
pageant, it was announced that
persons who held tickets for the
Cancelled performance could get
refunds. They should apply at
Room 204, Star Building. or by
mail, according to Clarence
Arata, executive director of the
Greater National Capital Com
mittee.
$4,000 Were Expected.
The rain started at 11:46 am.
officials decided at lis pm.
when two-tenths of an inch Of
rain had drenched the area, to
call off the performance which.
they said. would have drawn an
estimated $4,000 spectators.
The Weather Bureau reported
that 81 of an inch of rain fell
during the afternoon and eve
ming. It eased off early last night
and began again today with a
steady downpour just in time to
catch early morning commuters.
1t was bleak around the JET
ferson Memorial. The cherry
trees, without blooms, looked
forlorn. Technicians dismantled
the water-logged public address
systems. Ballet dancers packed
their costumes. The Boy Scout
uSherS left. About 400 people
who had arrived for the festival
climbed back into their cars.
Queen Crowned Again.
The one event that did 60 of
as scheduled was the croWning,
for the second time, of Miss
Janet Bailey as queen of the
festival. This took place in the
Carlton Hotel at a gathering OF
festival officials. with Miss Gloria
De Haven, the motion picture
actress, doing the honors.
Queen Janets reign isn't over.
Next week end she'll go to New
York to appear at the Hotel
New Yorker's Terrace Room and
reign over the ice show. It will
be her first trip to New York and
the schedule includes round OF
television shows and night clubs.
Transportation officials had
special sections and cars ready
in Union Station and the airlines
had every available plane in
service for the visitors exodus.
At lesat six extra excursion
trains, which had brought tour
lists here for the one day. left
Union Station during the eve
ming for st. Louis, and points in
Pennsylvania on the Baltimore
& Ohio. The Pennsylvania Rail-
road ran extra cars to New York
and the Southern Railway also
did SO along it's route. The Ches-
apeake & Ohio Railway ran two
extra sections to Ashland, KY.
and Indianapolis.
Station Master Arthur Dobs
said more than 100000 persons
left the station during the day
and evening.
American Airlines. Capital Air
lines and Eastern Air Lines said
bookings were unusually heavy
for the day.
Look Over Buildings.
Thousands of visitors spent q
part of the day at the Smith
sonian Institution, the Capitol
and the Washington Monument.
Guards reported the number az
being as heavy as it was on Sat-
urday.
They're trying to stay out Of
the rain," remarked a Monument
guard, who estimated that 5000
persons visited the shrine. On a
nice Sunday, he explained, about
5000 persons go there.
More than the usual number
visited the Smithsonian and
Capitol. A guard estimated that
about 10000 persons entered the
museum before it closed, as
against the usual 10000. The
Capitol had about 5000 visitors
as against a normal 5000 for q
SUNDAY