The Water Carnival - 1912

A Grand Gala Night is Scheduled for the Lake P opulation on Saturday of This Week

Lake Maxinkuckee's first water carnival is to be held next Saturday evening.

The academy having taken the direction of the affair its success in conjunction with the interest and co-operation of the cottagers and owners of the public craft is assured.

Wherever these events have been held the results have been highly satisfactory.

In addition to the beautiful spectacular effects of the event itself there has remained a permanent interest in the beautifying of the docks and boats, and a8 a consequence a greater attraction for the lake. The latter feature is one that should impress itself on the lake population.

It is been entirely neglected in the past. A few dollars expended by each pier and boat owner would make a decided change in the general aspect of the lake, both on the shore line and on the water.

It is as a cottager writes to the Citizen: "I believe that most all of the launches and sailboats have flags, but they might as well be in the bottom of the lake a8 in the bunkers for any real good they do. These flags should be displayed at all times. I think the steamboats should carry something besides their old green and yellow flag."

It is requested that all sailboats entering the contest anchor off the academy during the afternoon in order that their positions in the parade may be assigned. All other boats will assemble as soon as possible after supper.

The parade will begin at dark.

After the parade in front of the academy the flotilla will go around the lake where it can be viewed from every pier.

Following is the list of prizes:
For Launches---1st, triple launch ligbt; 2d, telescope; 3d, pennant.
For Sailboats- set of thermos bottles; 2d, telescope; 3d, pennant.
For Rowboats-1st, double cushion; 2d, rod and reel; 3d, pair of oars.
For Canoes-1st, canoe cushion; 2d, paddle.
For Piers-1st, searchlight; 2d, U.S. flag; 3d, pennant.

Three prizes will be given for cadets' floats.

There will be two sets of judges -selected from among the cottagers -one to pass on the boat decorations, and another to accompany the procession around the lake to judge the pier decorations.

Winners will be announced at the close of the parade by cadets landing on the winning piers and boats and displaying colored signals as follows:
First prize, blue light;
2d, red light;
3d, white light

All entries not already made should be telephoned to Captain Stoutenburgh at the academy as soon as possible.

That Lake Maxinkuckee's first water carnival will be something to remember is not a matter of doubt.

It will be a brilliant suc. cess. Everybody is taking an interest, and the old lake will present a scene on Saturday night such as it has never before experienced.

Decorate ! decorate !! decorate !!!. Culver Citizen Aug 1, 1912

---

A Brillant Success

Lake Maxinkuckee's First Water Carnival is Witnessed By a Multitude of Spectators

With her shore line resplendent under the lights of a hundred piers and with her surface traversed by mile-long parade of brilliantly decorated and lighted boats, Lake Maxinkuckee was scarcely recognizable to her old acquaintances on last Saturday evening when her first big water carnival was held.

The response to the invitation of the committee in charge was gratifying.

As a result piers that have been dark were brilliantly illuminated and boats of all classes contended for the prizes in the parade.

By half past eight o'clock the parade got under way after forming in the neighborhood of the academy swimming pier. At its head went the power launches, some in strange and fantastic shapes.

Edwin R. Culver entered the only sailboat and made a sweepstakes event in this class.

The rowboats and canoes were classed together and presented the most original desigas of the parade with the possible exception of one or two company floats. In one was a fiery Ferris wheel which loomed against the sky line above every other feature of the parade.

Dr. Reed rode in a Chinese boat, Miss Schnull in one of Venetian design. An Arctic design in pure white was particularly appropriate for the coolness of the evening. Captain Eisenhard piloted a vessel hidden beneath a bower of water lilies. The Neeswaugee towed a long line of cutters and floats and furnished electric lights for its entire following. The woodcrafters had an immense float on which they had constructed a real camp, and cooked a real supper of bacon, flapjacks and cocoa, thereby tantalizing all who came within the range of the savory odors.

The Second company started with a huge crab and an equally huge Venetian gondola which, however, came to grief by the touch of a candle. Company 3 maintained a war dance and an Indian camp, and blood-curdling yells punctuated all the proceedings. For the cavalry the steamer Peerless was tranformed into a genuine Southern cotton plantation, and the gay troopers picked cotton danced and sang to their hearts' content and, as the crowning part of their display, indulged in a big watermelon feast. The procession was scheduled to make the complete circuit of the lake, but the Neeswaugee had not taken on a sufficient quantity of coal and had to head back with its tow after the distance had been half covered. The smaller craft, however, gave all the shore the opportunity to see them.

Meanwhile the judges had been busy and after much weighing of decorations and stunts voted their prizes as follows:
Canoes and Rowboats-1, Miss Holcomb (Ferris wheel design); 2, Rob Parsone; 3, Miss Bertha Schnull,
Launches-1, Major Bates; 2, Mrs. Hazledine; 3, C. L. Messner.
Floats-1, woodcrafters; 2, cavalry; 3, Third company.

The pier committee had a diffcult task to reach a decision among so many ingenious and attractive designs, but they finally awarded first to Miss Ketcham for her pier in pure white with pillars, lights and drapings all in the one color. Second was voted to Mrs. E. J. Culver-Bell for a bower design of myriad lanterns. Third went to Major Bates whose "Manana" flashing at intervals became a landmark for the evening. The piers at the Lake View, Palmer House and nearby cottages and in the bay were gay in their brilliant lines of japanese lanterns gently swaying in the drift of the air currents, while at various East side piers great red and white lights stood out like glowing meteors.

The whole shore line was fascinatingly beautiful, and gave emphasis to the wish so often expressed that more attention might be given at all times to the illumination of the lake. In view of the difficulty in seeing the piers at their best at night and the equal difficulty in seeing the floats at such a distance from the shore it has been suggested by many that when the next carnival is held a parade be given both after. noon and evening. The experience gained in conducting the first enterprise of this kind on the lake will prove valuable in making the next one even more successful than the one of last week.

Following were the entries:
Launches--Major Bates, Misses Hazledine, B. B. Culver, C. L. Messner.

Sailboats-E. R. Culver Jr. Rowboats and Canoes-Mrs. A. F. Potts, Miss Bertha Sohnull, Miss Edna Schnull, Dr C. E. Reed, David Allen, Mrs. Z. W. Overmyer, Miss Mrs. Barnaby, Miss Miss Holcomb, Vaughn, Schnull, C. P. Fleet

Rowboats and canoes were judged in one class as they could not be distinguished one from another at night.

NEXT YEAR'S CARNIVAL.

At a meeting of the water carnival committee the following plans were tentatively adopted for next year:

For pier and water front illumination and decoration there will be three classes:

1. Permanent lighting of pier and water front. A committee will be designated to make a tour of the lake one night each week and give points, and the piers and water fronts totaling the largest number of points between the 15th of July and the 15th of August will be awarded the prizes.

2. Decoration of pier and water front to be decided on the afternoon of the carnival.

3. Special illumination of pier and water front to be decided on the evening of the carnival.

By permanent illumination is understood something that can reasonably be expected to last throughout the season.

The prizes will be of a substantial character, and may be kept throughout the year by the winner. If won twice in succession the prize will become his property. Various trophies are under consideration.

A handsome flagstaff, with combination of flag for the day and light for the night, has been considered; also a cup or a handsome trophy that could be placed in a cottage; also a searchlight for a pier.

The purpose of the carnival being in large measure to encourage more illumination of a permanent character around the lake, the handsomest trophies will be ed the piers and water fronts award. are decided to have the best permanent illuminations.

All prizes will be contributed by the Culver Summer schools.

In order that the piers may be easily distinguished, each pier will display the number given to it, which will be so constructed as to be seen either by night.

On the evening of the water front illumination a large float will be anchored in the center of the lake, from which fireworks will be displayed and a salute of artillery fired at intervals.

The judges will leave the academy pier at 8 p. m. sharp and decorations on all piers should be completed before that hour. The judges will proceed around the lake accompanied by school cutters which will be towed in colump and which will contain the cadets. There will be no other parade of boats during the evening.

The judges on the first circuit around the lake will take the numbers of all piers that they consider worthy of special consideration, and will make a second trip to these piers for closer comparison.

BOAT PARADE.

It has been decided it will be best, in order that the details of the decorations may be seen and the parade more efficiently handled, to have the parade of boats during daylight. This will take place on the afternoon of the carnival.

It is suggested that boats be decorated to represent flowers, animale, fish, birds, shells, stories from mythology, different nations, etc.

Fairy tales may be drawn upon, or boats may be decorated with some historical, comical, artistic, or fantastic scheme.

Classes will remain substantially the same as this season: Floats, motor boats, sailboats, rowboats, canoes.

There will be awards for each class. Boats for cadets will be placed in a separate class.

The exact date will be announced at least a month in advance and will probably be placed some time in the first two weeks of August