New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-02-23
THE MARDI-GRAs FEsrIvIrIEs.
TURNOUT OF THE m1sT1cK KREwE!
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SCENES AT THE VARIETIES THEATER
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crush and Great Time! 80 Gorgeous Tableaux
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That the art Of masking has been brought to
its climax in this city few will deny. The Mis-
ack krewe of Comus, who have for several years
past, on each recurrence of Shrove Tuesday, or
Mardrgras. totally eclipsed all other festive bodies
in the richness and originality Of their masquerade
ing and in the spendor of their entertainments, on
this occasion eclipsed not only everything else,
but even their former selves. The displays of the
previous three years having varied from each other
and having in their presentations and tableaux ex-
hausted the realm Of mythology and ancient fable
and of medieval hilarty, it was, of course, ex-
pected that this years display would be something
new, if not entirely original. Public expectation
was not disappointed.
Long before the Krewe appeared on the streets,
the several streets which had been published for
the route Of the march were densely crowded
with people of all classes, all reveling in the
delight of anticipation, and feasting beforehand
upon the sensation Of seeing something new. The
storm during the day had left the streets suffici-
emily muddy and nasty; but this seemed to be no
drawback to the public; curiosity surmounted
everything. We never saw the streets more
crowded on any public occasion. We shall detail
the turnout and theatrical display in systematic
order.
The Procession.
The krewe appeared on Royal street, from their
private retreat, in guise altogether unexpected.
tablet borne at the head of the procession ex-
pressed the design Of the night namely, the illus
traton of American history. The tablet had upon
it the words, "Statues of the Great Men Of our
Country The spectacle which followed excited
the surprise and admiration of everybody whilst it
plainly showed how layishly money had been spent
by the gentlemen who, for their own entertain
ment and that Of their friends and the public in
general, disguise themselves and get up these
splendid and mysterious displays.
There were fifteen cars, or wagons, each so
fashioned as to represent block of granite, and
each containing group Of living statues, represent
ing the famous historic persons of our country /;
and each car being drawn by horses draped in
white.
We shall describe the cars and the groups of
statues in the order in which they passed before
the gaze of the interested and excited mnltitudes
FIRST CAR.
Christopher Columbus, with his sword drawn, in
the act of unfurling the Spanish flag, and claiming
the newly discovered country.
SECOND CAR. a,s5
Sebastian Cabot, an old man, seated; and stand.
ing on either side Of him. Vespucci and Cartier the
dscoverers who were the nearest successors to
Columbus.
4-M4 THIRD CAR. a.a..s -g
Equestrian statue of Ponce de Leon, supported
by Narvaez and Alvaro; the early adventurers of
Florida. 49, 49,. -5..= -.
FOURTH CAR.
Ferdinand De Soto, discoverer of the Mississippi,
in the center, surrounded by Vanzano Menendez,
yasques and De Gourguez.
FIFTH CAR.
Containing De Bienville, De La Salle, Father Hen
nepin, Laudonierc, John Ribault, Lacaille and
Nicolas Bone.
Containing the English adventures and settlers
in Virginia, Sir Walter. Raleigh, Martin Frobisher,
Gernold Archer, Greenville, and Ratclife.
SEVENTH CAR.
Containing those memorable personages of Eir-
ginian history, Capt. John Smith and Pocahontas.
EIGHTH CAR.
VIM. Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, in the
midst of a group of Indians.
NINTH CAR. "z=a4
The Dutch discoverer of the Hudson river, and
the Dutch Governor of New York-Hendrik Hud-
son and Peter Stuyvesant.
TENTH CAR.
The Pilgrim founders of New England-Edward
Winslow, John Carver Miles standish, John Alden,
William Bradford, Edward Tily, Isaac Allerton,
and Roger Williams.
ELEVENTH CAR.
Heroes of the American Revoution-an eques-
trian statue of George Washington, surrounded by
four Of his generals, Lafayette, Marion, Putnam
and Knox.
TWELFTH CAR.
The great statesmen of the American Revolution !:
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams Robert Living
ston, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Roger
Sherman, Richard Henry Lee and John Hancock
THIRTEENTH CAR.
Generals of the American Revolution: Lincoln,
Wayne, Gates, Montgomery, Schuyler Lee and
Green.
FOURTEENTH CAR.
Containing an equestrian statue of the Hero of
Chalmette, Gen. Andrew Jackson.
FIFTEENTH CAR.
Illustrative of the Compromise of 1893: Henry
Clay John G. Calhoun and Daniel Webster
The statues, whilst dressed according to the
fashions of the different periods represented were
yet white marble in every detail, from top 10
toe. The masks were all made to represent the
features of the originals, and were very faithful
particularly those Of Clay, Calhoun and Webster.
On the side of each car painted the name of
the statue or gronp. Most of the cars were drawn
by four horses each; all the horses covered with
white, all led by grooms in Arab dresses of white
and the spectacle was illuminated and the light Of
day shed through the streets by multitude of ne
groes, also in white, carrying iambeaux of differ.
ent colored lusters.
The collection of the public to witness the pro-
cessiou as we have already stated, was very great
Long before the procession appeared, ROYAL
Camp and St. Charles streets were fairly glutted
with people standing in solid ranks on each side
great portion of the multitude being ladies, tptoe
with eager expectation whilst ladies also crowded
every gallery and window on the line of march.
The crowds in the street were SO great that an
officer on horseback had to precede the procession
to make way for it.
During the march, two of the cars became