Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-10-11
An Imposing Spectacle
Success ofthe Knight of D smasous.
FULL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS

No more gorgeous or more brilliant pageant
was ever witnessed in Delaware than The tourna-
ment held at st. Georges, yesterday There may
have been larger popular demonstrations and
greater displays Of enthusiasm, but certainly no
typical commemoraton OF the forever past was
ever more heartily admired or more lavishly
praised. Both horses and riders, equipaged in
gay and fanoiful costumes, presented pleasing
aud agreeable sight and nature lent an addi-
t onal charm, in cloudless sky and temperate
atmosphere to render the occasion one OF lasting
memory. All nature, both animste and inanl-
mate. strangely consplred together and harmO-
nlzed in crOwning with sue iess the efforts OF the
gallant knights to pay homage to the shrine OF
woman.
At ten o'clock the procession consisting of the
Ku ghts and Officers, with their aids and attend.
, n b. formed AT the nUrl end Of 81. Ge nges,
just beyond the town limits, and proceeded by
the City COrnet Band, OF Wilmington, marched
through the principal street anu out into the
field Of A. q Osborne, at tue south end, where
the contest was to take place.
The location selected was an admirable one.
The courte WAS stretched out over piece of
land not exactly level, but with just sufficient
uudulstion to relieve the flying steeds Of
a labOred motion Which would unsteady the
nerves OF the knights when jOusdug their lances
through the difficult ring. Along each side Of
erected to keep back the eager throng, while
spanning it were three arches equi-li5
from each others about 20 yards, fIOm which
we're suspended single iings ON iron pendants
On the left the judges and musio stands were
erected. in front of the central arch, while i'm
msdiately opposite tieIs Of seats arose above
each other TO AN altitude OF about IN feet. Here
the MASSES cOngregated to watch the knights
bound by. aud fIom this position hundreds Of
eyes were strained to zee the rings borne away,
AID h.,. IL nfh MAJ fah nil a
breathless anxiety friends came sweeping up
The course. The length of the course was $50
yards, and the rules required that the tilt over 1t
must be made Ia IL secOnds.
After paradng over the course two or three
times tue procession halted i'll front of the
Judges stand. where they were addressed by
Col. VIM ii. Purnell, orator of the day prepara-
tory to entrance Into the contest He paid a
lofty tribute to courage aud Courageous soldiers,
exhibited at Marathon and ThermOpyl@ but
deemed the valor Of kuights whose deeds this
tournament COMMUNICATED worthy of equal ad-
miTatlOn. He spoke of Feudalism and how every
| hing was made subservient to 1t Of the Cruz
sades aud their remote lntlnence in relieving
| from Saracenic thradum both woman and chrs-
tIaIlty-of tue union Of I 10 Cross and the Cres-
eit-hnd in his closing remarks he dwelt with a
| Just pride upon the influence Of woman.
Shortly aitsI eleven o'clock, the fitting began.
the knlL h each pa ing once over the course to
accustuui their ST. eds To the crowd which n
contest which was opening. The knights we've
| twenty in number. aud were cOstumrd as fol-
| lows Lone star, black suit trimmed with green
| Red Gauntlet, purple suit. trimme1 with gold
Killarney. white coat aud GOLD trmmlngs. suh
| black pants aud red trim nings; IndOla, brown
nit with blue; Showdown. green with red; Rel
| Plume purple with silver Culludeu, black wltl
liver; StrAthmnre, purple with gold Iytnhoe,
| ulack pants with white coat, tiluimed with Ae
| low; LsOna purple, with gold aud silver; LEND
| Nier, crimson and white (much admired); IT.
| George, pHrpe and white; Delaware City blat
| and white (also much admred); Damascus greer
| coat trimmed with red aud gold and striped paut'
Of purple and white Golden Sar, green witt
| white aud silver; Parma green with gold; New
castle, coat white and gold and black and rec
| pants Glenwood, blue aud white Mount Hope
| purple with gold and red Shamrock Glen, greer
| and gold.
As soon as the last knight had tested the
course everything was pronounced IN readiness
| and the fitting proper began. Three jOusta were
Allowed each knight at separate times, but in reg
| hlar routine ar laid down upon tue pro Sramme
| At he conclusion of the hrst TIT, it being lit
| lie alter II O'Clock. an intermission Of an houl
vas taken. after which the contest Of skill was re
| sumed. The following IL the sGOre: