Sharp County record., 1879-03-06
MARDLGRAS AT BATESYILLE.

Shade cOrnct Oallu, Seateu III tucli
elegant band chariot, lett here on
Monday morning, the 24tH alto for
Batesville, to participate with the
"fun-loving bats and ow,S" in the
Mardi-GraS jubilee, which took
place about two O'Clock the follow
ing (Tuesday) evening. We were
met in the suburbs by the members
Of the Batesville band who saluted
us with cheers OF welco te, which
were answered with gust2 by the
Evening Shade boys, B3th bands
discoursed sweet music as they pro
ceeded down one of the principal
streets on the east side Of town, and
finally drew up in ironb Of Mrs,
Neeley'S residence, on Main street,
where the f. S. band quaNered dur
inc the stay. At night the members
Of the Batesvile band gage con-
cert, which proved to be an inter
e8ting entertainment FOR 9 very ialr
audience. Early Tuesday morning
found the pavcments alive with an
eager crowd, impatientIy awaiting
the appearance of the "k31g." In
mediateIy after y O'Clock the pro
cession began to form at the foot of
Main street, headed by the Batesville
cornet band, drawn by siA magnih-
cent white horses, each Of which
wore a dimihutive copy Of the stars
and stripes attached to bis bride,
giving them a dashing appearance.
Next came a number OF floats, ele-
gantly decorated with flags and
.evergreens, each Of w6ich were
drawn by from four to six fiery
steeds, with grooms at their bits.
Following camo the Spring creek
fishing cIG5, represented by a large
yawl or sklff placed on a wagon,
and drawn by four handsome bays.
Seated in either end of tLs boat was
a huge bull-frog, looking as though
they had just emerged ron beneath
>.l.a fsltsl.Ja siisl sl4 .acnlcs nnlHcs %.AnAsnt
pool Of the lowlands. Then came
cart drawn by a small ANIMAL re-
Sembling in physique the mule,
that the most casual observer would
readily decide passed over the stage
plank when Noah ordered his cargo
ashore on Mt. Ararat. The cart was
covered with black, bearing, in the
center, q mound representing grave,
with sacred to the memory OF our
common schools" written Oh boards
at the head and foot Of the mound.
Marching in front, at either side and
behind the cart was burly darkey,
zach carrying a piece Of canvas
stretched on frames, on which was
written several tributes to the
present legislature. Next in order
came the Evening Shade cornet
band, whose handsome chariot and
horses had received the finishing
touches with U. s. flags Of various
sizes. There were u number OF We
hicles in the rear that the writer
could not notice minuteIy, owing to
The position he occupied IN the pro-
cession. TIE train moved off to the
wharfto await the arrival OF the
"king's barge" Passing to and from
the landing, black bears, gorlllas,
orangoutangS, and, as it were, other
natives Of the African jungle, to-
gother with . splendid representa-
ton from the far West, in war paint
and plumes, an Indian warrior fell
in at intervals. The landing reached,
the "Iling and queen" occupying the
two front floats, the column moved
slowly back to the loot Of Main
Street, where "the keys to the city"
were demanded, and the procession
began the grand promenade. On
either side Of the street, the side
walks, the tops of the most proml-
nent buildings, were jammed with
the anxious tumult, all gazing with
excited admiration upon the grand
pageantry before them. As the car
avan moved up Main street, the
bands played lively music alternate
ly, Proceeding to the head of Main,
across to Boswell, down Boswell to
Spring street, thence to Main and to
the landing, where the crowd began
to disper8e. At night, a goodly
number from different parts of the
country joined in the may darce,
at the ''temple ofjustice' = and at the
"king's palace" until "the cleok in
the steeple" warned them that twas