Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-27
MARDl GRAS.
Entry of the King of the Carnival into
His Capital City.
Pageant Of Menus aud the Mystic
krewc In New Orleans.
The Grand Street Procession Ancient
History aud Tradition.
Witnessed by Fifty Thousand Visitors
A Royal Gala Day.
Special to the Gaze,te.

Special TO the Gazette.
New Orleans, February 26.--The
New Orleans carnival, both in the
number and grandeur of the process
sions and in the immense crowds pres
cnt from all portions ofthe country has
been, this year, the greatest success
ever known. Il was feared nj one
time that the Ohio floods would some
what mar the entertainment by keep
ing people away who would other
wise have come but this proved to he an
error for even Cincinnati Itself, over
flowed as 1t Is, sent several large par
ties, including among others, Cincin.
natus, head of the carnival organiza-
ton of that city.
The largest number of
guests present, however, We're
from the East and South
New York and Boston, in particular,
have hundreds of people here who
have been winterlng in Florida, and
who stop on their way home for n
weeks festivities. Texas OF all the
Southern states Is probably the best
represented. The Southern Pacific
railroad has been bringing in from sew
en- TO ten sleepers day, and fully l,200
passengers; and, it Is safe to say, that
there are now from five to seven thou
sand Texans in New Orleans. The to-
tai number of visitors 1t Is impossible
TO even guess, although some fix IL as
high rs $4,000. Many of the people,
especially those coming from the river
towns, never lodge in the city, finding
IL impossible 10 secure rooms. The
steamers that bring them down the
river, u up to the wharves and thus
become floating hotels. Their passen-
gers go ashore each day to see the
sights, but return to the boat for meals
and lodging.
Thursday may be considered as hav-
ing opened the carnival. On that oc-
casion, the knights of Momus, one of
our best known carnival societies, gave
a very handsome parade, representing
The Passion On Friday, Washing
tons birthday. occurred the unwilling
ofthe Lee monument, so unfortunate
ly marred by n storm breaking out in
the very midst of the ceremonies.
Yesterday Rex, the king of the carni-
val, arrived in state and was escorted
to the city hall where the mayor sur
rendered To them the keys of the city.
At night, the Crew of Proteus gave II
display, representing scenes from Viz
gil's great epic, the .fneid.
To-day has been glorious Mardi
Gras, winding up the carnival, the
short era of fun and folly. From the
earliest hour this morning the entire
population of New Orleans, home folks
aud visitors have been on the so.
There has been no time for rest,
scarcely any for eating, so uninter-
rupted have been the succession of
sights and displays of all kinds.
The usual crowds, banners and
bunting were to be seen upon the lead.
ing thoroughfares. To-day the pronis'
cuuus naslers came out. Troops of In
dians rode along the streets brandish-
ing their tomahawks; apes of human
origin climbed upon the trees or threw
kisses 10 the ladies In the galleries OPP
posite, while wagon loads of ministries
by the hundred drove by singing old
negro melodies. This sort Of fun and
merrinlent lasted for four hours, until
about noon, Rex appeared To marshal
his forces and form all the maskers
into line. Asa signal gun sounded
the maskers suddenly and mysteri-
onsly disappeared from the streets, ana
the procession began moving down
Canal street.
The Bnuf Gras or fatted OK, gar
landed with flowers and with its hoofS
and horns gilded. For some months
past an earnest search has been made
To secure the desired animal which
must he the purest brown In color, free
from any speck or mark. lie was IL
nully discovered in the blue grass re-
gion of Kentucky. a splendid repre-
sentative of the cattle of that section,
n Durham of pure breed weighing over
4 900 pounds.
A blaze and glare of light announ-
ced the coming of Rex. IL isthe Gus
tom of that monarch never 10 appear
any Two years on for that matter any
two days representing the same char
acier. Thus, while yesterday upon ms
arrival here, he was Charles !, Eti-
glands merry monarch, To-day ne
came rs solomon, the wise King Of
Israel, arrayed In all his glory.
The car upon which lie was mount
ed was the grandest OF the kind ever
seen in any carnival display. IL was
apparently of massive gold, colder.
pillars supported throne reaching
hjph up in the air, decorated and
trimmed with crimson and gold velvet
costly robes OF white silk,
heavy with golden ornaments. AT his
feet Law q lion, and OH the car beneath
him and gathered around his throne
were the heralds, announcing with
their trumpets his royal presence, the
musicians playing on the musical in
struments, and the warriors attired In
the armor and carrying the arms In
,,a.. ;n sta Iuya ~ Solomon
The spendor of this chariot, glitter
ing with gold and crimson, was In
keeping with the wealth and power Of
the great monarch who was greeted
with shouts Of applause as he passed
by. Immediately In front Of the royal
chariot marched the kings division,
and around It were gathered proleo.
ton guard of thirty slaves, armed with
pears and swords.
The military escort followed, includ-
ing the various visiting and local NH
itia: the Fifth Maryland regiment nom
baltimore, four hundred strong the
Light Infantry Of Detroit, Mich,
very impressive looking company IN
their high white Dear-skin hats; the
Washington Artillery. Crescent
RIFLES, Louisiana Field Ariil-
lery and other military or
panlzations. In the center of this
guard of escort and Immediately behind
'Rrx rode his visiting cousin aud guest
Cincinnatus the head of the OHIO ear
niyal organization, IN roman chafn
ana accompanied by his pneiorr, NC
twenty floats followed, with various
scenes from the history OF the great
Simitic race which included the CtIal-
daens. Asyrians, Bablonians, Jews aud
$50 ...5 ..,I,fal, raua IN tba world