The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-02-25
the rlerialan the victor,

49,
The Knight Of Florida bore her oolors
calamity to the front in the tournament
at the New Orleans Exposition last Sat-
urday. DIR. g. A Gee, OF our .neighbor
town of Quincy, appointed by the Gov
ernor to maintain the honor of his State,
quilted himself right knightly, and
planted her banner ahead of all others in
the lists. He alone made perfect score.
From the Times Democrats lengthy re-
pert Of the tournament we extract as fol-
lows:
The tournament has come and gone To
speak of it as brilliant success Is doing 1t but
scant justice Not even Creole Day in all its
beauty could claim superiority over the magnifi-
cent day of the tournament.
The weather was glorious and with cloudless
sky and bright sunshine, contributed its full
share TO the brilliancy of the occasion.
The two huge stands behind the race track,
with seating capacity for nearly 1000 people,
about 2 o'clock began to resemble a gigantic
flower garden The fairest faces and the bright
est eyes of the city of fair women were there in
their thousands, rising tier upon tier, to the root
of the stand.
In the front rank sat the sixteen sponsors
| the choicest flowers OF a choice garden-scatter-
| ing their chances and smiles around them and
melting their knights 10 victory. The elite of the
| city was there, and scarcely lady or gentle
man wel-known In society circles but could be
| seen about the grounds
About 2:3O o'clock the nights entered the track
| all mounted and elegantly cOstumed, and under
| direction of their grand marshal, Major II. III.
| Baker, rode up in front OF the stand to receive
| on their lances the colors of the ladies whom
| they represented. There were seventeen knights
| but among them was an Unknown representing
| no State and claiming no sponsor The knights
the States they represented and their fair spon-
| sors, were as follows:
G. A. Gee, Florida; sponsor, Miss Murdoch.
| S. Villere, Oregon; sponsor, Miss Butler
| Ed. Herndon, Vermont sponsor, Miss Burthe
| W. ID. Haynes, Tennessee; sponsor, Mis-;
| ThrOckmorton.
| w. II. Hale, Virginia; sponsor, Miss Poche.
| Unknown Ivanhoe.]
| S. W. Fogo, Arkansas; sponsor, Miss Hunt
| ingon
W. c. Gordon, Illinois; sponsor, Miss Cage.
A. Upper, South Carolina sponsor, Miss
| Lombard.
]. H. Robertson, Mississippi; sponsor, Miss
| Ogden.
A. S. Ranlett, Texas sponsor, Miss Brand
Z. G. LeBourgeos,.. Louisiana; sponsor, Miss
George Aldige, Massachusetts; sponsor, Mis-
w. A. Brand, Alabama; sponsor, Miss Sem
mes
J. F. Nicely, California; sponsor, Miss
Braughn.
C. R. Urquhart, Kentucky; sponsor, Mis-
NJ. Hill, North Carolina; sponsor, Miss Scot,
Now came the first tilt in earnest Mr.. C. A
Gee, from Florida, handsomely alfred in re.
and navy blue costume, led off He rode re
| markably we'll and couched his lance firmly
The three rings were picked off with apparen
ease, and the knight of the Land of Flower
rode back amid the plaudits of the spectators
gracefully doffing gorgeous hat in recogni
zance of the same
The next two knights had excited much Gu
riosiy, and their deeds were eagerly awaited
Mr. W. H. Hale, representing the Old Dominion
| came first. He was known as a good litter, anC
was expected to make it warm for the unknown
ana Florida. He rode WELL but was heard Il
remark that his horse was not in good condition
He picked off two rings however, and mad
way for Ivanhoe
The Unknown was attred in a dark greer
costume, and was well mounted. He was firm
as rock in his saddle. and his lance was wei
poised and guided He made fast time, but
alas he missed first ring. The other two h
seemed to pick off easily enough, but his failure
the first handicapped him in the contest will
Florida.
Mr.. A S. Ranlett, the young Texas knight
created an enthusiasm by placing himself on
level with Florida, and getting all three rings OF
his lance.
An inermission followed, during which music
was given by the band. A good deal of guess
ing was INDUCED in as to the chances of success
of the various knights, based upon the score o
their first tIlt and Florida, Texas, Vir ,inia ant
the Unknown were the favorites, and with rea
son.
Then the herald blew his trumpet, and tn,
second tilt was given, and in due time the thirt
tilt
| The following score shows the number o
rings taken off by each knight at each run: