Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-20
NEW YORK'S CELEBRATION
The Most Imposing Pageant
of the Century.
GREATER THAN THE MARDI GRAS
Twenty Floats and Five Thou
sand Wheelmen.
A Triumphant March That Eclipsed tho
Marsli Gras ana the VeIled Prophet in
Splendur- Viewed by Thousands of
People.

New YORK., Oct. 13.-Last night the
greatest feature of the Columbus celebra-
ton, the civic pagent, came off, and
eclipsed the splendors of the Crescent
City's Mardi Gras and the Yelled Prophet.
About the heroic statue of their hero the
Italians made special holiday. And with
services from which even the great process
sions could detract nothing in interest and
attendance-for the crowd far surpassed
all powers of elocutionary long range
shootns-they paid in the warm, Latin
way u tribute of loving homage which
must have risen past the barriers and
brought incense to that undiscovered coun-
| try where the spirit of Columbus dwels
among other great souls. The triumph of
Columbus, so far as New York can make
| it so is complete.
LED BY 5000 wHEELMEN.
| The civic parade in the evening was as
| attractive as any feature of the celebration.
| There were 20 floats Enthusiastically illumi.
mated. Preceding the parade were 5000
wheelmen. Each wheel carried Il lantern
and each rider had small Chinese lantern
suspended from light bamboo stick. All
| along the line there was continuous dis
play of fireworks. The citizens obcycd the
wishes OF the committee III illuminating
| their houses and some of the streets looked
| rs il they were burning up.
The Gar of Fame" a beautiful produc-
ton, led the long line, and was followed
| by a band of prehistoric Americans. In
this car the winged deity Fame was repre-
sented as flying over the Western hemis-
| phere to announce to all nations the ad-
/ vent of the Columbus celebration.
After this group came another banner
and The Car of the Stone Age was sur
rounded by early inhabitants Of this con
tinent, while others were represented AS
fighting with giant turtles, bears and
snakes.
In float No.3 the Toltec son worshippers
were seen i'll the act Of sacrificing a victim
at the foot of a smoking pyramid, while
near burning altarS of incense Aztec war
riors were supposed to be worshiping the
genius of the sun, The band Of the
Twelfth Regiment followed.
The fourth float, entitled "Nictory of
Genius" was presented by the leading
Italian society Of this city, by whom it was
| escorted.
The Statue of Columbus" car came
next representing homage to Columbus,
the great mariner, rs he is greeted by
history and fame. On the front Of the car
was seated America with Spain and Italy
on either hand. The Fourteenth Regi.
ment Band followed, and then came a
group representing Cortez, Pizarro, Ameri.
Gus Nespucius, Ponce de Leon, Cabot and
| other great mariners.
Following came a body of Spanish
knights, then the cortege of King Ferdi-
nand and Queen Isabella, the Spanish
| court on horseback, and then u model OF
the caravel santa Maria drawn by sailors,
a display which met with the approval of
thecrowds. Queen isabella rode under a
canopy borne by four knights in full
armor, and was followed by gorgeous
retinue of lords and ladies of iberia. The
costumes were really magnificent, and de
serving of all the appreciation they re-
ceived.
A MIGHTY CONGREGATION.
To witness the wonderful parade Of
which such floats as these were prominent
parts New York and her 500,0OD or more
visitors were packed along and about q
line Of parade. 1t seemed as if 5oO0,00C
instead of 3OO1,00o people had gathered to
watch the last great sight of the three-days
series of events celebrating the discovery
of America.
HALTED FOR THE QUEENS TIGHTS.
Shortly after s o'clock the different
bodies who were to take part in the pa.
rade had mustered at and about the Bat.
terry and the lower part of Broadway, and
the police began to clear the line of march
The way was cleared, and the crowd waited
but the procession did not appear. The
crowd waited patiently, hoping that
nothing had happened to spoil the show
IN Associated Press reporter hunted M
and down the long line trying to find the
cause of the delay, and at length ht
found it.
1t was all matter of Queen Isabella's
tights. 1.-The Goddess Of Liberty has taken
my tights exclaimed Queen Isabella,
"and Fin not going to sit with Ferdinand
wearing an Indian squaw's dress This
was spoken OH float No. . of the allegorical
pageant, as the procession was being
formed. Queen Isabella, who is Mary Nc.
tinty on other days, told the truth; some
body had taken her costume, and, before
she could get suitable one there was a
delay.
Queen Isabella was not the only one in
trouble. 1t seemed as though none of the
characters could find his or her particular
dress.
But finally the procession moved on as
if nothing had happened.
The Columbian celebration in New York
was brought to close Thursday night by o
banquet in the Lenox LyCeum. The
most prominent figure in the beautiful
hall was ex-Presdent Cleveland. Among
the other distinguished persons present
were Nice-presdent Morton, Secretary oi
state Foster, Secretary of the Treasury
Foster and other members of the Cabinet