Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-05-03
MAY DAY AT RocKpALB.
The Rain Came Down. but the FESTIVE
ties Were Not Prevented.

Rockdale. Tex, May 2.--Yesterday--
May day-was eVentful In the history
of Rockdale. For days and nights pre-
vlous the members OF the Rockdale
fire department. aided by their faith
full and winning allies, the ladies', had
worked industriously on charlots, dco-
orations, etc, with q view OF surpass-
ing all previous May day celebrations
In splendor Miss May Donaldson, one
Of Rockdale's fairest ard most radiant
maidens, had been elected queen, with
the following maids of honor: Miss
Zelda Branch, sponsor of Hose com
pany No. / Miss Claudia Tracy, spon-
sor OF Hose company No. 2; Miss John
ME Houghton, sponsor OF Hook and
Ladder company; Miss Bessie Strclsky,
fire queen, and Miss Imogen Hicks,
water queen, and these In turn chose
the following knights as escorts:
Messrs. II. IL. Rogers, Preston Graves
II. II. HaslSins, j. c. Woody and IL. A.
Wallace
The first cloud that appeared to
shadow the coming festivities was the
sudden and serious illness OF Miss
Zelda Branch, n very beautiful and
ylvaclous young lady popular with
everybody. No such thing as substi-
tuting another young lady was even
suggested. for second choice never
goes in Rockdale, When the morning
of May ] dawned the second cloud ap-
peared, which, in unbroken form, OBJ
scured every ray OF the sun aud COW
cred the entire heavens. At 0 o'clock
the rain began 10 fall-not In drops,
but in bucketsful. Great sheets Of
water fell, flooding che streets, over
flowing creeks, cisteIns and everything
and causing many roofs TO leak. Years
have passed since such a dOwn-pour
has occurred In this section, but while
It dampened the hopes OF the May-day
celebratlonists It gladdened the hearts
OF all thoughtful people, giving prom
Use OF an abundant harvest. At II
o'clock the rain ceased, the fire depart
ment was convened and n resolution
passed to go on with the festivities.
Many decorations were ruined, but the
pageant was brilliant after all. The
parade was as follows:
Rockdale silver cornet band; Milano
Rifles; queens chariot, very beautiful,
with mounted escort OF knights; Hose
company No. /, with decorated cart;
fire and water queens, each standing
In Roman chariot drawn by two
horses, beautifully decorated; Hose
company No. 2, with cart deliberately
decorated; pyramid float, carrying the
May-day dancers, gaily attlred; Hook
and Ladder company truck decorated,
ladders high In the air with men on
them carrying buckets; magnificent
float of Stretsky. Clark Sc Wells; a
blacksmith float. with forge. fires and
hammers merrily ringing on the an
wills. Then came the populace In every
conceivable conveyance. Arrived at
the ground. procession was formed,
very pretty In Its arrangement, which
marched to tho platform. on which a
throne had been erected, where the
coronation exercises took place. Then
came the pretty May pole dance, and
afterward a tournament, with nine
entries. r. Il. Haskins won the first
prize and crowned Miss May Huey as
Queen OF Love and Beauty. w. n. Col
well won second prize and crowned
Miss Aileen Poole First Maid OF Honor.
VIII Roberts won third prize and
crowned Miss Carrie Arledge Second
Maid OF Honor. In tho afternoon Hon.
u. b. Muse. orator OF the day, deliv-
cred one of the most appropriate and
appreciated speeches ever heard here.
The day closed beneficial and happy
In very respect save the absence OF
the sponsor OF Hose company No. !,
Miss Zelda Branch. whose gentle pres
enee was missed by many.