The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-06-06

the time for flower was near at hand. OF
this number probably 5000 were visitors,
but no more, the remainder being the
home people. The crowd was kept in
waiting for one hour. At 6 o'clock the
blast of trumpet up near the postoffice
gave evidence of the fact that the parade
was ready to march. In very few
minutes the order for forward" was
given and the long procession began NOV
ing over the route outlined in Mondays
Statesman and it was 80 o'clock when
the rear end of the procession passed in
on the piazza where the battleETAOIIN
front of the Menger hotel and
lined up on the plaza where the battle
was arranged to be fought. The process
sion was headed by a brass band and
next in order came the Belknap rifles.
Following them came the floral floats and
buggies. Among the more handsome of
these was surry decorated in while and
yellow chrysanthemums. There were
upwards of fifty of San Antonio's SWEETEST
society, rigs out in the procession and
they were all profusely decorated with
flowers, some natural, others artificial.
In one of these Surveys, decorated with
white and yellow flowers, were seated
Mr.. Joe Booth of Austin, State president
of the association and his wife. Imme-
diately in the rear of these carriages came
the various floats, all profusely decorated,
and occupied by children dressed in white.
yellow, blue and red costumes. One of
the neatest rigs in the entire procession
was small white dog cart, drawn by q
billy coat. in which was seated q demure
little miss of some four summers, who
seemed to appreciate her Importance very
greatly. Among the more interesting of
the floats were those on which tiers upon
tiers of children were seated, represen-
tative of brownies and groupings of vari-
Gus kinds. ,.. .... .,.,...... .f... I
Following these floats came citizens in
carriages undecorated and ladies and gen
tlemen on horseback. Following these
came another band, and then the great
est thing in the parade showed up. This
great feature was nothing more nor less
than that great organization of the
L. p. AS, known as Scully's army. These
angels rugged out in white helmets and
linen busters, and protected from the
upper atmosphere by blue and white UNI
brellas were roundly eheered as they
marched along. Following this army
very appropriately the wild man from
Borneo, in the shape of a band of Indians,
rigged up for the occasion, hove in sight
and came in for q goodly share of at
tention. Then came, the Mexicans and
in the rear was Mr.. Monroe Miller's
old stage coach from Austin, known as
the old Sam Houston, Inside this coach
was seated typical Texan of former days
smoking cigar and having his rifle in
readiness for any and all foes. The
driver was likewise armed. Following
the stage coach were half a hundred cow
boys in the height of their glory on their
bucking ponies, which were bucking es-
pecially vigorously this afternoon. Fol
lowing the cowboys came an old anti
quated stage of 1901 and immediately
behind that was typical prairie schooner
of t'h,a early days in Texas.
The procession wound up with all the :
fire departments, their various hose carts, )
engines and hook and ladder trucks being
most eaborately decorated. The parade
was fully two miles long and reflected
great credit on the enterprise of the citi- !
zens who so cleverly arranged it.. It's
novelty pleased ALL while it's beauty
pleased to a degree of safety. Many of
the handsomest ladies in the city were
occupants of the various carriages and
their beauty and grace lent that finishing
touch that made the flower parade of 1895
in San Antonio an event long to be re-
membered.
After the parade had passed once
around the plaza its forces divided and all
heavy vehicles moved out of the way and
left the buggies and surreys in charge. |
These divided into two lines, going in op-
posite directions, and as buggy passed
buggy and surrey passed surrey the Occu- |
pants Of the two vehicles would shower
each other with flowers. Those on the
sidewalks came in for good share of
pelting also and for the next hour the
air was full of flying roses and other
flowers. The battle, like the parade, was
a glowing success that should in every
way rebound to the credit of the people
Of San Antonio.
The visitors were extremely profuse in |
their plaudits as to the beauty of the
parade and the battle. Many of the
northern strangers never saw such sight
as was presented on the Alamo plaza
today and it is needless to say that they
were pleased beyond measure