The indicator., 1897-10-09
DENvER'S BIG SHOW.
FESTIVAL OF MOUNTAIN AND
PLAIN.
Great Crowds visit the Capital to Enjoy
the Entertainment of Carnival Week
Perfect Weather and Careful Prepars-
tlons Make 1t n Success.

Denver, Oct. 5.-The Pageant of
Progress last year was excellent, but
that of 1897 surpassed 1t. During an
hour and u half a solid line of floats.
bands. vehicles Of MI kinds, Indians,
cowboys and Cinnamon passed through
the streets and received the applause
of tens OF thousands of enthusiastic
spectators. Mile after mile the way
was bordered 10y n solid mass of hui
manity, men, women and children,
while every window, roof and vacant
space was made use OF by the eager
throng of spectators.
The first division was composed cs
pioneers. There was the Concord
coach. crowded with Argonauts:
group of miners, with the primitive
tools Of the sos; float showing the
arastra in operation by live burro;
an early Denver gambling hall in full
blast; carriages bearing pioneers-men
and women many of whom have been
prominent in the state for forty years.
Behind these came the lndians-Utes.
Santa Claras and Apaches. braves,
squhws and pappooses dccked out in
feathers, beads. war paint and the
brightest of blankets.
The cowboy was very much in evil
dcnce, with his bucking broncho which
evinced warm desire to stampede the
crowd. They formed striking con-
traSt with the second division. which
was composed of decorated carriages.
There We're phaetons, four-in- hands.
tandems, traps, draCs and landaus.
They Were decorated in all colors and
shades, with great variety of flowers
and In many elaborate designs. Taken
with the beautiful women, this portion
of the pageant was artistic and
altogether lovely At the end of this
division came the queen Of the festival,
preceded by her maids of honor. Miss
Lillian Iiurd, the queen of 81, and her
maids as well. We're warmly greeted
as they passed before the throng. Colo
rado has reason to feel proud of these
handsome Young women.
Division three was composed for the
greater part of agricultural and horti-
cultural exhibits. There We're displays
from Pueblo Otero, Bent. Mesa. Do
lores Montczuma and other counties.
Then came several exhibits of cattle
and horses. followed in turn by car
ringes containing members of various
societies.
The following division was devoted
to an eNemplification of the mining in
dustry. Most of the leading mining
counties Were represented by floats
giving statistics or showing leading
mines or representations of ore. SeV-
eral of the big companies We're repre-
seuted in this division.
Next came the industrial division.
made up chiefly of floats advertising
various factories and firms. many of
them showing men at work at their
trades
Last. but not least. came the
('biunIunp 1.nl-.I in, NJ.
ray, as no one who had only seen the
humble washerman would ever suspect
that n Chinaman could dress. They
Wore coats that appeared to be EN-
broidered with gold and precious
stones, and variety of headgear that
was surprising. They carried gods
and waved banners and executed"
music that would raise the dead. At
the grand stand they halted and shot
of n string of trecrackers that put 10
shame the attempts of the patriotic
small boy to make noise. Perhaps
the most attractive monstrosity of the
Chinese display was the dragon. which
was imported for the occasion. The
monster was 200 feet In length, with
mammoth head and horns and coIl-
structed OF silk, embroidered with gold
ard silver His scales Were Of ham
mered metal and the designs which
covered its body Were worked by land
with the finest silk. The terrible being
was borne along by forty men. and iis
great head swayed as the rising and
falling of a serpent.
After the parade the fircmen gave n
splendid exhibition of pompier ladder
climbing and an exposition of life saw
ing by the new rope. The exhibition
was given in front of the grand stand,
where tower seventy feet high had
been erected. Five men We're using
one ladder with extensions at the same
time, beginning at the ground and
going to the top. The sixtyfoot jump
with the life-saving rope and belt was
made successfully by Fireman Henry
Shafnct of truck company No. l.
Fireman John Knowlty Of truck
company No. . was warmly applauded
for his first-class work in rope sliding.
1t was one of the best athletic exhibi-
tions seen in the West. Adolph Grae-
Der of the same company was also the
recipient of applause for similar work.
In making the jump from the fourth
story TO the net below. Fireman Nor
gan of steamer No was slightly in
iured. His back was sprained. but the
physicians say it will not be serious.
The exhibitions were very successful,
and prove the merit of the discipline
and training in vogue in the depart
meut.
An exhibition Of cowboy feats fol
lowed and was also an exhibition of
cow-pony deviltry. There was no lack
of life and movement in this part of
the program.
The Indians came as n finale to the
afternoons attractions and gave an
exhibition of their ability to dance
Various queer figure dances We're
given. to the accompaniment of a mo
notonous chant or peculiar shout.
The illuminated bicycle parade took
place at = o'clock in the evening. The
number of wheels in line was very
large and while the novel designs We're
not as numerous as last year, there
were several that deserved high praise.
The most striking one was that Of Mrs.
+. 6. Donahue riding with the Arapa-
hoe Wheel Club. Mrs Donahue was
cnveloped in an immense liberty bell,
suspended above her head and support
ed on the cycle frame. This bell was
formed Of red, white and blue flowers
and bore the figures '1I1G."
Wheels and frames Were wrapped
with bunting and ribbons of all gay
colors. and most of them carried lights
Of some kind. Some couples rode side
by side carrying between them cnor-
nous paper lanterns and decorative
flags.
The Gross Medical College Wheel
Club was awarded the first prize for
the best appearance as n club, the
riders being dressed in pure white to
represent phantoms. The second prize
went to the Handlers. the entire club
turning out in regulation riding cos