The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-10-04
THE CARNIVAL
The Greatest Parade Ever Seen in East
Tennessee,

.# tennessee
Tuesday, the 95th of September, was
the biggest day in the history of John
son City. 1t was the date of the Mer
chants Carnival and the opening day of
the Tri-County Fair. This was the
second attempt of our people with the
Carnival feature, but they eclipsed any
thing of the kind ever attempted in
this part of the state before. With one
or two exceptions every merchant and
business interest in the city had one or
more floats in the parade, and there
we're long line of decorated private
carriages. And they were, indeed,
beautifully decorated and would have
been a credit to any city. EARLY Tues
dap morning the crowd began to gather
from all quarters, and by nine o'clock
the streets were crowded until it was
almost impossible for one to get through
the mass of humanity. 1t looked like
big circus dag, and the massive floats
of the merchants looked gorgeous as
they slowly worked their way through
the crowd on their way to the rendez-
vous.
A few minutes after 12 o'clock Miss
Gordon Henderson, one of Johnson
City's fairest daughters, that had been
chosen as Queen, was driven to Public
Square by Cy H. Lyle and upon a plat
form built for the occasion, was crown
ed Queen of the Carnival, This cere-
mony was one of the greatest features
of the day. Our distinguished citizen,
Hon. A. A. Taylor, made the coronation
speech and did so in his happiest mood.
He paid beautiful tribute to. woman
hood and grew grandly eloquent as he
closed his peroration' and placed the
crown upon the head of the beautiful
girl before him, Miss Henderson i'm
mediately assembled her throne upon
the Queens float surrounded by her
maids of honor, Misses Sauna Biddle,
Eva Cara, Mae Jones, Nell Rains, Will
lie Cox, Fannie Bolton and Lizzie
Carr all beautiful girls and magnifi-
Gently arrayed in white costumes. The
float was drawn by four white horses
and escorted by eight outriders, Messrs.
Will Johnson, Andy Spencer, Jas.
Summers, Frank Miller, Sam Millard,
Horace Miller, Will Harris and Bob
Martin, and Immediately took its place
near the head Of the parade, and the
great procession was under way.
1t is practically impossible to give Q
pen picture of the floats milne, and il
would do them an injustice to attempt
it. Most of the floats were SO far ahead
Of anything expected by the people
that they carried the crowd. gifts feet,
and strangers from cities. in. the city
we're compelled to admit that they were
the equals Of anything attempted in thu
largest places. The processioh covered
mile in length and was interesting
from the Foundry and Machine Works
float, drawn by traction engine and
\ containing machine shop in full oper
alton, to the bicycles in the,rear.
One Of the most attractive display
was the float of Biddle & Ellsworth
roller mills. 1t not only contained
-four display, but in the center was
Majestic range and o colored man a
!. work making and baking biscuits anc
throwing them out to the eager crowd
PRIZES AWARDED.
A committee composed of DIR. Han
nah, of Umatilla, Fla, Mr.. Waggoner
: of Knoxville, Miss Mae Fuqua, of Ken
; lucky, Miss Baum and Miss Taylor, o
! Knoxville, reviewed the parade as j
! passed around the race track, an,
. awarded the blue ribbons as follows:
5 Best float, Hart & Houston, dr.
! goods and millinery.
Best grocery float, s. j. Boring, Ey
: erything to Eat.
Best decorated private tap, two horse
Mrs. G. o. Biddle.
Best decorated private trap, on
horse, Mrs. M. H. Weller. IA
Best decorated fire department, Fir
Co. No
: There we're SO many good floats an
so many artistically decorated privat
traps that the committee hadhard wor
, to decide upon the winners. Every
3 body did we'll, and, while all.could nj
;. win a prize, they ought to feel ampl
repaid for their labors in the knowledg
that they contributed SO much to JOIN
son City's browning event.
This years Carnival was SO far ahen
\. of last years event that it is useless
h calculate what the new century's paraC
= will be. Put it down. however, as OF
l of the things you must see next YET
and look out for the dates.
Grip sufferers should take Miles Nervine.