Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1901-11-30
DENVER'S BIG SHOW.
ANNUAL CARNIVAL A GREAT EVENT
IN THE WEST.
In Spectacular Effects aud Jointly u
Takes the Place with the MardI Gras
of New Orleans and the Yelled
Prophets of NJ. Louis.

yer has held fall carnival known as
the Festival OF Mountain and Plain"
This event Is to Denver what the
Mardi Gras Is to New Orleans. or the
visit of the Yelled Prophet is to st.
Louis.
The name Itself Is a suggestion OF
the two classes of people whose pres
ence and intermlngling have served
to make these affairs somewhat more
picturesque and less conventional
than similar festivals held in cities
older and farther east--the miner and
the cowboy. Yet neither is any
longer terror" in his association
with the urban and agricultural citi-
zens who now largely outnumber all
other classes In the Centennial state.
The principal features Of these fes-
tivals have generally been about the
same: a grand procession of allegorl-
cal floats, civil and military organi-
cations, etc, spectacular illuminated
parade of floats by the slaves of the
Silver Serpent" followed by a fancy
ball; procession OF maskers and free
masking ON certain streets, followed
by grand masked ball; Indian
games. wild West" performances;
military drills and sham battles. To
these have been added at various
times horse shows. industrial parades
rock-drilling contests by miners. and
other attractions Music is provided
by great number OF brass bands
from Colorado and adjoining states
The attendance from outside Of
Denver is large considering the scale
OF distances that pertains to the
Rocky Mountain region, where neigh
boring towns" are those not more
than two hundred miles apart.
The festival this year, which lasted
four days. surpassed in some respects
any of It's predecessors. Furthermore.
1t was a notable success from a flnan-
clal standpoint, writes Denver cor
respondent One of the principal fea-
lures that contributed to this result
was the greatly increased size and
elaborate construction and ornamen-
tation of the grand stand, or open air
amphitheater in which all the princi-
pal exercises were held and through
Nut DdHHtu. ht
structure was made to conveniently
and comfortably seat 11,000 people
and enclosed an area of nearly an
acre. so carefully leveled and rolled
that when spread with canvas 1t made
magnificent dancing floor When
the canvas was taken up there was
room in the arena to display at one
tha hnl nr ri hA tKfhn Ia
OF each OF the leading features in the
professions. On opposite sides of this
amphitheater were the large and
elaborately decorated pavilion OF the
queen OF the festival and her maids
of honor and the immense band stand
in which the musicians were placed.
The most popular OF all the events
that took place in the day time was
the cowboys tournament. On this
occasion the enormous seating capa-
city of the grand stand was entirely
inadequate and many were unable to
obtain admission after offering. In
some instances. five dollars apiece for
seats.
Liberal advertising and the offer OF
large sums had collected what was
probably the worst lot of bucking
bronchos and altogether vicious
horses ever brought together In the
Rocky Mountain region. To ride
these, attracted by the championship
belt and Ave other prizes as well as
the hope OF fame, there was as
sembled as game a lot OF cowboy
rough riders and "broncho busters
as ever met In any arena. Each drew
by lot the vicious brute he was TO ride
The exhibition OF human skill and
daring matched against equine temper
and violence proved interesting In
the highest degree to the vast audi
ence OF men. women and children
Although some OF the horses had TO b,
roped and thrown before they could
be saddled there was no wanton cruel
ty and brutality. 1t was simply mar
against horse. and In all but thre,
cases the man won. Three men only
were thrown. but were not hurt, anC
each would have gladly attempted tC
retrieve his fortunes by another tria
had the rules permitted. Some OF tn,
riders. while their horses were buck
Ing and plunging like demons, no
only kept their saddles but waved
their hats in salute to the plaudtl
OF the spectators.
The masked procession in the after
noon and ball at night OF the thirt
day surpassed anything of the kline
previously attempted At night tn,
vast canyas-cNrnetad arana vyaa GOV
cred with thousands OF elegantly cos
tuned maskers, who danced. chatteC
and played merry pranks till the bal