The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-18

oNS-
pices- On Sunday the outlook was
gloomy, and the day was ushered in
with lowering clouds and there was a
regular cloud burst that flooded the
streets and gave the booths on Front
street a tremendous ath Fortunately
the decoration of the booths had not
been completed and very few of the
decorations were damaged. The rain
kept up all Of Sunday night and yester-
day dawned with thick clouds and oc-
casional gusts Of rain. In the after
noon. however. the clouds did obesance
and the great pail lifted, SO hat the
carnival opened last night under a
starry sky.
THE SHOWS ARRIVE.
The attractions of the mammoth Bos-
aggregation which are the
feature of the carnival, arrived in the
city from Richmond yesterday morn
ing at 4 o'clock over the Atlantic Coast
Line They came on a splendid train
consisting of a Pullman car and IS show
cars go feet long, loaded with the out
ut Of the dozens of shows which make
up the aggregation. At 6 a. m, the
shows were unloaded and were hauled
by the S. p. Cowan Livery Company to
their various locations on the streets
intersecting Front street. All day long
the men were busy getting up the tents
and putting the shows in order for the
opening last night. Great crowds
watched the operations and the streets
We're crowded with people all day long.
THE BOOTHS AND DECORATIONS.
When the clouds began to break
away, the merchants and others who had
erected booths along Front, Princess and
Market streets began in earnest to dec
crate them and meanwhile many build
ing were handsomely decorated. Among
the most beautifully decorated build
ings are the stores of J. NJ. SOlky e
Co, the Johnson Dry Goods Company,
the \. David Company, Morriss Bear &
Bros, Geo. r. Frenc & Sons, and
others. The show windows of all the
merchants were also made exceedingly
attractive.
Along Front, Market and Princess
streets are the following who have
booths, prettily decorated with the
Elks' cOlOrs, purple and white:
j.. @. Skipper, groceries and fruits.
H. A. Tucker & Bros marble yards
"a design representing a handsome
Jams D. Mutt, the druggist.
Geo. O. Gaylord's Big Racket Store.
John H. Render & Cos big depart
ment store.
A S. Winstead, confectionaries, fruits
and lunch.
George r. French & Sons, wholesale
and retail dealers in shoes.
The Fishblate Clothing Company.
P J.. H. Hinton, the caterer, hot and cold
lunches.
Warren's Cafe, hot and cold lunches.
The c.. ". Polvogt Company, dry
goods, carpets etc.
Robert r. Bellamy. drugs and toilet
articles.
H. ]. Gerken. cigars, tobaccos and
smokers goods.
Peterson & Rulfs, wholesale and ra-
tail dealers in shoes.
George Honnet, dealer in jewelry and
novelties.
Cress & Co.. five and ten cent store
Jack Lynch's Diamond Cafe, barbe-
w. ]. Penny & Co.. dry goods, cloth
ing, etc.
goods, shoes, etc.
]. c. Shepherd, drugs and toilet arti
cles.
A. M~avronichoIs, confectionaries and
lunches
The Elks' welcome arch in front OF
the ElkS temple was a special feature
Of the spectacle. Lighted by hundreds
of electric lights, it proves a magnti-
cent sight.
THE GRAND
BY nightfall last night the street:
were packed and damned with people
and by Z o'clock Front street presented
such a sea of men, ladies and children
as was never Upon this ~thoroughfart
before at one time. 1t was almost i'm
possible to pass in either direction and
the crowds flowed over into the middle
of the street in such masses that tn
trolley cars had to ease their wa.
through them. The street vendors wer,
crying aloud and there was tumult o
every description. Everybody wa:
waiting for the carnival to open.
At Z O'Clock Governor Charles B. Ay
cock. the popular chief executive o
North Carolina, touched a button in tn,
Western Union Telegraph office at Ra
leigh and on the instant 5000 electri
trio lights throughout the carnival dis
trict flashed up, making a magnificent
scene. lighting the various shows anC
the booths throughout the city.
When the governor touched the bot
ton he sent the following telegram:
Wilmington Lodge. No. So. B. p. o. Z
Wilmington, y. c.:
TT gives me pleasure as chief execu
tive of the state to open the Wilmington
arrival under the auspices of the Ben
evolent Protective Order of Eli Ac
cept my generalization and best wish
es for its success. 1 now formally de
clare the carnival open.
CHARLES B. AYCOCK,
Governor"
When the lights flashed up, the cleo
trio fire alarm rang out anC
bedlum broke loose. Bells rang
hundreds of steam whistles rem
the air, and the guns of the nava
reserves doomed at the foot Of Marke'
street. Bands struck up music, thu
organs and musical instrument:
throughout the carnival district start
ed. and the carnival was on in earnest
Loud voices were heard through mega
phones calling the people to the vari
Gus attractions.
THE ATTRACTIONS.
At Second and Market streets tn
great steam c%arousa located In tn
middle of the square started up anC
with its steam orchestra, flying hooo!
horses and chariots, and dazzling ap
pointments. it at once became a popu