The Gainesville star. [volume] (Gainesville, Fla.) 1903-19??, 1903-12-22
FETE OF TRANSFER
Inangurated at New Orleans
With Brilliant Pageantry,
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATED
Exeroises. Commemorative Of the Ae-
eessiOn Of Immense Territory
One Hundred Years Ago, Be-
gun With Naval Review

Favored with ideal weather. when
made the naval review on the river
brilliant function, the series OF three
DAYS celebrations in commemoration
of the transfer of the province OF
Louisiana from France to the United
States was inaugurated at New Or
leans Friday
Il was in the Crescent City, on Do
oember 20, a century ago that the dra'
matte scene was enacted which, In
Napoleon's language, gave the Amerl'
can republic an empire, and In tho
same room OF the Cablldo in which
Governor Claiborne and General Will
kinson received the transfer Of the
mighty territory, which only twenty
days before the French had accepted
from Spain, the events of that memoir
able day will have ceremonial dupll
cation.
So indissolubly linked are Louisiana
and New Orleans with the historic de-
tails OF the transfer that two years ago
the Louisiana legislature authorized
an Official celebration OF the transfer.
II was desired to make the occasion
of national and international slgnlfi'
canoe.
The Louisiana Historical Society
was given control OF the ceremonies.
Invitations to participate were extent.
ed to congress. the federal government
and the president, and through the
secretary OF state France and Spain
as prime figures in the changes Of
Louisiana's sovereignty, h3Ct
Congress failed to pass the legisla.
ton necessary to send an oficial dele.
cation OF senators and representatives,
but the navy department ordered Ad.
mlral Wise, with four ships, to be
present. and the French and Spanish
governments accepted the invitation
and arranged to be represented, the
former by her ambassador and the
fine cruiser julien de Ia GrayIere, aud
the latter by her consul and one Of her
war ships, the Rio de Ia Plata, ~
The management OF the Louisiana
Purchase exposition gave the enter
prise its cordial support and prompt,
ly accepted the invitation to its presi.
dent and directors to attend. Undor
suspicious conditions the carrying out
Of the historical soclety's program be.
gan at noon Friday with the review Of
the feet. ihJlflt1 fI8
The six war ships we're gayly dreSs-
ed with the flags OF the nations, and
presented a fine marine spectacle,
wien the United States ship Stranger
put OF from Canal street, carrying the
governor and his stan, in full regalia,
and distinguished guests who I'D been
invited TO accompany him. 2
President David r, Francis. of the
Louisiana Purchase exposition, and
mgmDSss OF his board reached the city
on belated train, but the governors
party waited for them, and they were
enabled to participate in one Of the
most Interesting features OF the cele-
bration.
After the review, the Stranger an
chored near the Minneapolis, and Ad-
miral Wise. entering cutter from the
nag ship, was rowed over to the COVER.
nor's yacht to pay his respects to the
state and executive representatives of
the two nations, which at different
times owned the territory.
The social event of the celebration
was the ball given Friday night in
the French opera, which the naval on.
GERS, the Preach ambassador, the
Spanish consul President Francis and
party. the governor, mayor and state
and city officials and party leaders of
New Orleans and number of other
cities attended.