The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-12-24
FETE OF TRANSFER
Inangurated at New Orleans
With Brilliant Pageantry.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATED
Exercises, Commemorative Of the Ac-
cession OF Immense Territory
One Hundred Years Ago, Be-
GUN With Naval Review.

Favored with ideal weather, winch
made the naval review on the river
brilliant function, the series OF three
days' celebrations in commemorailon
of the transfer of the province OF
Louisiana from France to the Unltea
States was inaugurated at New Or
leans Friday
It was in the Crescent City, on De-
cember 20, a century ago that the ora
matte scene was enacted which, IN
Napoleon's language, gave the Amerl'
can republic an empire, and IN the
same room of the Cabildo 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 memor-
able day will have ceremonial dupll-
cation.
= So indissolu lubly 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.
1T was desired to make the occasion
of national and international signiti-
cance.
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
1 as prime figures in the changes OF
e Louisiana's sovereignty.
81 Congress failed to pass the legisla-
ton necessary to send an official dele
CATION Of senators and representatives,
gbut the navy department ordered Ad'
miral Wise, with four ships, to DE
present, and the French and Spanish
governments accepted the invitation
and arranged to be represented, the
former by her ambassador and the
8 fine cruiser Julien de la Graviere, and
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
s prise its cordial support and prompt
sly accepted the invitation to its presi-
I dent and directors to attend. Under
Z suspicious conditions the carrying out
OF the historical society's program be-
gan at noon Friday with the review OF
the feet.
The six war ships were gayly dress
ed with the flags of the nations, and
L presented a fine marine spectacle.
when the United States ship Stranger
put off from Canal street, carrying the
governor and his staff, in full regalia,
and distinguished guests who rad been
I invited to accompany him.
President David R. Francis, of the
s. Louisiana Purchase exposition, and
! members 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-
!; DratlOn.
:s After the review, the Stranger an
schored 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
s state and executive representatives OF
the two nations, which at different
4 times owned the territory.
The social event of the celebration
was the ball given Friday night in
the French opera, which the naval off,
GERS, the French ambassador, the
Spanish consul, President Francis and
parry, the governor, mayor and state
q and city officials and party leaders OF
New Orleans and a number of otaer
cities attended.