The St. Louis Republic., 1903-12-21
President Francis Pleased With
Louisiana Purchase Trans
fer Celebration. L
GETS IDEAS FOR WORLDS FAIR
Spanish Man-of-War Delayed in
Trip, Arrives at New Orleans
as Exercises Approach
Conclusion.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

| REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New Orleans. La, Dec. O.-Ceremont--
| were held to-day commemorative off =
! centennial OF the transfer OF Louist
| from France to the United States aD
| st. Louis Cathedral and at the Cabfldo.
| Immediately adjoining. In the Cathedral
| a pontifical mass was conducted by Arch
bishop Chapelle. Nearly 100 priests es-
sisted. =
In the congregation were Governor Heard
| and stan and all the distinguished guests.
| After the mass the regular transfer pro-
| ceedings were held in front Of the Ca
| bildo.
The day was one Of the most beautiful
ever seen in New Orleans A large audi
ence of several thousand including the
most representative men. were gathered
in front of the Cabildo and in Jackson
Square. where incidents OF the transfer
were reproduced in every detail and the
act Of transfer read. Governor Heard
read the address delivered by Governor
W. c. c. Claiborne, the first American
Governor.
At the conclusion of the address the
American flag was raised on The stan In
Jackson Square by little Armenicide
Creole families in Louisiana. and wac
greeted with cheers. Similar ceremonies
were held in all the parishes Of LOUISIANA,
the deed OF transfer and address OF Gov
ernor Claiborne being reao and the Amer
ican flag being raised
MAN-OF-WAR ARRIVED.
Only few minutes after the ceremonies
were concluded the Spanish man-Of-war,
the Rio DE La Plata, which had been sent
to New orleans to take part in thei Louisa-
ana Centennial ceremonies, hove m signt
and it was explained that the man-of-~ar.
which had sailed straight from Carrha.
gcna to New Orleans, mad been deIayed
by severe storms in the niddie Atlantic.
The Rio De La Plata. which Is the ffst
Spanish man-of-war to come TO an Amer
ican port since the war, Will remain mere
for some time and some special ceiebra-
tion will be arranged 10 DO honor to the
visitors.
- FRANCIS DEPARTS.
President Francis and his party left here
tonight by the illinois Central Tor St
Louis. Mr.. Francis expressed himself as
more than pleased by his visit here and
said that 1t mad sIveh HIM many ideas Ioc
the Exposition. lie regarded. he said, the
New Orleans Centennial as the opening
gun OF the Exposition, and was dengnteu
10 see the interest, taken in It mere.
Louisiana. next 10 St. Louis he said,
should De the most deeply Interested.
lie PROPOSED TO nave Two LOu.siiiIia days,
one III the beginning UI the Exposition
and one later On. an. lie SAID ne trusted
to have the Governor at bOtn. he espec.aI4
~ admired the social functions; Ill connec-
ton with tIe 1iew Orleans Centennial and
thought them admirable feature Of
such il celebration.
All OF Franciss party returned to St.
Louis with the exception of James Camps
bell. De MeniI and Hardee. Mr. CampDcil
departed Tor the West, SIR. hardee goes
to New YORK and Alr. De Menil Will stay
here until Wednesday. IN order to gather
material relating to the literature of the
Louisiana Purchase Tor a work on which
he Is now engaged.
MAY RETURN FOR CARNIVAL
THIS was the first trip of Governor
Francis to this city in nineteen years. bue
he says he will soon be back again. II
he can possibly arrange 1t. he will come
here for the carnival in February, and
will be accompanied by most of the pres !
ent members of his party and great
many more.
Governor Francis entertained the MEM
bers of his party at luncheon IN the early
afternoon, and devoted the remainder of
the time before departure to drivins
about the city. He says his only regrer
is that ne cannot remain here longer. He
and his party were invited to attend the
banquet to he given tomorrow 10 tne
French AMBASSADOR. and a banquet on
the following day to be given by Arch
bishop Chapelle. but both Of these he
found 1t necessary to decline.