The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-04-28
BATTLE OF BOUQUETS
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
and 1t is doubtful IL this can be done
in the time that %intervenes before
the date Of departure. The Missouri
will continue with the fleet to San
Francisco and to- Puget sound. The
runs to the Pacific coast ports will be
made in easy stages. In cas- the
Missouri cannot go to the east either
the Maine or the Alabama will be re-
tanned in her place in the column Of
sixteen.
Many officers in the fleet have been
applying for leave " since the feet
reached the coast. So numerous and
insistent have the requests become
that Admiral Thomas issued q circu-
lar today notifying everybody that no
leaves would be given until after the
review Of May 8. The feet will
leave here On Thursday at 10 a. M,
and will arrive at Monterey the next
morning at z o'clock.
Going to Santa Cruz.
After n day in Monterey the two
squadrons of the feet part company,
the first going to Santa Cruz the
morning Of May 2. The second squad
ron remains at Monterey until the
afternoon Of May 4, when It sail for
Santa Cruz, to remain there until the
afternoon Of May S, when the reunited
feet, with Admiral Evans in com
mand, sails for San Francisco, anchor
ing outside the Golden Gate the night
OF May s.
The Floral Parade.
Today's floral parade and battle OF
flowers was the most elaborate and
spectacular affair Of It's kind ever at
tempted in southern California. The
committee in charge of the entertain
ment here concentrated al. its efforts
and made lavish expenditure Of money
In carrying out the ar~tistically planned
display. Stewart Edward White; the
novelist, was chairman Of the COM
mittee in charge of the parade, and
associated with him were a number OF
well known artists and critics who
make their winter home in Santa Bar
bara.
In the long line Of passing vehicles
there were r%ose-laden coaches and
,blossom-bedecked automobiles, all but
hidden in the profusion Of flowers;
jaunty little pony carts all in white;
victorias In gay reds and yellows, and
floats that ranged In variety from q
floral reproduction in miniature Of the
famed Santa Barbara mission to an
immense battleship Of flowers fash
toned on the chassis Of an automobile
with bouquets pelting from q pneu-
matte gun in the forward turret. It
was after the procession had passed
entirely down the long boulevard OF
palm trees and densely peopled trt-
bunes and had started a countermarch
that the signal to open fire was given,
and the battle Of the flowers began In
earnest.
Battle Of Flowers.
Thousands Of bouquets OF soft pet
allied and fragrant blooms were hurled
from the tribunes and the fire was
bravely returned by the heavily arm
ed forces IN carriages and on floats.
The rain Of floral missiles was nat
urally heaviest in the vicinity Of the
tribune occupied by the officers, who
entered into the spirit Of the battle
with characteristic energy and en-
thusiasm.
Little girls dressed in white acted
as powder monkeys for the naval con-
tingent and as soon as the first supply
Of ammunition gave out as q result Of
the eficiency Of rapid fire attained at
Magdalena bay and other practice
grounds, they would bring fresh arm
fuls Of bouquets from a near by ware
house temporarily converted into a
floral magazine.
At times the aid was completely
filed with flying missiles. The heav-
lest firing was done with rose bou-
quets Of many varieties. There were
also carnations, sweet peas in a
wealth Of varying colors, geraniums,
nasturtiums, California poppies, shas-
ia daisies, marguerites, fuchias, lilies,
genesta. bachelor buttons Of COR
flowers, lupin, acacia, verbona, Span
ish broom. marigold and orange bios
SONS.