Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-22
tBy Associated Press ]

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2l.-Ihe
great parade of civic and industrial
organizations held here today was
marred by what might have been
fatal accident when the spirited horse
ridden by Nicholas CoYarrub1as I'M
personating Don Gaspar de Portola,
fell backward with his rider.
With Incompatible horsemanship
Don Gaspar rolled from under his
falling steed, and the great throng,
which had grown as still as death In
expectation of a tragedy about to be
enacted before it, broke forth in wave
after wave of heartfelt cheers
Colonel Won Schroeder, who was rid
ing at the head of the Fourteenth
United States cavalry, which formed
the military escort of Don Gaspar de
Portola and Queen Virgilia, assisted
the gallant Spaniard to his feet.
Although badly shaken and bruised
by his fall, he insisted upon remount-
ing his horse, and on finding that the
bride was ruined beyond repair, he
fastened two handkerchiefs around the
horses neck and rejoined the queen at
the head of the procession.
Before the accident Don Gaspar had
refined his horse in so that he could
salute the cheering crowds with both
hands. While thus held in check, the
spirited animal reared and went over
so suddenly that the horror-stricken
spectators scarcely realized his dam
ger before the gritty don was on his
feet
Cheer Lucky Rider
News of the accident to the king Of
the carnival spread rapidly, and when
he appeared, bowling right and left and
left and guiding his horse by. means of
the improvised bride, the tremendous
throng, the largest ever gathered to
witness a parade in this city, gave him
an ovation that might have been en-
We'd by real monarch.
Like the first day of the Portola
festival today dawned beautiful and
sunny after night of showers, and
long before the civic and industrial
parade had passed. the record break
ing crowds that lined the streets wer
ready to seek the shade.
The parade, headed by Don Gaspar
de Portola and Queen Vergilia, was
the greatest affair of it's kind ever
witnessed in this city.
Twenty thousand persons, repre-
senting virtually every fraternal, mu-
nicipal and industrial body of the
state, were in line, and as a cosmopol
itan feature 1t was the equal of the
military parade of Tuesday, in which
six nations were represented.
The international division was the
most interesting of the parade. Its
most spectacular display was made by
1000 marching Chinese, carrying the
largest breathing dragon ever
imported. The oriental section of the
international division was a gorgeous
riot of colors, but the other nations
participating were almost as pic
turesque.
The Spanish war veterans, headed by
General James F. Smith, former gov
ernor general of the Philippines and
commander of the First California
volunteers during the Spanish Amer
lean war, carried the huge American
flag which was made for the Hudson
Fulton celebration.
Distinguished Guests
The distinguished guests of the city,
including, the foreign consuls, mayors
of other California cities and other
officials, rode Immediately behind Don
Gaspar de Portola and Queen Vergilia,
each of whom was mounted on a
spirited horse splendidly caparisoned.
With the passing of the parade i'm
terest was centered on the old Mis-
sion Dolores the first church founded
in northern California. Here the
Franciscan fathers, successors of the
padres who founded the mission, re-
enacted events connected with the
founding of San Francisco.
The parade, which started at II
. ClOChp ulQ uOL pass d given point
until 2 o'clock. With the Portola
Dragons acting as a guard of honor
Don Gaspar de Portola and Queen
Vergilia, mounted on spirited horses
led the procession.
The rulers of the carnival were fol-
lowed by the Fourteenth u. S. cavalry
and then came miles of fraternal or
ganizations, vying with one another
in uniforms and decorative floats.
In the international section the mar
velous beauty of\the float representing
a Japanese festival provoked more adj
mring comment from the spectators
than any other feature of the big
parade.
FraternaI Entrants
Among Sthe fraternal orders the Ma
tive Daughters of the Golden West
comprised one of the most attractive
divisions. Attired in light summer
garb, hundreds of pretty girls rode,
drove and marched in a section a
half-mile in length.
The historical significance of the fes-
tival was not lost in the parade, and
from the Spanish veteran represent
ing the discoverer of San Francisco
bay to the youthful warrior who sailed
out of the Golden Gate short dec
ade ago to fight the descendants Of
the first settlers of California, all the
types that have made this state rich
in history were represented.
Nothing in the historical pageant
excited more cheers than the old
prairie schooners used in crossing the
plains in 1S49 and the floats represent
ing the days of gold.
The civic organizations of all the
nearby towns were generously repre-
sented in the parade and an entire
section was devoted to the official dig-
nitaries now the guests of the city.
In the floats none of the late his
torical events were forgotten, one OF
Az most 1inidl1e floats of the parade