The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-02
CELEBRATION CLOSED IN BLAZE
Of GLORY LAST NIGHT
PARADE OF MYTHICAL CHARACTERS DECORATED FLOATS AND
CARS, AND DISPLAY OF FIRE WORKS, WAS MAIN FEAT.
UREs OF THE EVENINGS FESTIVITIES
Large Tng Made Merry Throwing Confetti and Generally Enjoying
The Carnival Of Fun; No Disorders Occurred
to Mar the Occasion

The Carnival last night was indeet
a fitting close for the grand celebra
tion of Lakeland's thirtieth anniver
sary. For blocks the streets wer'
crowded with merry makers, mum
bering into the thousands, and th'
sidewalks were so jammed that i
was almost impossible to push one''
way through. AS far as the ey'
could reach the line of march fol
the night parade was marked by
lighted torches, held by boys.
The parade was led by Uncle Sam
which character was splendidly por'
trayed by Mr.. D. M. Smith. Next
came the mounted police, Fire De
partment and Lakeland Municipal
band. The real funmakers Of the
evening came next, the burnt cork
artists in the Elks' Minstrel given
recently being first in line, followed
by large crowd of maskers, all Of
whom represented various ridiculous
characters Next came the King
and Queens float, which had been
made to represent royal carriage
with it's white canopied top, and
Miss Bonacker, the lovely Queen
was never more beautiful than on
this occasion in her coronation gown
of white charmeus with silver trim.
mings, and wearing crown of jew
els. Her attendants who were
Misses Emma Robson, Catherine
Cowdery, Margaret Southard, Ruth
Skipper and Mabel Drane, were also
beautifully gowned. The King, Mr..
Ossian Drane, was in royal robes,
and his attendants, Messrs. Ray
Weeks, Will Sammon, Frank Thomp-
son, TRULY O'Steen and DR.. Getzen
were in full evening dress.
The most interesting float and one
that attracted wide attention In last
nights pageant, was that depicting
mythical characters. In the front Of
the float sat old Father Time, with
flowing beard, carrying scythe and
hour glass. He held by the hand a
beautiful little girl, who represented
the New Year. Father Time was de-
picted by Mr.. j. L. Solomon and
the New Year was Ella May Holder
Mrs. E. M. Holder represented
Blindfolded Justice, and in her hands
were the scales and sword of justice.
The crowning character on this
float was the Goddess of Liberty.
Mounted twenty feet in the air on a
pedestal stood Mrs. G.. r. Fleming,
who represented this character in
a manner which could scarcely be
excelled by a statue itself. She
was gowned in brown flowing robes
and wore a crown of gold. In her
left hand, held far above her head,
was bronze torch, and for not a
moment did she allow herself to un-
bend from her dignified but trying
position. A thrilling feature of the
parade, in which this float was the
central figure, was just at its close
when the bunting caught fire and
the float was wreathed in mass of
flames. twas moment that demand
ed cool, steady nerves, and the two
ladies on the float, Mrs. Fleming
and Mrs. Holder, displayed mar
velous courage, as they never moved
from their positions and the fire was
soon extinguished. Had the ladies
become excited, hundreds in the
crowd would have been trampled un-
derfoot and probably killed in the
excitement that would have ensued;
as it was, only those near to the
float were aware of the danger, and
no. excitement prevailed whatever.
Henley & Henley's float was great
ly admired, a large launch being
used, which was handsomely deco
rated and which made very fine
appearance. 1t was filled with
young ladies, as was the similar float
If the Cut Price.
A small cart which was pushed
,y pony in overalls and drived by
larry Williams in comical costume,
md Bryan Reddick, dressed as a
,lown, was one of the entrants that
attracted much attention and caused
general amusement, and all declared
he "cart before the horse" was the
,est ever.
Mrs. Cowdery's car, which was in
Japanese decorations and filled with
roung ladies in japanese costumes
md parssols, was beautiful sight |
md was greatly admired. Other pri-
ate cars in the afternoon parade ap-
as did the Woodmen's float,
II of which made the pageant one
onc IN be rememhered