The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-01-21
TAMPA'S GREAT SPECTACLE
President Wilson And other Distin-
guished Men Being Urged To
Attend Carnival

nina the romantic Gays OF more IMAM q
century ago when bloodthirsty pirates,
headed by such daring sea rovers as
! Captain Kidd, LaFitte and Gasparilla,
infested the Gulf Coast of Florida and
the Spanish Main, the cosmopolitan
people of Tampa are making elaborate
preparations for holding the tenth an.
nual Gasparilla Carnival, named for
one Of the most daring and cruel of
the pirate clan, and which rivals the
New Orleans Mardi Gras in magnifi-
cence, with many amusement features
peculiar to the semi-tropics added. The
dates of the Carnival are February IL
to 16, inclusive, and an attendance OF
100, 900 people from all sections of the
Union is expected. The lowest rail-
road rates ever offered will be In force
from all points east of the Mississippi
river.
Monster pageants, In which floats
of amazing beauty will be entered;
flower parades and street dancing in
which thousands of children and
grown-ups, including Tampa's Ameri-
can, Spanish, Cuban, Italian and Ger
man citizens, will participate, aero
plane flights, maneuvers of warsh1ps
In the harbor, yacht races, day and
night fireworks displays along the &C.
ment-paved boulevard that traverses
the most beautiful bay in America,
balls in the various foreign clubs, mu-
sic by the best bands of this country
and Cuba and a Garden Of Eden eXhi-
biUion of Florida fruits, flowers and
vegetables on the court house square
in Tampa, are among the many amuse-
ment features to be offered the visit
ors. Everything will be absolutely
free, and preparations have already
been made to properly care for thou
sands in the big hotels, boarding
houses and private homes of the city.
During the month of February win
ter winds blow in every other state
and section, but then South Florida,
arrayed in a garb of green, appears
to best advantage. The golden fruit
is being shipped to the Northern mar
kets, early vegetables are going out
daily by the train load, hordes Of tour
lists are enjoying life in all the small
cities and towns, and particularly
along the Gulf Coast, and joy reigns
supreme among all classes. To enter
tain these visitors Tampans have for
years held this annual carnival, which
has grown bigger and better each sea-
son.
Since the Spanish-Amercian War,
Tampa has doubtless entertained
larger number of famous American
statesmen and foreign ambassadors
than any Southern city, and many will
attend the coming Carnival. President
Woodrow Wilson is being urged to at
tend the Carnival, and to make Soush
years.
During the five-day period of cele-
bration the following special days will
be observed:
Friday, February IL, is designated
as Clear Havana Cigar Day." on &C
count of the fact that Tampa is the
greatest center of the world for the
manufacture of clear Havana cigars.
The firing of salutes from the forts
near Tampa and from the warships
in the harbor will announce the be-
ginning of the festival, and the day
will be given over to a varied pro-
gram.
Saturday Is known as Panama Ca
nal Day." being so designated because
Tampa Is the nearest Mainland port,
Congress, to the Panama Canal. The
Panama Canal Parade, which occurs
on this day, will be one of the most
brilliant and unique features Of the
celebration. The night hours will be
turned over to a masked carnival on
Franklin, the principal street of the
city, in which thousands of brilliantly
and Enthusiastically CARRIED people will
dance on the thoroughfare. Many bands
will furnish the dance music.
Sunday will be known as Peace |
Day." and impressive open-air serv-
ices, as we'll as those in the many
churches, will be devoted to peace
programs.
Monday will be "Gasparilla Day."
the most spectacular of the period. |
On this day the mighty pirate king,
Gasparilla, will land and take the city,
being resisted by troops, the war YES
sells and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gaspa-
rilla. The Gasparilla parade will be
equal to anything of the kind ever
seen IN the South. The evening hours
will be devoted to fireworks displays |
from barges in the bay and a grand |
masked ball on the Bayshore Boule- ,,
ward.
Thursday, the closing day, will be |
known as Citrus Day." being so des-
ignated because Of South Florida's su.
premacy in the cultivation of citrus
fruits of the highest grades. A grand !
carnival parade, representing all the
diversified interests of South Florida,
will be a feature of the day, as will |
the illumination of the Hillsboro river |
and grand balls in all foreign and !
American clubs.
The entire period will be one Of Joy |
and brilliancy, and the attractions will |
be of particular interest to residents |
of other states who have never before |
visited the semi-tropics.