The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-03-08
Streets Packed Along the
Entire Route of the Night
Parade.

Parade.
The largest crowd ever to gather in
Pensacola witnessed the brilliant pa
geant last night, and the floats de-
picting Pensacola "Under Five
Flags" historical in character, were
cheered Justify as they passed in re-
view. Throughout the afternoon the
crowds had gathered and fun and rev.
elry reigned, but as night approached
the crowds became more dense.
Rain began falling shortly after Z
o'clock, but from the crowds that con-
tinued TO pour from street cars, it
failed to keep any of them at home,
an dwhen the parade did pass at 8
o'clock the streets along the route of
the parade were a solid mass Of hui
mainly, filed the sidewalks and over
flowed into the streets. Every office
building and point Of vantage had it's
occupant, and many stood out in the
rain to see the beautiful pageant.
FUN ALL DAY.
1t was fun all day long. At noon
the maskers began making their APP
pearance, and hundreds of them were
on the streets by, nightfall. Every
resident and visitor seemed intent
only on. having good time. The ban
on "slappers" brought confetti into
use, and it was used in immense guam
titles, the sidewalks being covered
early in the night to a depth of sew
eral inches.
Many handsome costumes were
worn by maskers. All maner Of ideas
had been utilized in their get-up, and
one looking into one or the many
dances found no two costumes alike
although the American flag was used
in many instances by maskers.
A description of each of the floats
in the parade follows:
Kings Float.
| King Priscus XVII heads the pa
geant in his own Throne Car. He sits
in the rear above a fight of steps il
his massive coronation chair under q
heavy canopy bearing the coat of arms
of Charles of Spain for whom old For
San Carlos is named.
Title Float, ''Under Five Flags"
For the first time Pensacola
Mardi Gras pageant has historical sig.
nifcance. Each of eight of its floats
presents a striking scene from Pen
sacola's history and the whole leads
from the first landing of aSpaniards OF
Santa Rosa Island, through four hun
dred years varietd struggles to Pen
sacola of today. During it's -histoT!
five different hags have hoated ovel
Pensacola and the title Of the pageant
Under Five Flags" is suggested b!
this interesting fact. The title hoa
shows a soldier of each of four Of thu
five countries to which Pensacola ha
belonged with the flag and uniform o
his country.
Discovery of Pensacola by DeNavarez
Among the early explorers alonl
the northern shores of the Gulf o
Mexico was the Spaniard, Panf1lo De
Nayarez. Many misfortunes had re
, duced his once large expedition Z
sore straits until, having returned t
the coast near what is now st. Mark
from an exploration inland, he foun'
. l
with no ships. To continue his jour
ney westward in the hope of reach
ing Spanish settlements in Mexico, h
gave his last strength and resource
: to the building of few rough boats
With these he skirted slowly along tn
coast and landed on Santa Rosa islam
near the mouth of Pensacola Bay. TIL
, first historical float shows this land
Ing.
Flagship of Don Tristan DeLuna.
: Some thirty years after Delaware
had first seen Pensacola Bay ond fou
Years before st. Augustine was set
tied, another Spaniard, Don Trista
DeLuna sailed into Pensacola Ba
: with an expedition of two thousan
Spaniards and made settlement o
the shore of the bay, probably g
about the place where Barrancas no.
( stands. This was the first settlemer
{ on Pensacola Bay. The fourth float
r the flagship of DeLuna's feet.
Reverend Fred Jones at the residenc