Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-03-22
THOUSANDS ATTENDED
PEACH HCELEBRATIONAT
FORT VALLEY TODAY
Murky Skies Failed To Deter Wis
itors From All Over This
Section of Georgia
BARBECUE A BIG FEATURE
Celebration Started With Band
Concert, Followed BY Grand
Pageant And Parade

FORT VALLEY, March 22.-De-
spite London-like fog which en-
yeloped Fort Valley this morning,
the second annual peach festival
celebration opened at 10 o. clock with
a concert by the Twenty-ninth In
fantry band from Fort Benning.
Visitors by the thousands began
to pour into the city early this morn
ing.
A delegation estimated at not less
than 1900 is attending, from Ma
con.
Senator George spoke from plat
form erected in Fincher park, right
in the heart of the business section.
his address being the chief feature OF
an all-day program which began at
$50 this morning with band con-
cert by the Twenty Ninth Infantry
band, which came from Fort Ben
ming for the celebration. here. I'M
mediately following the concert,
the visitors were taken for an auto
mobile tour of the orchards sur
rounding Fort Valley in Houston and
Macon counties.
Upon the return of the visitors
from their tour of surrounding or
chards, an historic pageant, repre-
senting the development of the peach
industry in Georgia was staged. In
cluded in the cast of this event were
approximately 700 people residing in
Fort Valley and vicinity. More than
twenty-five floats, representing var
ious industries and pursuits partici-
pated in the street parade, all other
vehicles being barred off the streets
during the period devoted to this dis
play.
Miss Gladys slappey acted as
queen of the pageant and Frank
Troutman depicted the part of king,
both wearing regal regalia beftting
the occasion. g. L. Sheherd repre-
sented "A Voice." and Rev. 10y
Warwick, ''the Archbishop" Other
characters represented in the pag-
cant included "The Spirit of Geor-
gia," Mrs. Ashby McCord History"
Mrs. John Allen; Industry" Dr. A.
j Titus; Agriculture, Mrs. Doris
Presley; "Indian Chief" Davis Stro-
ther; "DeSoto," Guy Wheeler; "Ogle-
thorpe C. E. Martin; John Wes-
ley" j. E. Brodericl1; "Tomochichi, :"
Ben Fincher, "Nancy Hart" Frank
Smisson; Sidney Lanier," George
Culpepper, Jr,; Joel Chandler Har-
ris," o. NJ. Houser; "Dr. Crawford
Long," John Vance; "Ty Cobb" Paul
Murray; "The Sum-" Miss Charlie
Mathews; "The RAIN" Miss Fannie
Bitch; "The Wind" Mrs. Cornelius
Hall; Luna Moths,' Mr.. and Mrs.
Alfred Hume, Jr.; "The Peach Bios
son." Miss Dorothy DuPree. Besides
these characters represented were
Indians, Spaniards, English Colonists,
Colonial Ladies and Gentlemen, Con-
tihental Soldiers, Wesleyan Girls,
University of Georgia, "The Old
South, The Boys in Gray, The Ku
Klux Klan, The Boys in Khaki, Trees,
Flowers, Birds, Butterflies, Fruits,
Vegetables, Crops, Nuts, Pests, Far
mer Boys, Peach Blossoms and Peach
Trees.
Ohe OF the big features OF the day
was grand barbecue for which 245
hogs, 10 beeves and 10 sheen were
slaughtered to provide food for the
guests. The long tables stretching
almost as far as the eye can see, pro-
vided ample eating space for all, and
there was food in plenty for the en-
tire multitude The cue was prepar-
ed by J. L. Everett, famous barbecue
cook here, assited by hundred ne
gro men, many of whom have had
years of experience in the art of
cooking barbecue, and the viands
were all cooked to perfection.