1889 HISTORY OF LINCOLN NEBRASKA - Chapter Twenty-four

CHAPTER XXIV

THE TARTARRAX PAGEANT -- THE ORIGINATOR OF THE IDEA -- THE PARADE -- THE PURPOSE TO MAKE THE TARTARRAX PARADE AN ANNUAL OCCURRENCE

(339) Mr. Robert McReynolds, manager of Funke's Opera House, is a man of large ideality, and possesses a high appreciation of the romantic, poetic, and spectacular. He has seen the world, and has an eye to what will please the people. He is not afraid to do and dare, and take reasonable chances on winning success. He was one of the pioneer adventurers into the Black Hills, and went there as early as February, 1876. During the closing months of that year he explored Mexico, visited Cuba, and meditated on the poetic deeds of Christopher Columbus while standing by his tomb in the cathedral of Santa Domingo, in Havana. During 1878 and 1879 he traveled over the battle-scarred Southern State, and wrote what he saw for the press. When the great gold excitement was taking thousands to Leadville, he assisted in leading the van. He is the author of several novels that have been published in book form, and his newspaper "fairy tale," which resurrected Brigham Young, the late president and priest of the Salt Lake " Saints," and found him hidden away near Lincoln, Was one of the most successful canards published in recent years. He settled down to business in 1880, in this city, and it so happened that during recent months that he read the tale of mythological heroism displayed by the Spanish general, Coronado, who traveled from Mexico to Nebraska to see whether King Tartarrax really did live in golden splendor in the Land of the Quivera, as related in another chapter of this book.

When it was proposed during April and May to celebrate the Fourth of July this year, the city seemed to think it ought to be done. Lincoln had not attempted a worthy observance of the day for a number of years. Various plans were proposed, to the end that something, unique and entertaining might be produced. Mr. McReynolds suggested to several of his friends of the city press that (340) the story of King Tartarrax might be adopted, in some way, to produce at least a fine spectacular parade and effect. He could see, in his mind, how great a pageant the Court of Tartarrax and the armored cavaliers of Coronado would make. There would be the glitter, the pomp, the richly-colored uniforms, the panoplied knights, the arms and banners of the time; and all this was Nebraska's own tradition, peculiar to herself. It was practically fitting, and, it seemed to him, a "drawing card."

Image of Robt. McReynolds, Originator of the Tartarrax Parade

He explained his scheme to R. L. Rowe, among others, then with the State Journal, who, in writing about it afterward, found it necessary to reconcile the fact that, while many had fallen in with the Tartarrax plan of celebration, the labor organizations of the city had decided to have a symbolic display of the industries and business of the city. He proposed that the Tartarrax representation and the trade display be united on the plan of exhibiting Nebraska in the semi-barbaric days of the weird Spanish invasion, under the rule of (341) kings, and Nebraska in 1889, under the prosperity and laws of the Republic.

This scheme of unification was adopted and substantially carried out. To encourage the people to make the pageant as great a success as possible, he also urged, in the paper, that the Tartarrax and Trades Display be used as the foundation for an annual carnival, similar to that of the Veiled Prophet, in St. Louis, and Mardi Gras, in New Orleans, that the nation might become more familiar with Nebraska and Lincoln, through the interesting combination of the poetic past and the patriotic and realistic present. This possibility was also kept in view in the preparation of the Tartarrax and Industrial Pageant and it is not improbable that Tartarrax will come to be a great National attraction during the next five or six years, more interesting than the Veiled Prophet or Mardi Gras, because more appropriate to the institutions of our country, and more heroic and poetic.

On the 17th of May Mr. McReynolds appeared before the city Board of trade, which convened in the county court room, on the third floor of the building on the corner of Eleventh and M streets. He proposed to the board that it give official sanction and encouragement to a grand Fourth of July celebration movement, indicating briefly the nature of the proposed exposition. The board hesitated a little, as it was making a vigorous effort to raise $10,000 by subscription to advertise the city, and feared that a second call for money might imperil the success of the main subscription. But Messrs. Thomas Lowrey, M. Ackerman, and others, pressed the matter and said the board would be asked for no money. The use of its name was all that was solicited. The matter was finally disposed of by the appointment of a committee of five to report to the board, at an early meeting, on the feasibility of attempting a celebration of the kind projected. This committee was composed of Messrs. M. Ackerman, J. J. Butler, C. J. Ernst, A. D. Kitchen, and Robert McReynolds.

A week later, May 24th, this committee reported to the board at the same place, and unanimously agreed "that a grand celebration of the Fourth of July be heartily recommended by the Lincoln Board of Trade." This report was adopted by the board, and a committee of ten was named to represent the board in the preparation of the display, said committee being strictly instructed to incur no financial liability in the name of the board. The committee selected was as (342) follows: Robert McReynolds, Chairman; M. Ackerman, C. J. Ernst, Frank Perkins, Phelps Paine, C. C. Munson, H. Woltemade, J. J. Butler, T. F. Lasch, J. C. Seacrest.

Later in the evening, a committee representing the Central Trades Union of the city, appeared before the board, and announced, through its chairman, Mr. George A. Fox, that the workingmen had decided upon a celebration in the city, and asked the board's cooperation. Mr. E. E. Brown moved that the board committee be instructed to cooperate with all other committees in arranging for a Fourth of July celebration. This was unanimously agreed to. On the evening of June 3d, these committees met on the stage of Funke's Opera House, organized by electing Robert McReynolds chairman of the joint committee, appointed subcommittees to take charge of the various features of the celebration, such as finance, decorations, the press, advertising, and so on.

Then the work went on with energy. Such a pageant was an experiment in Lincoln, and it was hard work to devise plans new to all, get the people interested, and come up to the requirements of the advertisements that had to be put out at once. But here the peculiar ability of Robert McReynolds was best displayed. He planned, encouraged, and pushed the scheme with constant energy. He sent out printed matter in the form of edicts and commissions from King Tartarrax, to his faithful subjects, and commissions from Coronado to his faithful cavaliers, commanding them to appear and aid in the pageant. These productions were in illuminated colors, with oriental and cabalistic embellishments, and were wonderfully unique. After much zealous labor, in which Robert McReynolds was the inspiring presence, and M. Ackerman, T. F. Lasch, G. A. Fox, and J. H. Kramer, distinguished themselves for tireless, energetic assistance, the great anniversary day came, bright and salubrious. Early in the day every window, and many house tops, from O and Twenty-seventh streets to Eighth, and for several blocks in all directions from O and Tenth, on the line of the procession, were filled with eager faces. Every foot of sidewalk on the route was occupied, and the side streets were filled with vehicles loaded with persons, fill of patriotic interest.

It had been arranged that when the parade was ready to begin, a couple of messengers should ride swiftly and deliver to Lieutenant C. P. Walter, commander of the State University artillery, on the

(344) university campus, orders to fire the national salute, which was to be the signal to the great procession to start, and to the people that it was in motion. Harry Bartruff and William McClay, two bold young men, were each mounted on a "runaway" horse, and stood just at the head of the parade, at Twenty-fourth and O streets. The street was clear of street-cars, vehicles, and people, the entire length. The army of spectators were earnestly expectant. The king, Mr. Richard O'Neill, in fine costume of gold, silk, velvet, brass armor, and crown, gave the signal that all was ready. Marshal W. W. Carder, and the city police, all mounted, dressed into position, ready for the boom of the cannon and command, "Forward." The head of the column was at once on the alert.

Then the two heralds were given the word to "go." Their racers fairly sprang into the air, and were off like the wind. It had been the intention of the riders to make the start on the dead run, then move more slowly from Nineteenth to Fifteenth streets, and then make another swift dash the remainder of the distance. But one horse took the bit in his teeth and made a dead race of it all the way to the postoffice; in fact made a race of it without regard to his rider. The other horse, of course, kept up as best he could. This spectacle electrified the great concourse of people, and many declared it one of the most picturesque and inspiring sights of the day. The heralds started at 11:56½ o'clock A. M. and the first boom of the cannon resounded over the city just as the clock in Temple hall began to strike for noon. Then the great procession began to slowly move westward on O street; and it was a pageant which probably never was approached in beauty, magnitude, and complexity of display, west of the Missouri river, certainly not in Nebraska or outside of San Francisco, if even there. The column filled the street, in many parts, to its full width, for a continuous distance of over thirty blocks, or two and one-half miles. The horsemen and footmen were in the varicolored costumes of medieval Spain, or of modern Turks, and other nations, and all were decked in more or less gold and silver ornaments. Many wore some sort of brilliant armor, crested helmets, and other striking imitations of antique costumes and heraldry. Bright spears and battle axes, gorgeous banners, plumes, and glittering shields, were numerous. The head of the procession represented the Tartarrax scheme. The main portion of the display was for the arts, trades, resources, and principles of the modern republic.

(345) After the police, mounted, in uniform, and wearing light colored helmet caps, came Gordon's drum corps, fantastically costumed, led by Marshals L. S. Gillick and A. T. Cameron. Then followed the king's herald, splendidly mounted, and dressed like a Turkish Pasha. The king's buglers, sounding the king's coming, were in Spanish dress. Then followed King Tartarrax, Mr. Richard O'Neill, mounted on a white horse, costumed in red velvet, with rich trimmings. He wore a long gray beard and gray hair, a crown of gold studded with brilliant jewels. Following him were fifty mounted cavaliers in knightly costumes. The king and his guard were Knights of Pythias. Next came the University Cadet Band, musicians to the queen of Tartarrax. The queen, Miss Nellie Graves, robed in purple and scarlet satin, followed, riding in a gorgeously decked chariot, surrounded by her court, all clad in rich and appropriate costumes. Following were two other large display chariots, filled with members of the queen's court. These were mainly Odd Fellows and Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. A. H. Weir was the queen's minister. Curtice & Thiers's Military Band were musicians to General Coronado. Mr. T. Lowrey followed the queen, costumed like a Spanish officer of three hundred and fifty years ago. Mr. E. W. Hunt, chief of the staff, rode at the general's left, and his richly armed and warlike staff came next in brilliant array. Then came the Omaha Wheel Club, other wheelmen, and the Lincoln Wheelmen, the latter rigged out in show attire of red, white, and blue, and their wheels bright with flags and bunting. A phalanx of colored spearmen, in striking dress of knightly cut, marched ahead of the open barouches conveying Mayor Graham, Ex-Mayor Sawyer, Hon. G. M. Lambertson, and R. H. Oakley, president of the Board of Trade, and other citizens.

Then came the industrial and merchants' parade, making a highly creditable display. After the line of march had been completed, the exercises at the capitol grounds came next in order, where Tartarrax welcomed his visitors, Coronado, and ambassadors from the courts of Mexico and other Southern States, and was presented with the keys of the city by his Honor the Mayor.

The Tartarrax parade proved to be a wonderful success, and if in future years the idea is reproduced and made more elaborate in its production, the pageant of 1889 will be looked back to as the starting point of one distinguishing feature about Lincoln which will make her name a household word throughout the country.

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