Chatham County GaArchives News.....May Week May 2 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Barton http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000645 June 5, 2003, 12:12 am The Weekly Journal THE WEEKLY JOURNAL: ATLANTA: GEORGIA: TUESDAY MAY 2: 1893. MAY WEEK! IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA'S MOST HOSPITABLE CITY. BEAUTIFUL "FOREST CITY" Will Fairly Outdo Herself this Year With Parades, Concerts, Fireworks, Excursions, Bicycle and Horse Races, Outdoor Sports, Tybee Day." All to Wind Up With the Mammoth Carnival pageant, "DeSoto's Vision." AS USUAL EVERTHING WILL BE FREE. One-Fare Rate on All Railroads, and No Extra Coupons Attached. Savannah Proposes to Test Her Proverbial Liberality this Year, and Will Not Be Found Wanting -- Arrangements and Accommodations Provide for 20,000 Visitors. The fifth annual celebration of the Merchants' Week Association at Savannah, Ga., usually designed as "May Week," will begin this year on Monday, May 8th, and continue through Tuesday, Wednesday, and the festivities will conclude on Thursday night with a grand finale such as have never been witnessed in any southern city. The Journal correspondent is just back from a week's visit to the beautiful Forest City, and while to all appearances the usual routine of affairs seem to exist there was an undercurrent of quiet but steady preparation which only Savanahians know how to undertake, and which will culminate in one of the most enjoyable and elaborate programs that was ever offered for the eentertainment of visitors by any southern city. The program is given in detail below and the small space at my command necessitates but brief mention of any feature therein. The Journal readers, however, well understand what it meant, when Savannah invites, and are prepared to be well entertained by the people of the most hospitable city of the state, and it might be said of the entire south. Characteristic with the well organized plan of the Merchants' Week Association, which comprises the representative firms of Savannah, and not to put the celebration upon a basis that would liken it to the scramble of the motley crowd, invitations have been issued to the number of 10,000 to the friends and customers of the Savannah merchants, whose names are furnished the association and which insures a character of attendance that could not otherwise be attained. These invitations bear the name of every member of the association, and shows to the invited guests to whom they are indebted and upon whom falls the responsibility for their entertainment. "May Week" of 1893 was planned and is being carried out upon a larger scope than ever attempted and has been widely advertised in the Carolinas upon the north to Tennessee and Alabama on the west, to Florida upon the south, and even out into the Atlantic ocean on the east, and the indications point that there will be thousands who will take advantage of the low railroad fares to visit Savannah at this, the most beautiful season of the year, and when she offers inducements of such a varied and pleasing nature. Savannah is at all times beautiful with her broad and cleanly streets, beautifully shaded squaares and parks, and there is an atmosphere of hospitality that surrounds every nook and corner of the city, and seems to animate unto even the most humble of its citizens. The air of thrift which greets the observer upon entering the city at its business center gradually fades into dim recollection as his saunterings carry him southward among the shaded oaks and into the residence section. The city will be turned over to the visitors at the beginning of the celebration, which will open. Monday, May 8th. 9 a.m., parade commercial travelers in connection with officers and chairmen of Merchants' Week Association; 4 p.m., grand military parade; 8 p.m., illustrated fireworks in park extension - something entirely novel and entertaining, all free; 9 p.m., promenade concerts in Madson and Johnson squares by military bands in booths to be erected for that purpose. Tuesday, May 9th. 10 a.m., parade and exhibition of fire department; 12 m., balloon ascension and thrilling parachute leaps and acrobatic performances at Pompeiian park, all free; 3 p.m., bicycle races, trick riding at Wheelmen's park; 4 p.m., balloon ascension in Wheelmen' park; 3 p.m., horse races at Thunderbolt course for big purses; 5 p.m., naptha launch and bateau races at Thunderbolt; 7 p.m., grand carnival fete, pyrotechnics and illumination of the entire bluff; fireworks will be displayed from the island opposite Thunderbolt; special attractions at tivoli park and other gardens, all free to guests; 9 p.m., promenade concerts in city. Wednesday, May 10th, "Tybee Day" "A whiff of bracing air from the salts." Excursion trains begin at 9 a.m.; dancing on platforms all day and until last train; 11 a.m., acrobatic and trapeze performances; 1 p.m., sports and athletics, including running, jumping and bicycle races, etc.; 4 p.m., prize drill; 6 p.m., acrobatic and trapeze performances; 8 p.m., in city , grand fancy dress bicycle carnival for prizes (contestants to conform to certain rules) and illumination of procession. Thursday, May 11th., "Carnival Day" 11 a.m., promenade concerts; 4 p.m., balloon ascensiona nd aerobatic performances, quadruple parachute leaps -- Pompecian park; 8:30 p.m., "The Carnival," called for the present "DeSoto's Vision," or the "Splendors of the Orient." Procession forms into Bay at Bull, takes right of squares out Bull into Park extension, where a semi-circle is formed, front facing south, and fireworks display made in front of picture, and to the accompaniment of four bands playing one air, the bursting of bombs, bouquets and flights of aerial rockets. The tableau will be completed by a grand illumination as bright as the noonday sun, thus making a fitting finale to the week's festivities. Gun club tournament, 8th and 9th. It will be seen that there is some feature for almost every hour in the day, and the privileges of all are to be extended to Savannah's guests during that week. The special feature of the celebration is, of course, the carnival pageant, which will be given with all the details and exactness of those of the celebrated mardi gras of New Orleans. Special artists from Paris, with their costumers, electricians to manipulate the illuminating effects, and a corps of scenic artists have been at work for weeks in the Forest City preparing this grand feature which will crown the week's events. Music is always an essential feature, and four military bands have been engaged, among them being the celebrated Third Artillery band from Washington, D. C., and promenade concerts will be given during the entire week in various parts of the city in special stands erected for the purpose. The grand bicycle tournament will take place May 9th and 11th, under the auspices of Savannah Wheelmen, L. A. W., club 469, on the only quarter mile cement track in America. Quarter, half, one and two mile. L. A. W.,, Georgia division, championship races, open to all Georgia riders; winners eligible to National L. A. W. championships. One thousand dollars in handsome prizes; thirteen events each day. William Hoefler, champion trick-rider, will descend a sixty foot ladder, elevation on a wagon wheel; J. S. Johnson, holder of the 156 mile record; Isaac Baird, the Irish champion; H. C. Wheeler, holder of the half mile championship of America, and other celebrities will appear in open contests. Grand fancy dress parade, Wednesday night, May 10th. To most original costume three prizes -- $50, $30 and $20. Held under the sanction of L. A. W. racing board and L. A. W. rules. Horse races at Thunderbolt course, new half-mile track, for big purses on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 9th and 10th. Many entries have already been made for noted speeders of the south, and a great many northern stables which have been wintering in Florida will also make this feature especially attractive, in addition to entries from all over the south. It will be carried out. The executive board has carefully considered every detail, has taken into consideration every point and is confident in offering to the public a program of varied entertainment, which it assures every one will be carried. The board is, so far, composed as follows: D. G. Purse, president. S. E. Theus, vice president and treasurer. Max Robinson, secretary. B. H. Levy, chairman of finances committee. W. W. Starr, chairman programme committee. A. W. Solomon, chairman directory committee. W. J. Watson, chairman accommodation committee. W. J. Lindsay, chairman transportation committee. J. C. Shaw, chairman "carnival". The above gentlemen have principally planned the celebration, and with competent assistants, will see that every detail is carried out. Further details of the carnival feature will be announced later. As is customary the exact subject and history is always a matter of secrecy until announced by the colored illustrations, giving each float and its representation, which are not distributed until the day of the parade, but, for the purpose of better designating the principal feature and to arouse the usual expectancy, it is for the present called DeSoto's Vision or the Splendors of the Orient. One fare round trip rates on all railroads within 300 miles of Savannah. One and a third fare from points beyond. Good from May 7th to 14th. Headquarters "Merchants' Week Association," Bull and Liberty streets, under Liberty hotel. For further information, address Max Robinson, secretary, or D. G. Purse, president, Merchants' Week Association, Savannah, Ga. The invitations so elaborately planned, and which will be conducted upon a scale commensurate with Savannah's hospitality is given under the auspices of the Merchants' Week Association, but the entertainment in general is tendered compllimentary to the people of the surrounding sections, by the following representative firms of Savannah: Alder, Leopold Apple & Schaul Armour Packing Company Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Ambos, Henry Appleton, George L. Bowker Fertilizer company Briad and Hutton Branch, Estate S. W. Brooks, J. F. & Fripp Bussey, W. W. , special agent Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York Bannon, Mrs. E. Belle, Nelson Distillery Brandt, Dr. C. N. Butler & Morrissey Byck, C. S. & Co. Byck, E. S. & Co. Collat Bros. Central Railroad of Georgia City and Suburban Railway Collins, J. S. & Co. Comer, Hull & Co. Cohen & Brown Carr, John Cornwell & Chipmann Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company Cohen, D.. L. Chatham Bank Central Railroad Bank Citizens' Bank Chaplin, W. F. Cooper, W. G. Cohen, A. S. Croham & Dooner Carson, Luke Cohen, J. T. Dearing & Hull Dale, Dixon & Co. Dubs, Screven House Dixon, J. M. & Co. Dorsett, Charles H. Dryfus & Rich Daniels, W. H. Douglass, F. X. Dixon, W. d. Dryfus, M. DeSoto Hotel Des ??uillions, ? Eckman & Vetsburg Eckstein, G. & Co. Ehrlich, A. & Bro. Ellis, Young & Co. Epstein, I. & Bro. Electric Railway Co. Einstein, H. R. Erickson & French Falk Clothing Co. Fried? & Hiers Flannery, J. & Co. Ferst, M. Sons & Co. Feely's Transfer Co. Fornham, George A. Fernandez, John B. Fretwell & Nichols Furber, James H. Frank & Co. Guckenheimer, S. & Sons Geil & quint Gleason, E. C. Gazan & Byck Gaynor, John F. Galina, Joseph A. Gleason, T. F. & Co. Gordon, W. W. & Co. Germania Bank Golden, Mrs. P. J. Garfunkle, B. M. Grass, J. J. Hanley, Andrew Hogan, Daniel Hodges, J. H. Harris, Dr. R. B. Harnett House Jackson, Metzger & Co. Karger, H. Kehoes Iron Works Karrow, Edward Kollock & Screven Kock, J. H. Krouskoff, S. Lindsay & Morgan Lippman Bros. Lovell & Lattimore Ludden & Bates, Southern Music House Lyons, John Lloyd & Adams Lewin, S. K. Levy, B. H. & Bro. Logan, Hugh Livingston, H. H. Lovell's, E. Sons Lawler, Mrs. E. M. Launey & Goebel La Far, John F. Lester, D. B., Grocery Company Meinhard, Bros. & Co. Mohr Bros McDonough & Co. Morning News Myers, Lee Roy & Co. Mell, W. B. & Co. McIntyre, M. Y. & D. I. McGrath, James Maggioni, L. P. McDonough & Ballantyne Marmelstein, Charles A. Merchant & Miners' Transportation Co. Miller, The A. J. Co. Merchants' National Bank Morrison House Myerson, D. P. Mutual Co-Operative Grocery Co. Nichols, A. S. Neidlinger & Rabun Nugent, Thomas Naughtin, M. National Bank of Savannah New Home Sewing Machine Company Ocean Steamship Company Oppenheimer, Sloat & Co. Palmer Hardware Company Peacock, Hunt & Co. Prendergast Charles F. Pulaski House Purse, D. G. Rosenheim, J. & Co. Rourke, J. & Co. Robinson Printing Company Rehnberg, Paul Savannah Carriage and Wagon Company Savannah Brewing Company Savannah Grocery Company Savannah Naval Stores Company Savannah Press Savannah Steam Laundry Savannah Street Railroad Shuptrine, J. T. & Bro. Solomons & Co. Solomon, Henry & Son Stillwell, Millen & Co Solomons, M. J. South Bound Railroad Stults, Charles E. & Co. Sonnenberg, A. Stewart, J. T. & Sons Schley, Julian. Strong, L. C. Schwarb, Dr. M. & Son Savannah, Florida and Western Railway Southern Bank State of Georgia Savannah Bank and Trust Co. Savannah Savings Bank Silva, James S. Schriener, S. A. Schwarz, E. A. Tiedeman, George W. & Bro. Theus Bros. Title Guarantee and Loan Co. Tuberdy, P. Tide-Water Oil Co. Ulman, Goldsborough & Co. Wakefield & Lee Wells, Dr. Irvin N. West, A. M. & C. W. Williams, J. P. & Co. Wolters, P. H. Brewing Co. Woods, Garnett & Co. Wilson & Grady Wheaton, J. F. & Co. Withers, J. B. Winter, Herman West, Thomas & Co. Wilson, B. Weed, J. D. & Co. Additional Comments: Transcribed from an original newspaper in my possession. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 14.1 Kb