Who was Gasparilla? The answer to that depends
on who you ask. It is one of the first things people
want to know when they come to our town for the annual
Gasparilla Invasion and Festival. There have been a number of theories over
the years and someone back in time penned the following poetic explanation.
Who was Gasparilla,
asks the stranger in our gate.
Listen: then, and we'll the tale relate.
Gasparilla was a pirate
in the happy days of old
Who made a living off of
other people's gold.
He ravaged up and down this coast
for many a bloody day
'Till finally they hanged him,
down at Lemon Bay.
There were obviously a lot of pirates marauding
around the seas in the 1700s and José Gaspar
could have very well been one of them. Other people,
because of lack of evidence that he did exist, have
decided that he is just a fictional character. Both
camps are equally sure of their conclusion. It doesn't
really matter anymore, does it? For those of you
who haven't heard the stories, and there are several,
here is one in a nutshell.
A popular account portrays
José Gaspar as
a well educated Spanish aristocrat and brilliant
naval officer who turned into a swashbuckling buccaneer
of the high seas when he became disenchanted with
Spain in the 1770s. He was accused of stealing the
crown jewels. When he jilted the daughter-in-law
of King Charles III for a beautiful lady of the Court,
the spurned woman and accomplice stole the jewels
and concocted the story accusing Gaspar. Hearing
he was about to be arrested by the king and fueled
by the desire for revenge, he stole a ship and with
a crew of escaped criminals sailed to Florida. Finding
life at sea desirable and wishing to continue his
revenge on Spain, he wreaked havoc in the Gulf of
Mexico. He seized many Spanish ships, robbing and
burning them. The men and women who were crew and
passengers were taken from the ships and murdered
or made into slaves and concubines. Children and
those, for other reasons, found undesirable were
simply thrown overboard. Towns were seized, burned
and robbed. Some of the captured rich were held for
ransom and then were set free on one of the islands
such as Puerto Rico or Cuba once the ransom was paid.
Eventually Gasparilla, as he now called himself,
made his headquarters around Gasparilla Island on
the south west Gulf coast of Florida.
The
history of José Gaspar explained, another
question people ask is, "When did it start?" The
invasion by Ye Mystic Krewe started pretty much as
just another event planned to give some carnival
appeal to the fledgling, but ambitious, May Festival
celebration in 1904. The first festival in May 1903
was named the May Music Festival because much of
the agenda revolved around music in many forms. This
second May Festival, a much more ambitious project,
was to be a celebration of music, bowling and shooting
events, military drill team displays, parades, a
political rally and a masquerade ball.
The May Festival of 1904 is where our story really
begins. Music in many forms was still very much a
part of the festival. On the agenda were daily concerts
and musical events. Having heard his concerts before,
the arrival of Prof. C. M. Parker of Binghamton,
N. Y. was eagerly anticipated by the citizens of
Tampa. He would be in charge of a great chorus. He
arrived a month ahead of time to assure the finest
performance. A group of 50 lady minstrels would perform.
There would be orchestras, cantatas, an oratorio,
the Tampa Glee Club. All would perform throughout
the six day event starting May 2, 1904.
The Tampa Bay Hotel's enthusiastic new manager,
Mr. Thomas J. Laud-Brown, was very much involved
in the planning. In one of his efforts to keep the
faltering hotel profitable, he suggested the hotel
as a location for the first convention to consider
the benefits of building the Panama Canal. Mr. W.
R. Fuller, President of the Tampa Board of Trade,
liked the idea and eventually Governor W. S. Jennings
issued invitations to all the Governors of the southern
states to come or send delegates. Mayors from all
over the south attended, including Tampa's own Mayor
James McKay. President Roosevelt was expected to
send George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, as his representative. The
convention was to be held starting May 4th in the
Tampa Bay Hotel. The delegates would be staying at
the hotel and would be honored at many of the events
of the festival.
A political rally would also be a major part of
the event. It would be the last opportunity for candidates
for various state offices to speak before the primaries
were to be held later in May.
The recently organized Rod and Gun Club promised
competition from marksmen from around the state with
prizes of $400.00 to be divided among the "crack
shots" in the pigeon shoot. Up to 40 participants
were expected.
There would be running races, trotting races and
match races for horsemen with entries from as far
away as Jacksonville.
The floral parade would be beautiful with all of
the men, women and children of the city dressed in
their finest, riding in several – still novel – automobiles,
on wagons and carts all decorated with flowers and
streamers, and on horses in blankets made of flowers.
They would leave from the Tampa Bay Hotel, then park
and wind the streets along side the military drill
team and bands.
The Grand Ball signaling the end of the glorious
week would be a grand finale. It, too, would be held
at the ballroom of the Tampa Bay Hotel.
Yes, the festival was going to be much more than
just music this year. Starting months in advance,
the Tampa Morning Tribune announced plans and activities
on a regular basis.
The Morning Tribune, on April 5th, announced a membership
of society men being gathered to become a permanent
carnival ball organization. The upcoming ball would
feature a May Pole dance and members of the association
would be en masque and wearing magnificent velvet
and silk costumes. It was to be a charming evening.
The possibility of a mysterious
invasion was announced
by the Morning Tribune on April 23rd. It seemed that
a group of pirates were planning to come to town
for the festival. The Morning Tribune published a
proclamation announcing the first annual visit of
Ye Mystic Krewe. The communication advised:
"After a century of obscurity
and retirement in this His Royal Majesty’s
dominion, it has been deemed expedient and desirable
by His Royal Majesty that the Royal Court of Gasparilla
shall once again, as of yore visit our beloved
friends in the fair and prosperous city of Tampa.
Tis long ago since our gracious
forefathers of honored memory held court in your
beloved city, and mayhap in these many changes
of generations our beloved friends have become
ignorant of the details of our Royal history."
The proclamation went on to explain that of the
ranks of pirates of long ago, thought dead of the
Yellow Fever epidemic, a few escaped – including
lineal descendents of Gasparilla who established
a dominion in obscurity on a small island on Florida's
southwest coast that they named Gasparilla in honor
of their beloved Sovereign.
We were going to be visited by the current Sovereign – "King
Gasparilla the 'Steenth." The letter was signed
"GOSSIPPO
Lord High Chamberlain; Guardian of the Pantry Key."
Excitement was now growing as this latest announcement
raced around the city. As time grew nearer to the
festival merchants got into the act offering "May
Festival prices" on some of the items suitable
for the attendees of the various events. C.R. Pippin
of 1008 Franklin St. had bargains for the ladies
such as umbrellas with a "paragon frame, steel
rod and fancy handle" originally $1.25 on sale
for 75 cents; walking hats in new shapes and styles,a
$2.00 value for only $1.50. In a rallying effort
for community support, one newspaper announcement
urged "Let every Tampa-ite have a glad hand
and a cheerful smile this week."
The Tampa Bay Hotel, which is now H. B. Plant Hall
for the University of Tampa, was the center of most
of the events, including the opening ceremonies which
were held on the grounds of the hotel at Tampa Bay
Park. Tampa Mayor James McKay, President W.R. Fuller
of the Board of Trade, President Vicente Guerra of
el Centro Español and other prominent citizens
were on hand for the formalities.
The restaurant at the Tampa Bay Hotel had a prix
fixe dinner for $1.00. The going rate for a nice
dinner at other places was 50 cents, so it was a
little pricey, but certainly affordable for such
a special evening. On the eve of the convention the
menu offerings for the May 3rd evening,
"Mock Turtle Anglaise with
Cucumbers, Pickles and chow-chow
Fillets of Bluefish a la Bordelaise with Potatoes Hollandaise
Boiled Tongue Piquant
Calves Head a la Vinaigrette,
Spaghetti a la Alesmetane with Banana Fritters with Rum Sauce
Prime Ribs of Western Beef, Drip Gravy
Roast Philadelphia Capon with Currant Jelly."
Also offered were a variety of potatoes, rice, string-less
beans and several desserts listed were Lemon Custard
Pie, Cottage Pudding, Apple Pie and Orange Ice. All
served with either coffee or tea. I can't help but
wonder how many ordered the boiled tongue?
We were told that Gasparilla along with his entire
crew would sail to Tampa and into the mouth of the
Hillsborough River on their pirate ship, the Octopus,
before daybreak on day of the big parade, Wednesday,
May 4th. They would remain at a secret rendezvous
site ashore until time for the big parade which was
planned for that afternoon. I imagine staying in
hiding was prudent, since he was surely wanted by
the authorities for questioning about some of his
more questionable activities on the raging seas.
The parade was indeed a big
fun event of the week. The Tampa Bay Hotel was still the center of attention
since the parade would begin there. The hotel and
grounds were groomed and decorated with buntings
and streamers. Office buildings downtown festooned
their doors with colorful buntings and flags. Ybor
City made quite a showing according to the Seventh
Avenue Tribune Bureau. The flags of the U.S., Cuba,
Spain, and Mexico were hung at the offices of Centro
Asturiano. In the parade, Dr. Maximo Díaz
entered his "little black Italian pony and diminutive
phaeton" were decorated with more flags and
roses and streamers. The Tampa Box Company had a
two-horse delivery wagon filled with cigar boxes
and covered in flags and streamers, "making
a fine picture." The Reina Brothers also had
two wagons decorated with the flags of the U.S.,
Germany, Cuba, and Spain. They only regretted that
they couldn't find an Italian flag to represent their
own country.
Also on this festive Wednesday, Ye Mystic Krewe
arrived and the first invading masked pirates rode
into town on horseback. The pirates proved themselves
to be as adept in the saddle as they were out on
the bucking, raging seas. It was also announced that
trusted members of the crew would be roaming the
city in search of the most attractive of the fair
young ladies of the town and report back to their
captain with the "comparative excellencies" of
the maidens. After their introduction to the city
at the parade, the pirate king and his crew would
go back into hiding until Friday night when His Majesty
and his crew would host the festival ball for all
the prominent citizens of Tampa being held at the
grand ballroom of the Tampa Bay hotel.
When they arrived at the Festival Ball they were
attired in all their regal finery to announce the
selection of the "Queen of the Festival" and
her maids of honor. At a dramatic moment during the
evening on the pirate king's command, silence would
fall over the hall as all of Ye Mystic Krewe removed
their masks to reveal their true identity.
The first festival revealed the Pirate King to be
none other than the Honorable Edward R. Gunby, a
noted lawyer who had aspirations for political office.
The Queen of the Festival was declared to be Miss
Mary Lee Douglass. The crown she wore was made especially
for the event. It was beautifully bejeweled and had
been sitting in the window of Kistenmacher's on view
for the entire city to see in the days leading up
to the event. The Queen also had a court of esteemed
maidens revealed to be the Misses Woolridge, Carnes,
Glenn and Stevens.
After all the ceremonies, they danced the night
away until the music ended suddenly and the pirates
slipped away into the night to return to their ship
and out to sea. In a moment of honor, Gasparilla
left behind his Queen and her maids as well as all
the jewels and gold of the city. That is likely the
reason he has been welcomed back to town almost every
year since.
The Gasparilla Invasion was
a huge success. Unfortunately,
the May Festival, as ambitious and grand as it was,
didn't last. That was its last year. The following
year the Gasparilla Festival moved to the fall to
coincide with the fair and later, as an event on
its own, it moved to February. It wasn't until 1911
that the invasion came by sea for the first time
when the pirates sailed into Tampa Bay. For many
years the invasion and parade were held on Mondays
and it was a local holiday for many. School children
had the day off and most of the downtown offices
closed in celebration of the Festival.
The official holiday eventually faded away and in
1988 the festival moved to Saturdays. Since businesses
and schools were no longer allowed the holiday, it
was decided that more people would be able to attend
if the festival was held on Saturday. Over time the
sailing crews have grown in numbers and size.
Now a new year, 2006 is upon us and rumor has it
the pirate ships have been seen making their way
toward Tampa. They are planning another invasion
on January 28, 2006 so get your pirate gear ready.
Come on down to the bay and prepare to be entertained.
"The
Beginning of Gasparilla" by
Gail Ellis appears in Volume 1, Issue 2 of Cigar
City Magazine.
