By Ken Edwards

Horrible: terrible, awful, dreadful, revolting, repulsive, disgusting, and more. What could be more entertaining for a Fourth of July celebration than a parade of "Horribles?" Not to be outdone by New Orleans' Mardi Gras, an intrepid group of prominent Prescott citizens under the direction of Messrs. W. F. Holden and John F. Meador, organized an adjunct to the annual Fourth of July festivities in downtown Prescott in 1881.

The Horribles were a fun-loving group of men who donned "fantastic" costumes, constructed a Car of State, played Horrible music, presented impressive orations and poetry, and paraded around the Plaza to the delight and amusement of the local citizenry. 

"Plunged in a gulf of dark despair 
Without a decent suit to wear 
The Horribles conduct their revels 
In clothes that look like painted devils" 

The first Horrible performance was such a success, that the parade of Horribles became a featured component of the annual celebration of the Fourth, from 1881 through 1894. The first event was called the Prescott Mardigras by the Weekly Miner, and this may give a clue as to the origin of the event. Horribles were not unique to Prescott, but their origin is obscure. There is some evidence that similar parades were held in the southeast, and it is known that even San Diego had Horrible parades in the early 1800s. But Prescott's homegrown version was undoubtedly unique to our community. Nothing published in local newspapers ever gave attribution of the idea to anyone other than a few inspired residents. 

The first parade and literary exercises of the Horribles (or Prescott Callithumpians, as they were once called) was described as simply immense, "transcending anything in the line of burlesque display ever seen in Arizona," and probably never excelled as a "ludicrous exhibition" anywhere. The group burst forth on the Plaza led by the Horrible Fish-horn Band. This was followed by a caricature of the old club-footed, horn-headed imp of darkness, the Devil, with horns, hoofs, claws and a tail. 

Next in the procession was the Goddess of Liberty, in a dump cart, represented in the form of one Charles Yates. This was followed by the Car of State, with 38 ragamuffins each holding a placard with the name of one of the 38 states, and one large placard with the legend "The Coming State, Arizona." Next came a wagon with Barney, the bell ringer; Kelly, the handyman; and King, the model valet. The wagon had streamers containing the words: July 4, 1881, "Wealth", "Power", "Peace", "Prosperity", "The Country is Safe." Following this was a companion wagon with the date July 4, 1776, bearing signs "Poverty", "Oppression", "War", "Anarchy", and "The Country in Danger." 

The heavy artillery was next in line, with a cannon constructed of a smokestack and beer barrel. Then came Uncle Sam, mounted on a burro. Next were characters representing nearly every conceivable trade, profession, fowl, beast, and thing, so completely disguised that the enactors were unrecognizable. 

After parading about the Plaza, the troupe proceeded to the north end of the Court House where the literary exercises took place. Uncle Sam recited, in fine style, the Declaration of Impudence, which was interrupted on numerous occasions by rounds of applause. This was followed by music from the Horrible Band, and then a reading of poetry created especially for the occasion. Then more band music, followed by the Horrible orator of the day whose presentation convulsed the audience. 

Among the other characters who paraded about were two men who portrayed an Indian and his squaw, who "almost excelled the wild Apaches themselves." There was a cowboy who would have made a Texas desperado ashamed of himself, a jockey on an untamed ox, a magnificently attired Grand Marshal, and a number of nondescript characters who added to the general merriment. 

The Miner declared, in summary, that this was the grandest "whoop-up" that the community had ever known and one that would be long remembered in the annals of Arizona fun and frolic. 

In the years that followed the 1881 parade, many further farcical presentations were put on in Prescott for the Fourth of July. Generally, all characters, male and female, were played by men, with the exception of the Goddessof Liberty who eventually was portrayed by a young woman. In 1882, two men in a boat were described as fishing ichthyological curiosities out of a tub. Their sail was inscribed "When fishing in Arizona, use water for bait." Another vehicle carried a ponderous wench "whose avoirdupois threatened annihilation of the frail vehicle." 

A wagon contained a barrel surrounded by blocks of bullion, each labeled with the name of one of the principal mines in the area. A "professor" was engaged in trying to replace the bung in the barrel. At each stroke of his mallet, a youth hidden inside responded by throwing out a new bar of bullion. 

Similar nonsense was engaged in each year the Horribles performed. Although some years were missed, the Horribles were a feature attraction of the Fourth of July celebration until 1894. In 1882, 1884, 1886, and 1891, the local newspapers gave detailed coverage of the Horribles and their antics. For most of these performances, Joseph Dauphin was the organizer and creative artiste of the assemblage, and he received high praise from the local writers. 

The final impressive display of the Horribles was in 1891, at which time they were described as eclipsing everything of this kind ever before presented in Prescott. After that year, the parade received only brief notice in the newspapers. In 1892, the Journal-Miner reported that a gang of fresh and overgrown kids attempted to impersonate the Horribles, to their discredit. They only created an expression of disgust and "ought to have been run in." In 1893 and 1894, the Horribles became a children's presentation, with costumes created by Mrs. Zora Morgan. Although the costumes were much praised, the performances were not. In 1893, Mrs. Morgan was credited with creating 94 costumes for the parade, and a year later received a request from Flagstaff for fifty. Perhaps from exhaustion, she died later that year, and nothing more was heard of the Horribles from that time on. 

(Ken Edwards is a volunteer and tour guide at the Sharlot Hall Museum. The public is welcome to see the new exhibit at the Sharlot Hall Museum about the Horribles) 



Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (o138ph). Reuse only by permission.
The Horribles donned "fantastic" costumes, presented impressive orations and poetry, and paraded around the Plaza to the delight and amusement of the local citizenry in the 19th century. The Sharlot Hall Museum has recently completed a new exhibit documenting the history of the Horribles in Prescott.