By Ken Edwards and Richard Gorby
(Editor’s Note: One usually connects costumes with Halloween. But, back in the late 1800s, a group of Prescott men called the “Horribles” dressed up in elaborate costumes and entertained the people of Prescott. They found that the July 4th parade was a perfect venue for their antics. They were a smashing success from their first appearance in 1881. Their costumes were innovative and handmade, putting most of today’s Halloween costumes to shame. The following represents combined, previously published Days Past articles by Ken Edwards and Richard Gorby.)
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 the 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 Fourth of July celebration 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) were 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. John Doyle was the Drum Major with Bert Lincoln as Band Leader. The band 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. “The fat boy on a burrow” was Sam Hill, owner of Hill Hardware Company. “The elephant” (the size of one) was formed by A. C. and Robert Burmister, prominent merchants, with J. A. Tobin, clerk at Bashford-Burmister, its Nubian keeper.
“The old woman carrying a man on her back” was Anton Emanuel. He fought in the Franco-Prussian War and came to Prescott under the command of General Crook. “An ostrich mounted by a Hottentot” was W. W. Vanderbilt, active in the brokerage and mining business.
Next week Part 2, more antics by the “Horribles” and their dissolution in 1894.
(Ken Edwards is a volunteer and tour guide at the Sharlot Hall Museum. Richard Gorby was a volunteer at SHM until he moved out of state.)
The “Horribles,” in creative and outlandish costumes, paraded through the streets of Prescott to the delight of the young and old alike (Photo Courtesy Sharlot Hall Museum – Call Number: O-138pf Reuse only by permission).
Many characters were represented by the costumes of the “Horribles.” The ostrich was mounted by W. W. Vanderbilt (Photo Courtesy Sharlot Hall Museum – Call Number: O-138pd. Reuse only by permission).
The elephant costume was donned by the Burmisters, prominent merchants in Prescott, with J. A. Tobin, the Nubian elephant keeper (Photo Courtesy Sharlot Hall Museum – Call Number: O-138pe. Reuse only by permission).