Lillian Dean, Mobile Mardi Gras
No city has a richer Mardi Gras history than Mobile. The first American Mardi Gras celebration occurred here in 1703, and the first mystic society, the Cowbellion de Rakin society, was formed in 1830. How did anyone decide to start a secret society and why did it have such a funny name. As you would expect, there’s a story behind it. Here it is as told by Lillian Dean of Mobile, a former Queen of the Mystic Stripers society.
“On New Year’s Eve 1830, Michael Krafft, a one-eyed cotton broker from Bristol, Pennsylvania, along with some friends, Henry Dagget, Robert Roberts, Daniel Geary, Thomas Niles, Nathanial Ledyar, Richard Currie, Amual Kipp and more met at Antoine or Antonin La Tourette’s Restaurant in the old Southern Hotel.”
“At what seemed the crack of dawn after ringing in the New Year with much revelry, they strolled through the cobblestone streets and were met with much temptation as they came upon Partridge’s Hardware Store. The clerks had begun to bring out hoes, rakes, gongs and cowbells to be displayed for the day’s business. This group scooped up these items and with a terrific amount of noise began to make their New Year’s calls.”
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“They stopped at Mayor John Stocking, Jr.’s house and awoke him from a slumber and he received them in good humor and invited them in for refreshments. They left the Mayor’s home and continued their revelry only to disband after deciding to call themselves The Midnight Revelers. It was not until 1833 that they adopted the name Cowbellion de Rakin society because of the implements used in their first outing. This is just one of many versions of the infancy of this group but they went on to have lavish balls and fabulous parades for many years and were known all over the country. The organization lasted for more than 50 years before disappearing as mysteriously as it began. In fact, the entire history of the society is shrouded in mystery.”
Ms. Dean is a member of three secret Mobile societies. Which ones?
“I am not able to name which ones as they are secret societies,” she replied.
Wow. I guess secret really means secret! Ms. Dean has been parading since she was two years old and is a dedicated Mardi Gras-er. Last year she attended twenty-two (22) of the grand Mardi Gras balls, which are thrown by the secret societies. The balls are elaborate occasions with ultra-formal attire required. Although she couldn’t reveal which societies she belonged to, she was able to describe some aspects of the societies in Mobile.
“Each organization is different and the process by which you become a member, serve the organization and are allowed to parade varies from society to society. In many groups you must have a member of the society submit your name to be considered for membership. You are then voted on and if your membership is accepted you are notified of where and when you must appear to take an oath or a pledge. Generally, the older the society the harder it is to gain membership. Many societies meet on a monthly basis and hold parties and other fundraisers as well as member only events throughout the year. A lot of the organizations also do a lot of charitable work in the community.”
Ms. Dean also pointed out that in Mobile, the organized Mardi Gras groups are known as “secret societies or organizations”, whereas in New Orleans, they are known as “krewes”.
In addition to the Cowbellions, Mobile also is the home of Joe Cain, known as the man who revived Mardi Gras in Mobile after the Civil War. In 1867, Joe dressed as a Chickasaw Indian named Chief Slacabamarinico and regaled the town with merriment.
Joe Cain started many of the mystic societies and parades in Mobile and many still carry on to this day. The city even declared a Joe Cain Day, which occurs the Sunday before Mardi Gras, and the city hosts a parade that is open to anyone who wants to participate.
Even in death, Joe Cain continues to promote and add to the Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile.
According to Ms. Dean, “Joe Cain died in 1904. Joe only had one wife during his lifetime, Elizabeth Alabama Rabby Cain. However, since his death he has accumulated 20 Widows and 15 Mistresses. In 1968 when Julian (Judy) Rayford brought the remains of Joe Cain and his wife back from Mississippi to be reburied in the Church Street Graveyard, there was a lady there that decided that he should have a widow and dressed up to morn at the grave. Since then, Cain’s Merry Widows have been a part of Joe Cain Day. The morning of the parade they have a party at the home of Joe Cain. They also, at an undisclosed time, go to the graveyard to mourn. They dress in all black and are veiled. Each of them claim they are the one and only true widow of Joe Cain.”
“A few years ago a group of ladies in red attire and veils emerged. They are The Mistresses of Joe Cain and they claim that Joe loved them best. Before the procession rolls down the streets of Mobile you are likely to see the Widows and the Mistresses in a scuffle and many times the police are called in. However, Chief Slacabamarinico always steps in and calms the ladies down and tell everyone they can all participate in the celebration because after all it is ‘The People’s Parade’. Right before the parade rolls the Mistresses make their way to the side of Chief Slac’s wagon and recite their Ode to Joe Cain:
Here is to Joe on this day we do mourn,
We loved him dearly though we face lots of scorn,
From dusk til dawn we will mourn his death,
Cause we all know he loved us best.”
Somehow, the saying “Rest in Peace” just doesn’t seem appropriate for Joe Cain.