9,487
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
In a letter dated [[November 22]], [[1822]], U.S. Major General George A. McCall provided an account of a patgo he witnessed, hosted by [[Juan de la Rua]] at his estate ([[Gull Point]]) overlooking [[Escambia Bay]]:
A '''patgo''' (also spelled '''padgo''', '''pad-gaud''', and other variants) was a Pensacola tradition dating back to the Spanish era. It was similar to the Old World sport of "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popinjay_(sport) popinjay]" wherein participants take turns shooting at an artificial bird atop a pole.
In a letter dated [[November 22]], [[1822]], U.S. Major General George A. McCall provided an account of a patgo he witnessed, hosted by [[Juan de la Rua]] at his estate ([[Gull Point]]) overlooking [[Escambia Bay]]:
<blockquote>
It is an amusement of ancient origin, and even at the present time seems to be held in high esteem in pensacola. The preliminaries are conducted in this way: a few days before the entertainment is to take place, the Host, having procured the figure of a fine chicken cock, of large size, fashioned out of a tough knotty block of wood, through which passes vertically an iron rod, whereupon the figure lightly whirls about like a weathercock. He sends this emblem of the gallant bird, mounted upon a staff, by a gayly dressed servant to the houses of the invited fair ones; and each lady presenting a bunch of ribbons or a feather for his toilet, soon his varied honors floating from his sides clothe him with a plumage of the brightest dyes.
</blockquote>
==References==
* George A. McCall. ''Letters from the Frontiers'', 1868.
