The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-10
The Illumination.


The illumination.
The following sketch from this mornings National
Inielligencer world OF trouble in gathering
up the Fragments and it executed in better taste than
we could have brought to the task The whole scene
charmng--was enjoyed for the time by our whole
population, and will live long in the memory OF every
spectator We cannot pass however, the fire works
at the Navy Yard, which were more beautiful and bril-
liant than anything saw in that line lady OF
taste, who had witnessed the anniversary of the "Three
days in Paris pronounced them to be superior to the ex
hibons of that gay and ingenious city The genius OF
Mr. Coston exhibited in all its beauty, The last
piece in which the names of
ScoTr, TAYLOR & CONNER, PERRY,
AULIcK & MAY,
were emblazoned in letters OF fire, surpassed everything
which had conceived possible within the range of the
pyrotechnc art But the Washington correspondent of
the Baltimore Sum again steps forward TO take the
pen of description from our hands, and cheerully
yield il TO his guidance. We shall publish its description
tomorrow. For these extraordinary and beautiful dis
plays we are indebted to the mechanics OF the Navy
Yard
From this mornings National Inteigcncer.
Celebration OF the Eighth OF May.
1t was anticipated that the welcome intelligence re-
ceived last Friday afternoon of the brilliant victory of
General Scott at Cerro Gordo, would give animation to
the celebration this city of Saturday evening" and
more general illumination than at first contem-
plated Such, indeed, proved to be the case; and
that the brilliant spectacle has passed, 1t has become our
duty to notice IN such due 10 the
sion, with fairness and mparialy, emitting Intentional
y nothing that we had the pleasure of witnessing
selves or that brought within our notice by other
witnesses, who have been pleased TO mpar to us the
desired information. We may possibly omit to notice
some exhibitions that worthy of attention. If So
shall endeavor to supply that omission in future article
And first the most interesting and attractive part OF
the celebration we NOTICE the grand fireworks and u-
mination at the Navy Yard. OF these, confident
we may say that they the authorizations which
The fireworks were indeed, OF unequalled briance
and spendor, such, perhaps as were never before wit
sustained by the opinions of gentlemen who have seen
pyroechnical displays of the highest order in Paris and
other European cities and who also witnessed the fire.
works at navy yard last Saturday night for which
our citizens indebted to Mr. Coston the United States
pyrotechnis who spared pains to render the display
worthy OF the occasion and whose success was IN the
| fullest sense OF the word, complete.
One OF the objects presented at this grand pyroechnlca
display was structure representing the Navy Yard gate,
and presenting in letters of vivid light the names OF
those officers military and naval, who have won lmper
ishable for themselves and their country IN the
battles of Mexico. This exhibition the most brill
liant and successful evidence of the pyroechnic art that
witnessed The artificial stars which formed
the names of those brave commanders, presented to the
gaze of admng thousands seemed to rival the brilliant
| stars OF the natural ARMAMENT
The grand exhibition of fireworks preceded by an
unusually fine display of variegated rockets, whose
beautiful and sparkling colors, all bursting IN arr were
al S city, and miles distant n
all the citizens seeming to vie with each other in adding
TO the brlance of the scene From the residence OF
cottages of the vicinity, there was universal blaze Of
light all the windows being handsomely Illuminated,
and several having in them appropriate ransparencies
An Illuminated tree in Garrison street was one OF the
All the branches of this tree were hung with Illuminated
lanterns. presenting at short distance curious and
very handsome object
The fireworks commenced at nine o'clock and
tnued about half hour AT the close of the pyrotech
nical display large bonfire consisting OF one hundred
tar and tupenne barrels with other combusbles FORM
ing column forty feet high YVES lighted up in the space
between the Navy Yard and the Capitol II is thought
this lofty pillar OF fire. would be seen at distance Of
twenty or thirty miles down the Potomac. Ii certainly
shed an immense glare of light all over the city.
The number OF spectators who witnessed this grand
display at the Navy Yard was unusually great. 1t is
thought BY many who were present that such an I'M
mense gathering of people was never before seen in
Washington The most perfect order pervaded this great
multitude during the whole evening On stage that nat
Secretary OF War, the Secretary of the Navy the Mayor
some OF the foreign ministers, with Their families several
military and naval qicers and large numoe, o, Saes
Yard the citizens there, always proverbal for their pub
lie spirit and hospitality, opened their houses freely to
the entertainment of those friends and strangers who
honored them with call Especially this hospitali-
| ty manifested by Mr. p. O1erbach and Mr.. Queen OF
whose good cheer many persons parook Literally In the
course Of the evening.
II matter of regret 10 many persons that very
DESTROYS OF witnessing the display OF fireworks that they
could not do without losing the sight of the umna
TONS ransparences, and other public demonstrations OF
Joy in the western and central portions of city The
illumination in these parts OF our metropolis land we say
this with no intention of making invIdous compare
sony was indeed much brilliant and general than
had any previous idea Of Ii would be extending this
article to an unreasonable length were we to specify
everything we saw even 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue worthy Of notice But there transparences
and sights many other streets that were not only ex-
cellent but greatly admired.
We shall commence our description at the residence oil
the Mayor street, fronting the General Post Ohce
The illumination of the Mayors dwelling remarkably
brilliant, the tanspaencies excellent and good taste
In the large circular ansom sash over the entrance to the
house, in semi-crcuar illumination, were the inspiring
words "Cerro Gordo and Chihuahua" on purple
ground On the window on the right OF the door was
full length portrait OF General Scott, surmounted
with the inscription "Vera Cruz and St Juan de Ulua
On panel at the base of this transparency the fol-
lowing inscription 5000 prisoners, 5000 stand OF arms,
and 400 cannons captured 10000 rations issued to the
poor of the city. Courage adorned by humanity" Cow
erng the left window full length portrait OF Gene
raj Taylor, with his resting on his white war horse
On an arch above was inscribed "Palo Alto, Resaca de
la Palma, Monterey, Buena Vista" On panel at the
base OF the transparency inscribed the following
"Santa Anna have 20, 900 men, surrender. Taylor
have 5000; come and take He conquers the enemy
tthen gives aid and comfort to their starving wounded
We learn that these transparences had been some time
serve much credit for the taste and skill manifested by
them in the execution of the work
u Passing from the Mayors residence, next come to