The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-05-28
THE BOSTON JUBILEE.


Special correspondence Of the Intelllgeneer)
BosToN, May "a, 1872.
The latest arrival for the Jubilee is the
Mammoth Drum. 1t was built "down
East" and is so large that 1t could not be
brought 10 Boston in IN ordinary freight
car, but was on special car Tor trans
pOrtation. The Executive Committee
have had meeting to consult, among
other matters, what devices shall be
painted upon the heads. The coats OF
arms Of various nations, and peaceful
notices were fixed upon, and the iustru.
ment, completed and ready for action,
will be ready for exhibition in o few days
The hides Of mammoth oxen properly
prepared, will be used for the heads.
Mr.. Wilcox, the organist, Of the Fest.
val, and practical organ builder him.
self, has the organ completed, and
about ready to set up in its place.
A full description Of the instrument
with the various stops, was published in
the papers a day or two ago. like that
for the previous Jubilee, It is buifkmore
for power and volume Of sound than for
the lighter and more delicate effects
which no one, perhaps, can draw from the
keys TO better advantage than Mr.. Wilcox.
The case will be dispensed with almost
entirely. The pipes will be in full view
Of the audience; the larger ones in the
rear Of the instrument and the smaller and
metallic pipes inIfront 1t containsSonly
two banks Of keys, and the player sits a
long distance from the organ itself and
Immediately under the conductors eye.
By skilllul mechanical device the diff.
culties OF so long a leverage on the keys
arc overcome, and the pressure needed to
produce the effect desired, which is far
greater than on an ordinary instrument,
Is also provided. Some new stops, par.
ticularly one invented by Mr.. Wilcox
himself, have been introduced. 1t will be
ready for "a private interview" next week
probably, and | will then write you more
particularly about 1t.
Other arrangements for the noisy sub
base Of guns and bells arc also progress
ling. Major lFoslett commanding the
battalion Of light batteries, has arranged
TO supply the guns. About twenty will
be wanted probably, and many Of the
same men who served them before will
be in charge Of them this year. The
principle on which they are fired is very
simple, and at the same time inspres theiI
discharge in perfect time with the music,
After they are loaded, and Of course they
are reloaded at once after each discharge
q connection Is made with wires by the
"primer." These wires extend to the
operators seat near the conductor, where
all that Is necessary Tor him TO do Is &c
complete the circuit, and explode the
charge at the proper moments, which he
does by pressing down upon a key. It is
impossible for q gun TO be dis
charged prematurely; in fact 1t cannot be
discharged unless everything is all right
The effect Of these guns cannot be de-
scribed. 1t must be heard to be appreciG'
ted; but nothing so exciting or inspiriLing
could be conceived Of by one who has
never heard It. The bells Of the city fire
alarm are also tobe rung in the same way
This is not so effective, as the returning
sound from those ut q distance, miugling
with the bells at hand, produces cOnlu
sion in the time TO listener outside the
building.
A visit TO the place shows aremarkablt
advance within the last ten days
Warned by sad experience, the contraC
tors did not sheath the end most exposed
till the remaining portions Of the edifcc
were far advanced towards completion;
but next week the carpenters employed
arc to be reduced in number. The build
ing as II stands to-day shows the folly OIL
those who prophesied that the fall OF the
truss was emblematic Of the failure oil the
plan. The result has proved that I'M
toward asthe accident seemed, It was
4 after all Tor the best. The public knolI
that the building as now constructed is or
the plan OF ore that was tested and proves
secure, and as to the other there was ar
uncertainty,
/. i met Mr.. Gilmore afew days after thai
j. accident, and in a moments brief CONVEX
, sation, the spirit which sctuated hin
glanced out. ave shall have the Jubi
lee all the same said he, "Boston nevel
} gives up, when she has made up hel
sfmind. AgS AS hemeti in the new building thi'
l1week With tho Executive Committee, TIT
plans tor which were not drawn when tina
remark was made, he must have realized
? that determination Of his fellow labor
3 ers, NO less than his own, was unconquera
5 BILE. He has Just returned from q visit L
= New York, and an interview with Abt, tn