Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-01-08

uCtWccu CoCu DtiOWs anu inc SecOuU
row is set 80 As to show in the OPEN
ings left by the first. Small boys fur
nish the motive power. The wsves
are rocked back and forth. not from
side to side; and the effect is very
good. The noise OF water rolling upon
a beach is well initiated in n simple
manner. A box of light wood is lined
with tin. BY putting two or three
ounces Of bird shot into this and caus-
ing it to roll around. the desired sound
is produced.
Fire scenes are sometimes danger
Gus; but with proper care they may be
rendered comparatively safe. That
they are not so hazardous rs is general
ly supposed by the upinitiated beholder
may be learned from the following de-
scription: One of the most familiar fire
scenes is that which occurs in the
"Streets of New York." in which
three story house burns down. the roof
caving in, the shutters falling. and the
walls breaking with wonderful ap-
pearance of realism. The house is
painted ON three separate pieces, the
top one Of which is swung from the
flies; this constitutes the roof Upon
the second is painted half the wall, and
it is joined to the bottom piece in an
irregular zig-zag line. The simple
dropping in succession Of these pieces
to the stage produces the falling Of roof
and wall. The lire Itself is represented
by chemical red fire and powdered lyco-
pOdium used separately, the former to
give red glow and the latter to repre-
sent flames. The shutters, which are
to fall, are fastened to the scene with
preparation called "quick match"
This is made of powder. alcohol and
lamp wick. The window frames and
sashes are made of sheet iron. They
are covered with Oakum soaked in
alcohol or naphtha. These sashes and
frames are not fastened to the canvas
scene at all. but are placed short
distance behind it upon platforms.
The quickest possible touch OF
flame ignites the oakum. and. in
moment. the fire runs around
the sash and nothing is apparently left
but the blackened and charred wood.
Steam is used to represent smoke that
issues from the crannies in the walls OF
the burning building; and an occa-
sional crash. followed by the igni-
ton of little powder to produce a
sudden puff of smoke. gives the speeta-
tor an idea of a fallen rafter. Behind
the entire scene is placed a very large
endless towel upon which is painted n
mass Of flames. This is kept in con-
slant upward motion; and. when viewed
through an open window in the house.
gives a good idea of the supposed "a
ging furnace within. Add 10 these
things real fire engine on the stage.
host of yelling snpernumeraries in
discarded firemen's uniforms, and the
spectator is easily filed with sense Of
tremendous danger. Nevertheless the
only flames upon the stage are those
arising from the burning of lyco-
podium in "dash torch" and they
are only allowed to blaze up for a sec
ond or two at q time. Fires in the
aters, resulting from u fire scene, are
usually caused by carelessness in hand
ling the powder which is used to pro-
duce puffs of smoke.
The amount OF labor and care be-
slowed upon the production OF scenic
effects is something Of which the IN
initiated public knows little; but the
above account gives general dis
cription of how the most elaborate ores
are produced y Tribune