Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-30

IL r
! looking the river. At the conclusion of the
reception, the president Governor Cleve-
land and others of the distinguished guests
were driven 10 the home of Mayor Low.
The carnival aspect of the day in Brooklyn
was more complete at night, When miles and
miles of houses, as soon as it bee ime dark,
were illuminated. The whole city was aglow
with lanterns, calcium and electric lights,
transparencies, and window cPndles From
an elevated point tn; city seemed to be in
volcanic action, with the spouting crater on
the suspension bridge. The public buildings
were ablaze with easlights, and Greek fire
was burned on the roofs Mayor Lows
house was particularly luminous, and Colonel
Roebling's was ablaze after he had gone for
the night to his bedroom.
The Fireworks mt Night.
The display of fireworks on the bridge in
the evening was probably the largest pyro-
technic exhibition ever exhibited in this
country. Some idea of its gigantic proper
tons may be obtained wien it is stated that
there were 1000 pieces, We Ching fourteen
tons and needing fourteen trucks to take
them TO the bridge. Tley were in charge of
a CO ~ps of forty-eght men, forty of whom
were IN the cen'er of the bridge and four ut
each tower.
Promptly at o'clock the exhibition began
simultaneously Mt the towers and in the
center of the bridge, Miss Laura G. Detwiller
applying the match to the fuse OF the first
bouquet of triplet rockets. From that mo-
ment on the air was filled with a constant
succession of shooting rockets, bursting
bombs and flying shells, which exploded at
great height into showers of variegate ed
stars, fiery sCrpents and gold and silver rain,
From the tops of the piers flower pots sent
continuous stream of red, green, orange
and blue stars into the air. while illumina-
tons of similarly colored FIRE cast an ever
changing, ever-beautiful radiance over the
scene. There were no set pieces, as it was
intended that the exhibition should be seen
not only by those in the immediate vicinity
of the bridge, but also by all living within q
radius of ten miles.
To specify each particular piece is almost
| impossible; but among the most beautiful
| may be mentioned the bomb-sheled, triplet
and asteroid rockets. The bomb-shelled,
/ rising in the air from 6 0 to 500 feet, explo-
| ding with a loud report and dlscharging stars
of extra size and brilliant colors; the triplet
ascending to 800 feet, exploding at that height
showing beautiful display of serpents and
! dropping ball which subsequently eXplodes
| throwing stars which Mt a third explosion
change into fiery gold rain; the asteroid rock
cts explode into seven stars at first of Ii green
color, then changing into blue and red as
l they float along in the air.
In the center of the bridge on the roadway
were placed forty copper mortars of differ
ent caliber, from which the shells, ranging
in size from six 10 ten inches in diameter,
were fired. The number of shells discharged
amounted to $50.
All through the exhibition enormous paper
fire balloons were liberated, and as they rose
majestically in the air, and, propelled by
the wind, hoated out toward the bay, the
fireworks which were attached to them were
exploded, forming one of the most beauti-
full sights of the exhibition. To each balloon
was affixed postal card addressed, stating
the fact that they had been sent up from the
| Brooklyn bridge, and requesting the finder
to return the card by mail. Some of such
cards sent up in balloons on previous occa-
sions from New York city were found rs far
oil rs the State of Maine.
The exhibition lasted upward of an hour
and wound up in a final burst OF pyrotechnlC
glory.
EQUALLY interesting with the display
itself WIS the view from the bridge. On
either hand lay New York and Brooklyn
in their holiday garb of an illumination
which in extent almost rivaled that
of Fourth of July. As far as the eye could
reach, up and down the river, ship crowded
against ship, with bunting spread aud Chi
reese lanterns hanging from every part OF
the rigging. Fl ON the decks iloatsd up th'
sounds of music and merry making, and TIN
applause of the multitude of passenger
which greeted each Iylo echnic display
} reached the ears Of those on tn bridge liki
the hoarse, subdued surge of a distant ocean
The scene on the riyet, the display on tn,
bridge, the music, dancing and merry shouts
of the people, aided by the mild, balm.
! weather, formed tout ensemble reminding
} one of q night in Venice during the carni
, val
After the fireworks a reception was givel
by President Arthur at the Brooklyn Academ
of Music. The President took his stand wit
, Mayor Low and Governor Cleveland upon
= raised dais, and Immediately began TO shak
! hands with the officials already collected
) The academy was brilliantly decorated wit
l flags and shields, and the columns under III
, galleries were eniwined with ivy, emblemati
1 of the friendship between tn two cities.
large throng crowded into the building an
\ passed in line before the President.
3 At midnight the bridge was opened fO
0 public business, the first person 70 pay tn
o one-cent toll being reporter at either enc
3 And thus the great structure, which Nas bee
e so many years in building, has at last linfs
5 the two cities in bands of iron and steel,