Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-05
PYROTECHNICs IN PROPULSION.
Topeka's FIambeau Club Marches in
Cloud of Fire.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-The public cele-
bration of the day ended with display of fire
works. In character it was like all displays
of fireworks, but in volume and variety it is
said to have excelled any former pyrottchn-
cal exhibition upon this continent. Withal it
was successful to the minutest detail, al
though the stage of preparation late in the
afternoon was not encouraging. The scene
of the exhibition was White lot an area of 200
or 800 acres, sloping gently away from the
south onts Of the Treasury, Executive Man.
sion and State Department. The night was
mOonless but clear, and the uncounted crowds
began early to find their wav toward the spot
from every quarter Of the city. For an hour
or more they waited, watching for want of
better entertainment, the passage from point
TO point OF tOrcnes In the hands OF wOrkmen
or their attendants who were putting the
finishing touches to the frames. and comment
ing meanwhile upOn the singular appearance
Of the monument a hundred rods beyond the
fireworks enclosure. The lower third OF the
shaft was not visible but all above was dimly
outlined like the ghost of itself against black
SKY and rejecting to its peak the rays of the
electric lights in the city half mile away. It
seemed enormously higher than by daylight
and to have not the slightest relation to ter
restrial things. When the preparations
were completed and the display had
once begun the people in charge had
the good taste to leave no intermission.
Jack O'lanterns danced from place to
paused an explosion followed. Rockets. bal
looms, mines, fountains, bombs, batteries and
shells were sent heaVenward in the Yolley for
half an hour, filling the air with showers of
fire. Explosions sometimes half mile above
the earth took place, and consultations num-
herring thousands of beautifully tinted stars
fiOated away over the Potomac, borne by a
gentle northern breeze.
THE SET PIECES.
Three set pieces of mammoth proportions
were among the last and grandest features of
the entertainment. The first was jefferson y
There was "hZz" and sputter audible a mile
away as the jack -O'lantern touched his torch to
the piece, and then the mammoth face In
points OF white fire, ehcircled by an oval frame
in red, with banners in national cOlOrs
festOoped gracefully about it. burst out of the
darkness. 1t glowed for minute in full brill
liancY, then an eye went out with an explo-
sion, followed by portion Of the nose and
last of all the blue stars of the banner
The face of Titular, the patron of simplicity
and unostentatiOn, was probably not recOg-
nizable to the masses of spectators but when
the letters OF his name beBeath were made out
his memory was honOred in prolonged cheers
The largest piece represented the national
capitol, with excellent portraits of the Presi-
dent and Vice President fanked by notices
ana emblems. This piece was l60 feet long by
!5feet In heIght-the largest set piece ever fired
in America.
The flight of 5000 rockets, at once forming
a vast floral bouquet in the heavens termi-
mated the display. No estimate of the num-
Ders who witnessed the fireworks would be
trustworthy.
One felt ut could not see the thrOngs. The
voluntary dispersion of the multitude when
gathered in the park, which is open upon all
sides, would seem to be simple affair and
easy enough Of accomplishment, hut the ex-
perienee of the evening proved to the con-
irary. Carriages became entangled with each
other, and pedestrians wandered about in
bewllderment trying to find their way