The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-03-07

one above 1t. To each of these ia sus-
pended an American silk standard
surm0unted by circular shield ON
which is blazoned the arms of one 'ol
the States or Territories. Garlands
| of evergreens hang in fest00ns from
the balcony and are twined about the
pillars which arefurther decked with
masses of palms at their bases to the
height of the balcony. At one end
of the hall is q large spread eagle
formed of gas jets and at the other end
q five pointed star formed on
the same manner. Over all is
q forest OF streamers, flags
and bunting which hang from the
peak and corners of the rafters.
Half-noon shaped punches of flags
project downwards from the peak
of the roof and from these spring
streamers of all colors in profusion.
Seven large floral pieces placed in
various parts of the bah room, repre-.
sentS the arms of the several execu-
tive departments.
THE FIRE WORKS.
The public celebration of the day
ended with a display of fire works,
which in volume and variety it is
said to have ex celled any former
pyrotechnical exhibition upon this
continent. WithaIl 1t was successful
to the minutest detail. The scene of
the exhibition was the White lot on
an area of two or three hundred
acres, sloping gently away from the
south front of the treasury, executive
mansion and State department. Un-
counted crowds began early to find
their way toward the spot from every
quarter of the city. For an hour or
more they waited, commenting
meanwhile upon the singular ap-
pearance Ct the monument hundred
rods beyond the 1re works enclosure.
Tue lower third OF the shaft was not
visible, but all above was dimly out
lined like ghost of itself against the
black sky and rejecting to its peak
the rays of electric lights in The city
a half mile away. It seemed enor-
nously higher than by daylight and
TO have not the slightest relation to
terrestrial things. When the prepa-
rati0ns were completed and the
display had once begun, the people
in Charge had the good taste to leave
no intermis sions. Jack O'Lanterns
danced from place to place about the
incl0sure aud wherever one paused
an explosion followed. Rockets,
balloons, mines, fountains, bombs,
batteries and shells were sent heaven
ward in volleys for half an hour,
filling the air with showers OF fire.
Explosions sometimes half a mile
above the earth took place and con-
stellations numbering thousands of
beautifully tinted stars foated away
over the Potomac waited by the gen.
tie northern breeze. Three ''set
pieces" of mammoth proportions
were among the last and grandest
features of the entertainment. The
first was Jefferson" There was
fzz and sputter audible mile away,
as q Jack.o'-lantern touched his
torch to the piece and then the man,
moth face in points of white encir-
cled by an oval frame in red with
banners in colors festooned r.ce-
fully about it. burst out of the dark
ness. 1t glOwed for q minute iu full
brilliancy, then an eye went out
with an explosion, followed by q
portion of the nose, and last of all
blue stars of the banners. The face
the titular patron Of simplicity and
unostentation was probably not rec
ognizable to the masses of the
spectators, but when the letters
of his name beneath were made
out his memory was hOnored in pro-
longed cheer 8. A large piece repre-
senting the National Capitol with
excellent portraits of the President |
and Vice President fanked by mot
toes and emblems. This piece was
was 16O feet long by IS feet in height
the larg >st set piece ever fired in
America. The flight of 5, 900 rockets
at once forming Vast hrral bouquet
in the heavens terminated the dis
play,
DISPERSION OF THE CROWD
The volunteer dispersion of the
when gathered in park |
open on all sides would seem sim.
pie affair aud easily accomplished
out the experience of the evening |
proved the contrary. Carriages be-
came entangled with each other and
pedestrians wandered about in be-
wilderment trying to fin l their way |
around, through, ia or out of the |
crushes which occurred in hundred
places. No one was hurt a. far rs is
known but many ludicrous espisodes
occurred. Family parties became
separated wives and husbands lost
each other and parents found them
selves leading children not their
own and calls from one to another in
the dark sometimes indicating dig
tress or fear. But the people were for
the most part exceedingly jolly
and laughed at themselves and
each other as if it we're all q part of
the programme. At about $3.50, just
as the immense crowd was returning
from the exhibition of the fireworks
at the White lot, the Flambeaux
Club came marching in q deluge In
open order down Fifteenth street,