The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-05
PYROTECHNIC DISPLAY.
thousands of Rockets, Balloons, FOun-
tains, Bombs, Batteries. Etc, Sent
Heavenward-The Flambeaux
Club of Kansas.

WAsHINeToN, March The public cele-
bration OF the day ended with disylsy Of
fireworks. In character it was like all dis
plays Of fireworks, but IN volume and
variety it is said to have excelled any
former pyrotechnicel exhibition upon this
continent. Withal is was successful to the
minutest detail. The scene of the exhibit
ton was the White LOT, a narrow 200 or 500
acres slopipg gently away from the
south fronts of the Treasury, Executive
Mansion and State Departments. Unco1nted
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 appearance OF
the mon ument a hundred rods beyond the
fireworks enclosure. The lower third of the
shaft was not visible. but all ab owe dimly
outlined like ghost OF itself against the
black sky, and rejecting TO its peak the rays
of the electric lights in the city from half
mile away. 1t seemed enormously
higher than by daylight. and TO have not
the slightest relation to terrestrial things.
When the Preparations were complete. and
the display had once begun, the people In
charge had the good taste to leave no inter.
mission. Jack o'-lanterns danced from place
10 place about the Enclosure, and whenever
one paused an explosion followed. Rock
cts, balloons, mines, fountains, bombs,
batteries at d shells were sent heaven
ward in volleys for half an hour, filling
the air with showers of fire. Explosions
sometimes half mile above the earth took
place, and consultations numbering thou
sands of beautifully tinted stars hoated
away over the Potomac, borne by the gentle
northern breeze. Tires ''set pieces of
mammoth proportions were among the last
and grandest features of the entertainment.
The first was Jefferson There was a fzz
.l~rkNe Ia
jkck o-lantsrn touched his torch to the
f Rneee' in A1u points tHsH o, white A fiTe,
encircled By an oval frame in
red, with banners in national colors fes
TONED gracefully about it, burst out OF the
darkness. Ii gloWed for minute IN full
bIillisncy, then en- eye went out with an ex-
plosion followed by a portion OF the nose,
and last of al the blue stars of the banner
The face Of the titular patron Of simplicity
and unostentatiOn was probably not recog
nizable to the masses of spectators, bat when
the letters of his name beneath were
made out, his memory was honored
in prolonged cheers. The large piece
represeI ting the National Capitol,
with excellent portraits of the President
and Vice President, was hsnked by notices
and emblems. This piece was $50 feet long
by - feet in height. she largest set piece
ever fred in America. The flight OF . 600
rockets at once, forming a vast floral bou-
quet in the heavens, terminated the dis
plav.
No estimate of the numbers who wit
messed the fireworks would be trustworthy.
| One felt bat could not see the throngs. The
| voluntary dispersion OF 8 multitude when
/ would seem TO be simple affair and
| easily enough of accomplishment
| but the experience of the evening proved
| contrary. Carriages became entapgled with
| each other, and pedestrians wandered about
| in bewildeTment trying to find their way
| arour d. through or out Of the brushes which
| occurred in hundred places No one was
] hurt, so far SIS known but many ludicrous
/ incidents occurred. Family parties became
| separated; wives and husbands lost each
| other and parents found themselves leading
| children not their OVID. The calls OF one to
| another in the darkness sometimes indicated
( distress or fear, but the people were
| Jolly, and laughed at themselves ana each
1 other as il 1t were sli part of the programme.
| Imme diately after the regular display oil
! fireworks tonight occurred the parade OF
/ the Flambeaux Club. of Topeka. Kss. AL
though this organization is a comparatively
small one, numbering only seventy-fve OF
| one hundred men, ii has perhaps attrac led
as much attention as any civic or military
body which has participated in the inaugura
ton ceremonies. Its white, ghostly uui
form, its precision of drill and its peculiar
hollow torches, whose flames can be blown
up into slender, quive' ing fumes Of fire si1
feet in height, were all new features II
Washington and were all subjects OF re
mark when the club made its appearance Oh
| Pennsylvania avenue last evening.
Tonight about $50, Just as the lmmens'
crowd was returning from the exhibition o
fireworks at the White lot, the Flambeau1
Club came marching in regular open orde
down Fifteenth street, between the Corco
ran Building and the Treasury Department
in o perfect tornado of fire, accompanied D.
an in cesssnt volley OF explosions and con
| tinuous Kissing roar of ascending rockets
| Every member OF the club hsd slung ove