The Indiana State sentinel., 1885-03-11
PYR0FECHNIC DISPLAY.
Thousands of Rockets, Balloons, Foun-
tains, Bombs. Batteries, Etc, Sent
Reavenward-The F1ambeaux
Club of Kansas.

Club of Kansas.
WASHINGTON, March 4 The publ c cele-
bration of the day ended with disylay of
fireworks. In character it was like all dis
plays of fireworks, bat in volume and
variety it is said to have excelled any
former pyrotechnical exhibition upon this
continent Withal is was successful to the
minutest detail. The scene of the exhibi-
ton was the White lot, narrow 200or 800
acres slopiDg gently away from the
south fronts of the Treasury, Executive
Mansion and State Departments. Unc0unted
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 monument q hundred rods beyond the
frewOl Ks enclosure. The lower third of the
Shalt was not visible. but all above dimly
0utliI ed like ghost Of itself against the
black sky, and ref citing 10 its peak the rays
of the electric lights in the city from nsif =
mile awsy. 1t seemed enormously
higher han by daylight. and 10 have not
the slightest relation to tsrresir al things.
When the Preparations we're complete. and
the display had once begun, the people in
charge had the coed taste TO leave no inter.
TO place about the inclosure. and whenever
ore psused an explosion followed. Rock
cts, balloons, mines. fountains, bombs,
batteries al d shells were sent heaven
ward in volleys for half an hour, filling
the air with showers of fire. Explosions
sometimes half mile sbove the earth, took
place, and consultations numbering thou
sands OF beautifully tinted stars foated
away over the Potomac, borne By the gentle
northern breeze. Three "set pieces of
mammoth proportions were among the last
and grandest features OF the entertain nment
The first was Jefferson" There was a fzz
and a spluttsr audible a mile away, as a
jack, o lantern touched his torch to the
piece, ard then mammoth
face in points of white fire,
encircled by an oval frame in
red, with banners in national coloTs fss.
tooned gracefully about it, burst out of the
dsIkness. 1t glowed for a minute In full
brilliancy, then an eye went out with an ex-
plosion followed by portion OF the moss,
and last of all the blue stars of the banner.
The face of the titular patron of simplicity
and unostentation was probably not recog.
pizable to the masses of spectators, but W hen
the letters of his name beueath were
made CUT his memory was honored
in proloneed cheers. The large piece
with excellent portraits of the President
and Vice President, was hanked by notices
and emblems. This piece was 100 feet long
by 75 feet in height. she largest set piece
ever fred in America. The flight of 3 900
rockets at once. forming vast floral bou-
quet in the heavens, terminated the dis
play.
No estimate OF the numbers who wit
messed the fireworks would be trustworthy.
One felt but could not see the throngs. The
voluntary dispersion of a multitude when
gathered in Il park, open uDon all sides
would seem to be a simple affair and
easily enough of accomplishment
but the experience of the evening proved
contrary. Carriages became entaDgted with
each other and pedestrians wandered about
in bewildeIment trying to find their way
around. through or out of the brushes which
occurred in hundred places. No one was
hurt. so far as known. but many ludicrous
incidents occurred. Family parties became
separated; wives and husbands lost each
other and parents found themselves leading
children not their own. The calls of one to
,inother in the darkness sometimes indicated
distress or fear, but the people we're
for the most part exceedingly
Jolly, and laughed at themselves ana each
other ss if it were all part of the programme.
Immediately after the regular display of
fireworks tonight occurred the parade of
the Flam beaux Club. of Topeka. Kas- Al
though this organization is a comparatively
small one, numbering only seventy five or
one hundred men, it has perhaps attracted
as much attention as any civic or military
body which has participated in the ineugura.
tion ceremonies Its white, ghostly uni-
form, it's precision of drill and it's peculiar
hollow torches, whose flames can be blown
up into slender. quive ing fumes of fire six
feet in height were all new features in
Washington, and were all subjects OF re-