The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-03-20
TEE FIRE WORKS.
Grand Display in Washington on the
4th inst.

Grand Display in Washington on tn
4th inst,
The display of the Dire works al
Washington on the 4th inst, was I
blaze OF glory. Tue sheet OF flames
wrapped around the Washington
monument. In character it was like
all displays of fire works, but in vol
ume aud variety it exeeIled any tor
mer exhibition upon this continent.
WIthal it was successful to the
miuutest detail, although the stage
preparation, late in the afternoon.
was not encouraging. The scene
OF the exhibition was the White
lot, an area of two hundred acres,
sloping gently away from the south
front of the treasury, the execu-
tive mansion aud the state depart
ment. The night was m%OOnless,
but clear, and uncounted crowds
began early to fnd their way to-
ward the spot from every quarter of
the city. For IN hour or more they
waited, watching for want of bet
ter entertainment, the passage
from point to point of torches In
the hands of wOrkmen or their at
PENDANTS, who were putting the
finishing touches to the frames,
and commenting meanwhile, upon
the singular appearance of the
monument IA hundred rods beyond
the fire works enclosure.
A SPECTRE IN THE SKY.
The lower third of the shalt was
not visible, bat all above was dimly
outlined like a ghost of itself
against the black sky, and reflect
ing to its peak the rays Of the
electric light in the city halt IA mile
away. 1t seemed enormously high.
er than by daylight, and to have
not the slightest relation to terTeS-
tial things. When the prepare.
tons we're complete and the dis
play had once begun. the people in
charge had the good taste to leave
no intermissions. Jack o'lanterns
danced from place to place about
the enclosure, and whenever one
paused, an explosion followed,
rockets, mines, fountains, bombs
and shells were sent heavenward
in volleyS for half an hour, filling
the air with showers of fire. Elk.
plosiOns some times half Il mile
above the earth took place, aud the
consultations, numbering thOus,
ands OF beautifully tinted stars,
hoated away over the Potomac,
borne by gentle northern breezes.
THREE NOTABLE PIECES.
Three set pieces OF mammoth
proportions yer among the last
and grandest features Of the enter.
tainment. The first was "Jcfier,
son." There was a "fzz' aud Ii
sputter touched his torch TO a piece
and then the mammoth fdce-pOints
of white fire, nncircled by an oval
frame in red, with "A balloon in the
national colors festooned gracefully
about it, burst out of the darkness.
1t lowered tor a minute in tull bril-
liancy then an EYE went out with
an explosion, followed by a portion
of the nose, and lastof all the blue
stars Of the banners face Of the
tituIar patron of simplicity aud un
OStentatiOn, was probably not re.
cOgnizable to the masses Of Specta.
tors, but when the letters of his
name beneath were made out, his
memory was hOnored in cheers.
The largest piece represented the
National Capitol. with excellent
portraits of the President aud Vice
President, fanked by notices and
emblems. This piece was one hun
lred and sixty feet long by seventy
i've feet in height, the largest set
piece ever fred in America.
The flight of five thousand rock
IT'S at once, forming "A vast bouquet
the heavens, terminated the dis
play.
The appointment OF Col. Lamar
o the Stewardship of the Depart
nent of the Interior, makes the
Ourth Cabinet officer appointed
rom Mississippi within the past
orty years. The first was Robert