Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-05
.semhl.gs nn, den.e Utmost al during the

assemblage was dense almost all during the
evening.
Everything was exceedingly propitious
Tor the fireworks. The weather was SUI
perb, aud larger and more thoroughly
"Fourth-os.July" assemblagc could hardly
have been bad.
A,Do'clock the gathering was at iis largest
proportions, and about this time The pyro-
technical display, under tie management oil
Mr.. A. Lsngstatf johnson, commenced.
The first part Of the display, which was by
long odds the best, and thai is not saying
much for u, was over and ct least fourth
Of The persons present Old not know that 1t
had begun.
Mr.. johnson doubtless did the best that
he could with the material al his disposal,
but the exhibition was far from being sue
cess, and white The crowd was good natured
there was universal disappointment, and
such expressions as 81 know every one
here WISHES they bad remained al bome," 81
never saw such Failure" "The whole
thing is fraud" "Just a. good display
could have been made for S25," greeted the
ear Of the Dispatch man at every turn.
The works were cred from near hecentre
Of the racetrack. which was mast excel
lent location, and had they been what the
people expected they would have shown 10
decided advantage.
II the programme furnished the newspa-
pers by MIR. Flynp's representative was car
RED out at nil II was in such condensed
manner that no one would ever have recog'
nized II.
The persons charged with executing the
work did not seem 10 understand The bust
ness. aud exceedingly slow progress was
made.
An officer Of the Electric Company yester-
day, In speaking Of The fireworks, said "a lit
tie wind goes long WAYS" snd such was
the case literally. Had the proper dispatch
been used the display. including Roman
candles, parachuics. balloons, sky-rocketS,
Examinations, &C., would not have covered
more than thirty minutes " 10 long. The
rockets with floating stars aud the balloons
were the best part Of the exhibit. but the
candles were poor indeed.
The Biues' band performed their part Of
the programme cxcellently. and 10 the de-
light Of large cOncourse OF bearers. Inc
music was very good, some OF the AIRS de-
cidedly catchy and sweet, and the eleVa
ton Of the music.stanc Just about night.
Boating vas popular ptstime. and all oi
the boats on The lake we're filed continually.
When the Dispatch reporter left only five
persons had fallen into the water, but none
of them were drowned or suffered further
injury than getting wet.
The crowd began 10 diSperse immediately
after the second voley OF fireworks and they
came to the city a. fast rs they could. Some
even became so impatient that they walked.
II was long after midnight before all reached
the city.
The rush for the cars was something
dreadful, aud ladies and chidreo were at a
decided disadvantage.
Considerable delay was occasiOned bv one
Of the electric cas- getting Of the track Just
at the reservoir.
within the last few days the street-car
companies have had twelve Thompson
Houston electric lights put up at their own
expense. IL required four miles OF wire,
hut the outlay Will soon be repaid, rs the APP
pearance Of the grounds by night is thereby
very much bettered, and this will induce
many to ride ont there - spend the evening
The Struggling weeds and grass all about
the grounds ore nearly knee-high, and the
city should put mower 10 work at once. III
should nave been done before.