San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-04
TO BURN CALLAGHAN.
1T WILL BE DONE TONIGHT.
The Fireworks and How They Are
Made-Portraits In Fire-Bou-
quets of Flowers-FIags
and Cannon Firing.

That's Callaghan; we'll burn him to-
morrow night" said Mr.. Louis j. Witte
TO a LIGHT reporter yesterday evening.
Both were looking at tile fireworks,
which are being made in the little build
ing near the racing stables of the Fair
The building is packed full of bombs,
bouquets, rockets and lettered designs,
including photographs of General Stanley,
Governor Ross and Mayor Callaghan,
done in colored fire. OF course, it is all
bold outlines, but the likenesses are cor
rect. Each is about five by eight feet in
size, and the little MANILA paper tubes
forming the outlines are filled with the
cOmbuStible composition and all are con-
nected with the match stuff in such a
way that when it is lighted in one place
the whole will explode in less than fifteen
seconds. These pliable tubes are con-
nected at the back with rattan strips,
which form the basis of the design, and
these are tackled on black frames that
hold it together and make it portable.
In the same manner then are designs OF
letters and mottos, one being the L. p. A.
| for tonight, another being an American
flag, with the stripes and stars in cOlors.
Niagara Falls is made thus: A pole so
| feet long, in three sections, is erected on
supports and laid horizontal at the height
| of 40 feet. At intervals of Is inches, are
placed iron tubes 10 inches long and 2
inches in diameter. They are filled with
| roaring fire" made of cast iron borings,
powder, sulphur and saltpetre. This
when lighted makes a solid sheet of flame
which rushes out Is feet straight and
then falls 40 feet, giving an exact repre-
sentation of the falls, and even the roar
for which Niagara is famous and from
which the Indians named them Roaring
Waters" or Niagara. The tubes are Of
iron in order to contain this very power
full explosive.
A Greek cross about feet square, is in
teresting. 1t is made on little black
frame and has wheel in the center.
Each side of the cross will throw fire a
distance of 10 feet, making the cross
instead of feet square 40 feet
square, all Of cOlOred lights.
Another design is a large cannon, which
will be lighted, and while the cannon is
plainly seen, it will discharge balls of fire
to the number Of fifty, which will be
thrown straight out for 100 feet.
A "Parthenian Vase" in beautiful
colors, and the "Devil Among the Tail
ors," a large size Niger Chaser,'
which misses very loudly, will make fun
for the crowd. Mr.. White opened one and
showed how they were made with eight
tubes filled with cOmbuStible roaring fire.
These curious bombs do not fall but race
around in the air until exhausted. They
are supported by the gas produced by
their own combustion.
Mr.. White next showed eight iron NOR
tarS of different sizes, near the general
offices. They look like sewer pipe. In
these are placed the bombs, about the size
90 1n fnYNly in q n
circling them. The fuse is lighted and
communicates with force at the bottom.
They ascend to height of 800 feet and by
the time this altitude is reached the other
fuse communicating with the upper part
of the bomb in which the explosive stars
are fixed, is reached and the explosion oc-
ours From 500 to 1,5O0 stars of many
colorS are then set off and each star will
emit distinct whistle that can be heard
on the grounds below.
"a bouquet" of rockets is made thus:
A board full of holes, each containing
rocket is placed and all are connected
with a fuse. When lighted all ascend to
the height of 200 feet and are exploded in
the form of a beautiful bouquet of daz-
zling colorS.
The LIQUID fountain will be most beau
tiful and will illuminate the grounds with
a 10000 candle power light so that every
blade of grass can be clearly seen.
As has been said Mr.. Whites house is
filled with fireworks. The lumber alone
used in packing these goods cost SIS: and
will be thrown away afterwards. He has
six men employed in putting things to-
gether, and has twenty-five men and girls
at his factory in New Orleans. His place
occupies three blocks, situated like a
camp, with sixteen houses in which are
the different manufactures. The real
danger of making fireworks" said he,
sis in the mixing. / do it myself, and
never got burn, though one man who
was careless and disobeyed orders was
killed in my factory. I've been % years
in the business"
1t was suggested to Mr.. White that San
Antonio would be first-class point to
establish branch factory to draw the
trade Of the West and OF Mexico:
He intimated that he had had
the matter under favorable consid-
Grafton and If he could meet enough gen.
tlemen comprising our representative
capitalists, and was given bonus in cash
or real estate he would establish a 10000
plant here for the manufacture Of fire.
works.