The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-29
POMPEII TWICE BURNED.
TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE wITN.ss
ITS SECOND DESTRUCTION.

Look in Roman Togas.
The second destruction Of Pompeii las,
night was a much greater success than the
6rst destruction was.
The first night having gotten all the
machinery in running order, everything
worked smoothly and without hitch. The
small srmy:of supers and assistants had the
benefit Of their first nights experience, ard
went through their parts perfectly.
There were twice as many people in the
auditorium as there were the first nirh-
the immense place being almost filed.
The crowd was variously estimsted at
from 5000 to 10000, and was more
likely nearer the latter figure.
Peopl began focking to the grounds
by dark and from after shutdown until
o'clock the street cars could hardly carry
the crowds that wanted to ride. A hun
dred people were frequently crowded in
one car, and ladies were glad to get stand
ing room, while the man hung on to the
platforms. Half the carriages and hacks in
the city were brought into requisition, and
numbers OF private conveyances were also
in USE Most of the crowd rode out, but a
big portion of it walked back.
IT WAS A BIG SHOW.
Everybody agreed that it was big show.
in fact immense. just before the opening
Mr.. Layelle, who takes the part Of Arbacss'
announced from the stage that to-day is
Tybee day, and named the list Of attractions
that will be presented.
Tho show opened at $50 o'clock with the
appearance of Nydia, the blind flower girl.
lone, Glaucus and others. The pay as
described in Yesterdays MORNING News
was gone through with. The games were
particularly good. The Phanlon family
was frequently applauded in its bicycie
work. Little 6-year-old Minnie Pha Ion
is a wonder, going through her dangerous
parts with the skill and readiness
Of an old performer Prof Weitzman gave
an excellent performance OF the high wire.
He also drew great applause On the low
rope.
Most of the crowd went out to see Pom
pell destroyed, and were eager for the con
iagration to begin. The destruction is sud
lea and immediate, and does not take
over fifteen minutes, but it was grand while
did last, and the apparent destruction ives
complete enough to satisfy everybody.
HOW IT IS DONE.
The fact is that the buildings, or the pict-
ure, as it is technically called, are not de-
stroyed at all, as many people suppose, but
the canvas frames simply fall down behind
each other IN succession, and the big ex-
plosion of powder aud burning
fireworks behind each piece gives
the effect Of the building falling
IN flames The arrangement OF
the pieces composing the picture is a tri-
umph of mechanical skill aid genius over
what would appear an impossibiiity in the
average mind. The whole picture of hun
dreds of pieces is put up on frame work,
held securely in place by an arrangement of
wires. All the pieces, which are expected to
tumble during the destruction, and all the
fireworks which are concealed around and
about the picture, are connected by electric
wires with simple instrument upon which
are a number of keys An operator
sits at this instrument, aud when the spsc-
tacle is to begin the operator sits quietly
at his table and sets off carloads of fire
works and throws down towers and palaces
with movement of the hand.
REPORTERS IN ToGAs.
A representative from the MORNING
NEWS and the EUening Times took in the
show from behind the scenes last night and
got an idea of the business of moving
the spectacle. General Agent j.
D. Lee conducted them to Stage
Manager Walter Tiford's office
where the latter was receiving and record
ing the names of the supers as they came in
and directing them to the dressing rooms
where each ones uniform is given out by
number. Two or three hundred supers
were capering around the green In uniforms
of all ST. les and colors, supposed to be :
Gent Roman. The newspaper men were
furnished couple of Roman togas in
which they strolled about and tried to feel
like old Romans, but the kids guged their
antaloons, which showed beneath the
Roman coats
When the performance began they
marched in with the rest Of the nobility
and posed before the temple OF sArbaces as
spectators with lordly misns and big bank
accounts. When the thing got irksome
they sat on the temple steps and made cal
culatons as to the size of the crowd. They
got a much better idea of the
whole performance than any of
the crowd did, and, besides, found
out how Pompeii went to pieces.
The whole city will be back in shape az in
by y o'clock this morning, and looking as
fresh as ever.
The picture used in Savannah will last,
barring accidents, not only through the five
performances here, but through several
hundred more.
THE FIREWORKS.
The fireworks display was very beautiful
ana caught the crowd. Quantities of big
rockets which burst overhead and let fall
showers of red, white and blue stars were
set off, and quantities of other
fireworks of every description. The
effect of the pyrotechnlcs skill was
exhibited IN the highest degree in the dts
play. The lake pieces were beautiful,
especially the revolving star, which burned
nearly five minutes. One of the largest of
the set pieces played out the words in fire,
.lyoee Day Tomorrow" in letters over
loot high. The piece which received the
most applause was the picture Of President
II. w. Palmer of the Merchants Week As
soclatiou, upon huge frame. 1t bore con-
siderable resemblance to Mr. Palmer, too
slightly disfgured but still In the ring"
said his friends.
Inc crowd made rush for the gates when
tae band played "Home, Sweet Home"
The small attendance of colored people
last night was a subject of general com
ment. A special section, capable Of accom-
ttnodating about 5000, has been cut off az
the rear for the oolored people. It has
been discovered that the rear seats are the
very best in the auditorium, but the col
ored people do not seem to appreciate Their
advantages.
Don't Throw Tn the Snopoai