The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-28
POMPEIPS SPLENDIDFALL
THE CITY OF TEMPLES AND PAL
ACES IN RUINS.

Vesuv!us Makes a Quick Job When
it Oace starts - The Doomed City
That it Took Long Time to Ruild
Wiped Out in Less Time Than 1t
Takes to Tell It-5,OOO Peopls Wit
ness and applaud the Great Spec
tacle-The Story of the Fall.
The Last Days of Pompeii was seen for
the first time in Savannah last night. To
say that the spectacle was a big success
would barely express it.
The night was all that could have been
asked for a fireworks display, and the 5000
people who witnessed the realistic destruc-
ton Of the old Roman city were enthusi-
astically delighted with the performance,
and many will witness the scenes over again
before the week is over.
As early as Z o'clock people began to turn
their faces toward the Pompeiian grounds,
and until s o'clock the street cars were
taxed TO their utmost capacity. The Belt
Line was the favorite route, and
the cars could not carry half the people.
The horse cars on Whitaker and Abercorn
streets were damned. Many people, rather
than sandwich themselves into the cars
walked out.
THE STORY OF THE SPECTACLE.
Probably the greater portion of the
spectators who witnessed the representa-
ton Of the destruction of Pompeii were
familiar in greater or less extent with
the history Of the event as it occurred 1000
years ago, aud with Bulwer's celebrated
work upon which the play Is founded, the
chief scene Of which was portrayed in last
nights representation. The novel has been
read by hundreds in this city who had
never read it before, and re-read by as
many more who had previously devoured
and enjoyed its contents, since 1t was an
nounced that the fire spectacle, which has
It's foundation in the book, would be given
here.
The spectacle was not play in the sense
of carrying out the plot OF the novel. but
was simply q representation OF its chief
feature, the destruction of the city of Pom
phi.
A SCENE OF BEAUTY.
The scene as presented to the immense
audience was a beautiful one. At their
feet, seemingly, by the lake, large body
Of water, beautifully lighted with lanterns
and with the Rondolas Of the citizens moored
along tue shore. On the opposite
nifcent old Roman city. with its
stately temples and palaces. On the right,
from the crowd, stood the palace Of Ar
baces, the Egyptian, with Its Egyptian
sculpture and architecture. On the ex-
treme left was the arch of Flavius, with the
Flavian road beneath running to the sea-
shore. Next on the left stood the temple Of
Isis, the Egyptian goddess in whose honor
the day is about to be celebrated by the
Pompeiians. Near the temple of
Isis is the grand Pompeiiau amphi-
theater, In which the Roman games
were celebrated. The Senate chamber,
public buildings and residences Of citizens
completed the picture. Back of the city
rose the mountain chain, with light smoke
slowly rising from the peak Of the PREACHER
Gus VeSuvius.
A BRILLIANT SIGHT.
All this was seen, when the light was
suddenly turned on the city. the stage
being kept in darkness until the opening
OF the play. The appearance was as if an
actual city Of stone aud mortar lay before
the audience, and an audible murmur Of i'd
miration ran through the auditorium.
People clad in the Egyptian costumes
came out and walked aloug the streets greet
ing each other with handshakes and smiles,
and seemingly anxiously awaiting the open
ing of the fete. Nydia, the blind flower
girl, wandered around plying her vocation.
The boys Of the city let loose for the holiday
made the air ring with joyous shouts as
they gamboled along the seashore in their
childish sports. In few moments Arbaces
issues forth from his palace, and, embarking
on gondola, was padded down the stream
to visit lone, the beautiful Neapolitan.
lone greets him as he lands, and he pro-
ceeds short distance to await the pro-
cession. The doors of the temple of Isis are
then thrown open and the priests march
| down the steps toward the triumphal arch
to meet the grand procession in honor Of
Arbaces.
The Roman guards, arrayed In ancient
armor march across the stage, and the
| trumpet sounds the approach of the grand
| procession, which is to honor Arbaces, the
priest Of Isis, for restoring the games Of the
people.
THE GRAND PROCESSION.
The procession was composed of priests
in long. white robes incense, fame and fan
bearers, senators in their togas, Roman
guards in full armor, rich citizens bearing
flags, banners, trophies, etc., and boys and
| girls clad IN holiday costume. The parade
as it passed along the edge of the lake made
grand spectacle, as the water reflected
their every step beneath the surface, max
| ing picture worthy Of the brush of an
artist 1t moved along the Roman street
toward the temple OF Isis. Glaricus and lone,
the hero and heroine of the play, came up
and were welcomed by Arbaces The peo-
| pie then moved toward the temple, and
| al DeASCS aSC6htLc0 OLlS SLSpo VI Luc Ddlu
house and faced the crowd, which welcomed
him with shouts. The grand holiday was
then inaugurated, aud the games began
THE GAMES.
The Davis Brothers opened the games by
a clever exhibition Of the manly art of self
| defense, which pleased the male portion OF
the audience to a high degree. as was evil
! denced by their long-continued applause
The Livingston Brothers, the noted hori-
zontal bar performers, gave the finest
exhibition Of the kind ever seen IN Savan.
nah. They performed remarkable and diff
cult feats on bars elevated thirty feet from
the ground, and received merited recognition
from the assembled multitude
Jean 2. Weltzman gave a marvellous per-
formance on the tight rope, going through
a quick dancing step to the music of the
band. Afterward he performed perilous
feats on the high wire.
The Davis Brothers then gave a grand
wrestling match, which was much enjoyed
| by the spectators, and the games concluded
with the performances of the Phantom
family on bicycles. Their feats were re-
markably difficult, and they gave some So
lect acrobatic entertainments. The exhi-
bition of the little girl, who at the most
does not appear TO be more than s
years Of age, was the feature of
the games. She executed the most
| difficult maneuvers on q small bicycle, aud
did it in a catchy and fascinating way,
which drew forth plaudit alter plaudit