The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-21
RATTLE OF THE CRATER
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
All Arrangements Have Bean Completed
for Representation of the Fight
ut tho Exposition Grounds.

Tho arrangements having been COM
nlctcd between the committee on enter
tainmcnt of the Virginia State Agricultu-
raj and Mechanical Society and the COM
r,;ttcc on management Of the Battle of
Crater. work will begin the latter part
of this week upon the space set aside in
thc Exposition grounds for the production
Of This spectacle.
There has never been undertaken 10y
amateurs such tremendous production
and upon SO extensive q scale as TINS re-
production OF one of the most exciting
Incidents i'm the late war. over seven
hundred and fifty men Will he on the held
IN The battle scene. There was proDaoiy
20 event in the history Of the war t1at
affords such a splendid opportunity LOT
scenic display as She battle OF the crater
and. with the cooperation of the enure
military force in Richmond. the production
viii bc one of the most realistic spectacIeS
ever presented i'm this country. ne pro-
lramme has been arranged TO give an
idea of the actual camp and Oatue scenes
snd will be i'm It's essence purely mlh-
tary display.
THE PERFORMANCES.
The first performance will be. weather
Dernittinc. on October lth, the day al1er
thc opening of the Exposition, ana MI
he repeated on October llth and l3th:
The location that has been selected
nv the MANAGEMENT Of the Battle OF the
Crater for the exhibition will be at the
northeasterly end of the Exposition
grounds. running along the line OF Leigh
street nearly 800 feet past the secretary
house. and taking in the grove OF trees
at the westerly end OF the Dench-shoW
building. ooo r.. =.
This viii give a field nearly 600 feet IN
width and 500 feet in length, IN the FORM
of AN elipse. At the westerly end OF the
field will be located the Federal camp
behind line OF broast-wOrks running the
entire width of the field. At the easterly
ond will be erected the Confederate Tort
md the breast-works which VIII DE AFTER
wards blown up ia the scene SHOWN at
the explosion of the Crater.
Mr. Cahill the manager OF the M0zart,
WHO has arranged the programme and
scenic effects. is now painting the scenery
,-hich will be used in the exhibition.
There will he nearly 10000 square feet
of scenery shown in the display. IL Is
being painted 10 represent AS nearly rs
possible the actual view about the Cra'er'
ard tho arrangement Of the field will be
such as 10 give a very vivid picture OF the
two armies ms they met on the morning OF
July 80, 1864.
A CONCERT.
The performance will begin at S:15 Z.
Nj. with a band concert lasting about
twenty minutes. After the concert
regiment of Federal infantry, who will be
represented by the Fist regiment, VIZ
Cinia volunteers. will come into the pa
rado ground for their evening dress pa
radc. as i'm actual camp life, the camp
being under strict military discipline.
I'm this scene the Confederate breast
works viii be shown. Just as the parade
IS ending a mounted courier is seen riding
ln M hreak-neck speed from the further
end Of the field on a winding road run
through the grove. He dasbes up TO the
officer I'm command of the parade with
orders for him to prepare TO receive an at
tack Of Confederate infantry. The parade
is broken up, and the regiment hurry back
10 their stations. The alarm, however,
proves to be false one. and upon the
bugle calls of tattoo" and the mellow
notes of the welcome taps. the camp
sinks into silence The lights are low
cred through the field, showing the camp
scene at night. with the lonely yidetteS
posted on the picket line TO warn the camp
Of danger.
As he sits on his horse looking into the
darkness that shrouds the field a COnfod-
crate scout comes slowly along the wind
Ing road Seeing the picket. ne dis
mounts and stealthily creeping through
the grass 70 where the unsuspiciOus guard
IS drowsly counting the moments when
he may be relieved and creep under his
blanket TO snatch few moments OF sleep
ere the duties Of another day OF strife
shall begin, be rises Ike q spectre IN the
darkness. and, throwing his startled horse
back upon his launches, he shoots the
yidette, who. reeling from his saddle,
falls to the ground.
spoILs oY wAB.
The scout. hearing the approach Of
the vidette guard, whose attention is
attracted by the shot, vaults into the
saddle of the fallen yidette and, gal
Looping to his own horse, mounts and
leads away the captured animal as the
sp0ils OF war.
The yidette party, coming into the
field. find their dead comrade, and rails
ing him to the bow of the saddle, boar
him from the field. As they leave. the
sound OF the drum and fife skirling the
stirring strains of Dixie is heard from
the distance, and into view come the
COufcderatcs. who st once begin the
erection of their fort and brcast-works.
This scene viii actually be shown in
detail. After the breast-wOr6s are erect
ed fire lis opened on both sides, and the
battle RACES hercely. Preparations are
then seen TO be made i'm the Federal
camp to mine the Confederate works.
A lull comes i'm the fighting. A body
of officers hold a hurried consultation.
A man. running with a lighted torch,
enters the mine, in answer TO u signal
rocket. which is thrown into the air
from a distant point. The mine fails to
explode and another man is sent in to
relight the fuse The Federal army
stand in readiness waiting TO spring
upon the unsuspcctlng Confedcrates and
as the gray dawn of morning chaSes the
shadows from the field. with rumbling
roar, which seems to shake the earth 10
It's foundations, the ground upheaves,
and men. guns and earth are shot i'm a
column Of carnage lighted 10y flaming
tongues Of fire, high into the air. When
the dust and smoke have settled down.
the gaping hole, filled with the debris of
the explosion. is seen where tue COnfed-
crate bresst-works stood.
FEDERAL TROOPS.
With a cheer the Federal troops rush
to the Crater. and attempt TO gain the
other side of the chaSm, but the little
band Of guards who are stationed in the
breast-WorkS defend with ball, bayOnet
and fist the little strip of vantage ground
that lies between the Crater and the fort
With a good old Rebel yell' they drive
the invading forces back aud down until
the yawning pit is filed with the strug-
Cling mass of humanity. The second
,I...,o IL r,,a1o apd tho apfiro ON