The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-05
A sATURNALIA OF FIRE.
Tho Heavens Ablazs with Flro Cracltol
and other Pyrot 'chnicS.


Tho Heavens Ablazo with FIro Crackers
and other Pyrot'chnics.
The scene in Wheeling last night was
positively indescribable 1t was one
grand and gorgeous exhibition OF fire.
works from Jonathan's ravine TO
Boggs run. But for the con-
sideration of the safety of the
town it would have been thoroughly
enjoyable to everybody, but when one
saw the reckless wav in which the
thoughtless and partially drunken popu-
lace played with fire, it caused feel.
ing OF uneaslness.'
In the early hours yesterday morning
the firing Of pyrotechnics was fully as
reckless, but there were not so many
people engaged in it, and it was moth
ing like general. One OF the amuse-
ments yesterday morning was to get a
heavy, tight oak barrel, or strong box,
ill it with giant dynamite crackers and
blow it to pieces. About a cord OF
kindling wood was made. in this way-at
the corner OF Market and Fourteenth
streets Alone
Another pet way Of burning up money
was to lay large sky rocket fat on the
street in the street car track and set it
of. Somebody in the direction it was
sent would fire another back. One man
chased another several squares firing
roman candles at him. This was re-
peated over and over, and a young man
had his coat badly burned.
A sort OF desultory bif-bang-boom
was kept up all day, but nearly every
body was out Of town. Before dark last
evening the firikg became general, and
up to midnight was almost incessant
Firecrackers, from the tiny ones safely
held in the fingers, to those as thick as
a quart cup and twice as high, banged
and ratified aud cracked in every quar-
ter OF the town. The sky was constant
" and closely streaked with rockets OF
all magnitudes. Mines. roman candles,
pinwheels, red fire and every sort OF de.
vice for consuming powder, were put
of almost at every doorstep.
The boys were little reckless in
throwing dynamite crackers into
crowds. One man standing on the rear
end of a picnic wagon was struck in
the back by a huge cracker as the
wagon passed down Market street, and
a hole was burned in his coat. Many
ladies had holes burned in their dresse :,
while awnings and window shades suf-
Tered severely.
Never was more evident the truth OF
these lines about the American boy:
"And he smiles sweet smile full oil sunshine,
| From the pinwhcel to see the stars ny,
| And he signs rs the big Roman candle
| PopSa purple ball into the sky.
Hes as glad when the kissing sEyrockes
Goes aEcootlng aloft DER the land,
| As he Is when he enters the circus
Atthe very arst toot OF the band"
Some of the boys were far past the
school enumeration age, but in this
case the bigger the boy the bigger the
noise. Wheeling has had some bril-
liant and noisy celebrations, but last
nights literally laid them all in the
shade.
Out at Pleasant Valley really beau
tifuI display OF fireworks was made.
The Messrs. Baer, Bloch, Pierson, john
son, Wheat, Gilchrist and Rev. DR..
Swope Joined to get up dispiay for the
common entertainment At Echo
Point, also, Messrs. Grub, Dewey,
Speidel, Culbertson, Heiskell and ".
r. and B. w. Peterson 'pooled their is
sues" and gave a fine display. AT both
places pretty paper balloons were tea-
lures Of the show. Many city residents
were out as guests OF the suburbans.
In town about all the balloons caught
FIRE before they got very high aud
threatened damage to buildings.
At Mr.. Reymann's house on the hill
there was fine display. lasting all
evening, and at other points on the
hills the residents emulated each other
and the people in town in making i'm
posing and varied displays.