The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-11

stand in repres entation of the American
flag. Led by Miss Mary &. Hanley,
general assistant of School No. Ia, the
girls sang Columbia, the Gem of the
Ocean," 'Star Spangled Banner" my
Country, 'Tis of Thee" and America" !"
and other patriotic songs as the parade
passed.
On stand at Union square 800 girls
from Catholic schools, arranged as those
at the reservoir, sang the same songs.
Nearly all the boys and girls had
American flags, 10000 having been dis
tIibuted to public school pupils, 5000 to
those %s. in garochial, 1000 in Brooklyn,
5000 in Columbia college, etc. The
scene as they passed under the great
Columbus arch was an inspiring one.
Magnificent Pyrotechnic Display.
Thousands upon thousands of pairs Of
eyes witnessed on the New York and
Brooklyn bridge last night pyrotechnic
exhibition Of unexcelled splendor. AT 8
o'clock, when the cars on the great struc-
ture had ceased running all that could
Z Be seen was string of electric lights and
the dim outline of the towers, back
grounded by the dense blackness Of
night. Far above, the few twinkling
stars shed no light, below the moving
lights on the river craft threw but little
radiance on the dark waters. This river
scene resembled panorama Of huge di-
mansions. The going in and out Of mul-
h-colored lights, the weak outline of
masts and rigging, cabin houses and
smokestacks, search lights throwing
streams of clear light over moving and
passing craft, presented a lively scene,
hlt 'ninating the river from side to side.
4 Suddenly there was sound as OF dis
ant thunder, and the hundred detonat-
ing shells announced the commencement
OF the evenings programme. Then there
Yas blaze Of light which Lit up the en-
tire bridge; lit the moving spectacles on
the water, and showed the crowded mass
of humanity on land. The heavens were
aglow, as though by reflection of a
great conflagration. Slowly the glow
died away, and the towers of the bridge
cast great black shadows on the flowing
water as of giant hand laid upon them.
From the New York tower appeared in
fisry figures "1492,n and from the tower
on the other side "16G9' blazed forth.
Then from the summit of either tower
biazed great and magical light, blue at
first, changing to blood red, a strange,
unearthly tint, the connecting span of
the two cities, the ships and the build
hgs.
Screens of Roman dust followed burst
ing shells; screaming eagles of fire
mingled with rockets and aerial sheafs
and showers of sparks, until the whole
ended in a golden shower facsimile of
Niagara, 625 feet wide, covering the
bridge from tower to tower, realistic
and wonderful.
Tho Vast Crowds.
The crowds that witnessed the specta-
Gle were beyond precedent. 1t seemed
,rrh oil ha r.Ff fl.,
had rushed like IA great wave to the
water side, filling docks and piers and
boats, swarlning riggings, streets, wag-
ons, everything and everywhere. The
windows, roofs and fire escapes of build
ings all over the down town district were
black with spectators. Wherever a
sight of the bridge could be obtained
there were people in numbers that
crowded and pushed, fought and scram-
bled for the better plnce. For hours the
people hurried toward the southern part
Of the city, and many were still on their
way when the spectacle was at an end
But if the gathering of the crowds
was sight of wonder and confusion,
the dispersement was still more so. The
assembling had been comparatively slow
and gradual 1t had occupied hours. 1t
was much different at the conclusion of
the entertainment. Everybody wanted
TO get home at once. Streets were
blocked surface cars moved slowly and
were packed. while thousands waited
for cars that could accommodate only
tens. AT the down town stations of the
elevated roads confusion was every
where. Platforms groaned under the
weight of humanity, and the narrow
Btairways were crowded to an extent
scarcely to be realized, while long lines
saf xa+aitprg aNtanha1 "a half bInnIr
from each station.
Hours after the spectacle had been
concluded the streets in the lower part
Of the town were still thronged with
people, whose opportunity for getting
home seemed to be yet far off.
The musical part of the celebration
was begun last night, when S. G. Pratt's
cantata, Triumph of Columbus" was
given at the Carnegie Music hall.
Chauncey M. Depew, without any in
trodaction, addressed the audience.