Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-11

| Drama of huge dimensions. The going in
| and out of multi-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.
Undergoes "a Transformation.
Suddenly there was Il sound as of distant
thunder and hundred detonating shells
announced the commencement of the even
ing's programme Then there was a blaze
Of light which lit up the entire bridge: lit
tn. moving spectacles on the water and
showed the crowded mass of humanity on
land. The heavens were aglow as though
by reflection of great confagration
Slowly the glow died away and the towers
of the bridge cast great black shadows on
the flowing water as of a giant hand laid
upon them. From the New York tower
appeared in fiery figures "1492,n and from
the tower on the other side 1882" blazed
forth. Then from the summit of eithef
tower blazed a great and magical light,
blue at first, chanSing to blood red, dying
a strange, unearthly tint the connecting
span of the two cities, the ships and the
buildings.
Loud and Continued Applause.
From the river came the sound OF
whistles, and bells loud and sonorous
that mingled with the applause of the sight
seeing people, carrying above the city a con-
fused and muffied roar. Screens of Roman
dust followed bursting shells: screaming
eagles of fire mingled with rockets and
aerial shafts and showers of sparks, until
the whole ended in the golden shower fac
Slmile of Niagara, covering the bridge from
tower to tower, realistic aud wonderful.
Some of the pieces given Were: Two gas
balloons, with aerial fireworks, volley of
ten 25-pound bombs, battery of magnesium
Roman candles, fire of thirty iS-pound
shells with VaTiegated stars, jewel tipped
golden column, flight of screaming eagle
rockets, flight of twenty 1S-pound bombs
with stars of silver, batteries of $50 Roman
candles. great bouquet of rockets, forming
an aerial wheat sheaf, then came. The
Niagara spectacle, and following that the
final bouquet of rockets and a salute of 100
detonating shells, indicating that the pro-
gramme was at an end.
They Were All There Again.
The crowds that witnessed the spectacle
We're beyond precedent 1t seemed as
though all the people of the great city had
| rushed ike a great wave to the waterside,
filling docks and piers and boats, swarm
ing rggingS, streets. wagons, everything
| and everywhere The windows, roofs and
fire escapes OF buildings all over the down
town district were black with spectators.
Wherever a sight of the bridge could be OBJ
| tanned there were people in numbers that
crowded and pushed, fought and scram-
| bled for the better place. For hours the
! people hurried toward the southern part
| Of the city, and many We're still on their
| way when tie spectacle was at an end.
4 Great jam az the Close.
| But if the altering of the crowds was a
| sight OF wonder and confusion. the diSDorSc-
ment was still more so. In assembling the
+! gathering had been comparatively slow and
! gradual. 1t had occupied hours. 1t was
| much different at the conclusion of the en-
tertainment. Everybody wanted to get
| home at once. Streets were blocked: ele-
| gantly dressed women made slow and un-
certain progress by the side of watermen;
| children cried in their mothers arms:
! strong men tried to protect feeble women
md they had all they could do to protect
! themselves. Surface cars moved slowly
| and were packed.
Didn't Get Home Till Morning.
/ Thousands waited for cars that could
| only accommodate tens. In the down town
! stations of the elevated roads confusion was
! everywhere. Platforms grOaned under the
weight of humanity; narrow StairwayS
! were crowded to an extent scarcely to be
realized, while long lines of weary walters
: extended block from each station. Hours
after the spectacle had been concluded the
/ streets in the lower part of the town We're
still thronged with people whose oppor-
Iunity for getting home seemed to be yet
far off.
= start of the Naval Parade.
Today at 1870 the naval parade started,
that late hour having been selected on ac-
count of the tide 1t is n magnificent sight
! The ships of war of the United States and
! visiting nations formed in two lines and
! started for the Narrows, headed by the
| torpedo boat Gushing. Salutes We're fired
| by the forts as the ships passed by. The
! ships will GO through two lines of mer-
! chant vessels ND the North river TO n stake
! boat opposite the Grant monument, turn
| there and retrace their course. The whole
waterfront of the city from which a view
| can he obtained, every point of vantage on
! Brooklyn Heights and elsewhere about the
harbor is packed with people, while the
| water Is covered with all sorts of craft,
! wherever they are permitted.
The President May BE Present.
TIE announcement was made that Presi-
dent Harrison would endeavor TO be in
the city for Il short time tomorrow, but
that he must hurry back TO Washington
| TO the bedside of his wife Word was also
received that Secretary of State Foster had
consented to respond TO TIE toast. The
| United States. D." With this Information came
! the statement from the committee of one
| hundred that at the banquet the health OF
| President Harrison would be drunk, Vice
President Morton acknowledging the couf
tesy, and explaining the cause of the pres
ident 'ssi5sence from uhe banquet.
MRS. HARRISON MUCH WORSE.