Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-14
The First Electrical Night At the
Worlds Fair
A MOST BRILLIANT SCENE
Tic Myrlad Hidden beauties shown
and the Dazx,ins s,gas Held Thou-
sands Ensrasscrd for Hours.

May IL Thousands u people and thou
sands 1t electric lights ia silver and
gold. purple aud cardinal. music. still
waters and clear shy com
hines 10 make the mrs. grand night
heevoen $50 aud IL O'Clock tonight.
The illumination was not as complete
as the people who pushed through the
gates expected to iind il. hut the sight
81 far exceeded their imagination that
no complain's were heard. The
beauty. poetry and grandeur of
the scene were appreciated even 10y
the Columbian guards. Silver colored
arc lights hlazed forth in all the large
exhibit buildings. and rows 81 lights
CLEANED ON every bridge and every walk
in the white city. The visitors seemed
TO prefer viewing the greatest
triumph IL electrical genius TO
shutting out the marvellous sight
by inspecting the exhibits. The
chief disappointment was that the col
ored electric light system under the
fountains on each side of Miss McMon.
nies' great art fountain was not ready
10 he operated in public. The search
lights were on the crown ~ the manu-
facturs roof. but they were not turned
on the Illuminated part of the park.
some Electrical Effects.
The dome panels ~ the administration
building and the pavilion corniccs fthat
noble structure were framed with in
candescent lights. and rows 81 flaming
torches on each side. Just below the
dome. seemed to be playing the
part of the goddess of liberty
and tightening the world. The
magnificent dome outlined the sky
looked like the mitre OF "a prclate ret
with dazzling gems Descending to
earth the visitor WAS ehiranced with the
site IL the whole grand basin illumi-
The thousands II burning in
water cast weird. changeful light over
clined sought seats in the gondolas and
electric launches for trip ON the
waters Ii seemed ss though dozen
small moons were playing upon the
basin at the same time.
Thousands o! the admiring throng
stood rs near as they could to the three
fountains at the west end II the basin.
all ot which were in full operation ex-
cept for tie electric device. Tho
chief attraction f the fountains
of the MacMonnies art work TO.
night was that they cast a solid
stream 81 spray like water high into the
air. reminding the beholder of the great
gcyscrs in the Yellowstone Park. But
no prismatic hues were thrown upon the
rising columns II water. and the crowd
waited in vain.
In Biazcs Of Light.
The Illumination 81 the perystilc was
not ar successful az IN the first opening
night Only half the line of incan.
dcscent lights was lighted. and after
fcw changes from light to dark
ness the attempt to outline the perystile
with electricity was abandoned. The
electricity building WIS blaze of light.
II was the electricians hour of triumph
and hs looked proud from turret
down. Thousands Of persons iostlcd
each other in their Efforts 10 gaze on
the sight inside the building. II con
sisted ~ "A tower forty feet high. covered
with electric butts - red. white and
blue. tvining around from base 10 sum
nit. four rows II each color alternating.
y
tower extended fo the four points
Of tho compass wooden forks"
Ia which are attached red white and
blue incsndcscent lights alternately. VI
the end of chain - lightning il an
immense hall 81 many colors. When
the current is turned OH II
springs up the tower like ilash
lighting and cxtinguishing each lamp i'm
second and travels IN the same man
ner along the four branches at the top
- the column in surprising imitation o.
forked lightning except for the the
colors.
An Enormous Crowd.
This constantly moving light is pro-
duced hy the action - automatic
switches Which illuminate ono series -
lamrs the instant one below or behind
is rNtnguishcd.
The crowd which witnessed tonight's
illumination was second only to that 80
the opening day. Va early as half past
six the different railroads and stcami-oat
lines began g. land people IN tho
grounds. and when the display wae st Us
hight fully '1.,sn people were Ia ~
tendance Most - these rcmained until
the ( stiyals wore over. There VAS
plenty IL music during the evening
Michael Brand aud his Cincinnati hand
entertained the crowd earl, and received
much applause Tor their crediiablc
work
81 The close - the Brand program tho
Iowa state band IN pavilion No . hold
ih" attention Uf thc mulii'u'i" u1tl a
laic hour The land vas heartily ap