Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-30
A GREAT BIG IDEA
CALCULATED TO AROUSE WHEELING PEOPLE
AND INTEREST IN WHEELING.
A Nesting Of the Chamber Of Commerce and Busi-
ness Men Generally Called for This Even
ing 10 Take Steps to Secure One Of
Pains Big Fireworks
Spscialiss.

A meeting Of the Chamber OF Com
MERGE and of business men, mannfac-
turers and enterprising citizens gen.
orally is called for this evening at
eight o'clock, at the room OF the Cham
Der, corner of Market and Fourteenth
streets, for the purpose OF discussing
the ACCESSIBILITY OF securing for the COM
ing summer what will be, by all odds,
the greatest spectacle ever presented In
this city, or within one hundred miles
of it.
This enterprise, which has already
met with the hearty encouragement OF
a considerable lumber Of business men,
is Pains great pyrOtochnic spectacle OF
the Last Days of Pompeii," and the
idea is to give the affair upon the State
Fair grounds, three nights week, for
the space of three weeks, or nine COM
pete performances in all.
LAST night Mr.. Skiff, of Chicago, rep
resenting Mr.. Pain, met with NUMBER
of gentlemen at the room OF the Cham
Der of Commerce, and there the matter
was discussed for nearly two hours,
facts and figures being presented which
convinced all present that the affair
could be we'll managed in this city, with
concerted effort on the part OF her en-
terprising citizens, and that it would
tring more people into the city and do
more to arouse interest In Wheeling and
convince that portion OF the world lying
within hundred or so miles OF us that
we were not asleep, than anything ever
before suggested with that object In
view. Mr.. Skiff has looked over the field
here thoroughly, and so convinced
is he that it would "be CO." that he
has offered to give the sum or i've
thousand dollars cash for the receipts
for one night alone, that OF July 4th'
The spectacle is a great one, as those
who have seen the Pain displays at
Cincinnati, Philadelphia. Manhattan
Beach and elsewhere, in years past, can
we'll attest. Several acres OF the space
within the race track az the FAR
grounds would be necessary to It's prop
er representation, 1t involving the con-
struction of an artificial lake, repre-
sentaton of Mt. Vesuvius, sixty-tve
feet high, and much other work upon
a similar scale, while the grand
stand would have to be
extended to accommodate about ten
thousand people. or be made three times
as large as it is at present. Three hun
dred people take part in the spectacle,
which opens with fete day In Pom
peii, with professions, athletic sports,
| etc. Then Vesuvius commences its
volcanic action, the city is set on fire
and destroyed. and this grand effect is
| followed with magnificent display OF
fireworks, set pieces, etc., the whole
consuming several hours time on each
| evening OF its presentation. The
| money required to present the
series of spectacles is about
sixteen or seventeen thousand dollars,
and to raise 1t, it is proposed to have
guarantee fund, one hundred or more
citizens putting down their names for
an equal amount. The receipts, it is
confidently believed, would amount 10
much more than the outlay, and 1t Is
norton of the idea TO set aside the
profits, after paying all expenses and
| charges, as a nucleus towards getting
I'D something else next year, 1t not be-
ing money-makng idea in the ordi-
nary acceptation of the term.
Every town within hundred miles
of Wheeling would be billed, excursion
rates secure on railroads, ETC., and
special exhibitions would be made, as,
for instance, Masonic evening, when
the set pieces would largely partake OF
the emblems of their order, Childrens'
evening, when comic pieces, in the
shape of performing animals, etc,
would be the attraction, A. o. q. w.
evening, Labor evening, l. o. 0. +.
evening, etc.
The call for this evenings meeting
appears in another column this morn
ing, and big turnout Of wide-awake
and progressive citizens is hoped for.