The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-30
THE FALL OF POMPEIL.
Pains Magnificent Spectacular
Production May Come
IN CONNECTION With THE FOURTH.
A Representative of the Big Spec
taolo Here-If tho Business Men
Will Cooperate with the Chamber
of Commerce the Carnival VIII
Como to wheeling-An Interesting
Interview With Manager Skin:
Anumbor OF WhooIipg's public spir,

tied citizens assembled at the champer
of commerce Lust evening to talk over
the feasibility Of securing Pains gor'
geous spectacle, "The Last Days OF
Pompeii." !" for series OF exhibits in the
city during the month OF July. Great
interest was aroused, and ageneral call
was madeby the chamber OF commerce
to every member to be present this
evening at s o'clock, when plans will be
submitted and ways and means dis
cussed whereby it is hoped Wheeling
may boast OF an attraction equal in all
respects to any metropolitan city in the
Union. Mr.. l. L. Skid, the general
manager OF this gigantic work, was seen
by an INTELLIGENcER man, and, when
asked for information concerning the
production, said: "'The Last Days OF
Pompeii' is q marvellous spectacular
production produced by the celebrated
firm, James Pain Il Son, OF London and
New York. This firm Is the.largest in
its line in the world, and produces these
spectacles, including magnificent pyro.
technical effects, throughout the cities
OF the country, or at least in all the
progressive cities.
."What Is the spectacle like"
"As presented by US 1t is IN enact
ment OF an actual event in history, pos
sibly one OF the greatest events in
history, the destruction OF the city OF
Pompeii by the eruption Of the volcano,
Vesuvlus We first build q miniature
city representing Pompeii, with the
mountain of Vesuvius in;the distance,
upon a pioco OF ground about five acres
in extent. An amphitheatre is erected
to accommodate 10000 people; minia.
ture lake will represent the bay OF
Naples which alone requires over
100000 gallons Of water. The scenic
portions OF the work are represented by
real buildings from 20 to 80 feet high
and depict as actually as possible the
celebrated bath houses, temples, arches,
etc, "a they were built in the ancient
city. These arc truly depicted, our
artist having visited the ruins for tlNt
purpose. The mountain OF Vesuvius
will be nearly 70 feet in height, and
covers II, 900 square yards Of oil paint
ing, erected on wood, iron and canvas 800
feet long.
"Do you give performance"
"Oh, yes. We depict national holi-
day or fete day which annually oc.
Cured, when tho Romans celebrated
their goddess Isis, and our work follows
the story as told by Sir Bulwer Lytton,
tho characters being the same, includ-
ing Nydia, the blind girl, lone, Arbaces,
and Glaucus, who are the principal
figures in the drama. We then repres-
ent the old Roman sports such as races
Of chariots, gladitorial combats, process
sion of priests and choir boys, tho flower
girls' dance, otc. At the conclusion OF
the drama portion OF the entertain
ment, the mountain Of Vesusvius com.
mences its eruption that destroys the
city, the mountain throwing Volumes
OF fire, smoke and lava high into the
air; tho buildings fall and burn, and
tho city is actually destroyed before
the eye oil the spectator So real ts
this exhibition that many persons who
witness the production, imagine that
tho work is entirely and inevitably
ruined, but on the next day our oper.
ators robuild'tho city and are, prepared
to again give tho same performance.
"tlow long do you propose to ex'
hibit hereY'
"We propose to give series OF ten
evenings, covering a period OF three
weeks, and as 1t is impossible to give
the production every consecutive
night, We give an exhibit every other
night, 80 that the work will probably
be produced on Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Saturdays"
an what way will this benefit
Wheeling"
"Why, my dear sir, every progressive
city is constantly seeking to have at.
fractions to bring in the strangers, and
our marvellous spectacular creations
are advertised on every line Of railway
entering tho city within a radius OF
seventy.fve miles, and low rate cxcur-
sions are arranged on Qll tho roads,
thus the out OF town noighbor will
avail himself OF the opportunity to visit
tho city, not only to attend the spec
taCle, but to trade, and as u consequence
every merchant Is benefited by the in
ilux OF strangers, that are always u
natural consequence wherever our OK.
hibits arc given"
"Are there any hreworksp
"Yes, every evening at tho conclusion
OF the eruption of Vesuvius, and when
everything is in total darkness, then
commences tho grand pyrotechnical
display not merely n small show, but
$1,000 worth OF fireworks arc fred zach
evening, including tho latest Manhattan
Beach novelties, both ariel aud
aquatic"
"lIavo these spectaclos been success.
ful in cities Of WhGolng's Bze2"
II know Of no city whore VIC havo
shown whore tho exhibit has failed
At Harrisburg, Pa, wo have exhibited
three years with excellent success,
Scranton .one year; WillteBbarro Is on.
thusiastic over " this year; Eric Ia like.
wieo. Peoria, ILL.,, has hat Il for tho
past three years, and oven little Quincy,
ILL.,, much smaller than your city, had
Pompcil and cleared above all expenses
something like SS,000
"Will your fireworks DO changed
nightlyT
"Yos, air. We givO complete change
u"Ol VNoHlnRi anu W. ptVVVSv ~ "lnNu
caeh Of tho ten exhibits In Wheeling
special nighta, such rs Masonic night
military night, q. A, H. night, ladies
and Childron'a nights, Olc. Our pyro.
technical features will be arranged for
the special night, including embloms OF
tho order which arc arranged In gorge.
Ous devices, or snt pieces. There will
also bo marvellous Are portraits Of prom.
inont local people, including also the
governor OF tho state"
GLOW about the cost Of this produc.
tion7'
"Woll sir. the plant alone tina. wo