The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-07
MAGNIFICENT SIGHT.
The Grand Pyroteohnical Climax
at the Worlds Fair,
SCENE GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED.
The GFaudsst Spectacle Of the Kind
Ever Witnessed on Earth was the
Display on tho Night of the Fourth
Of July-wituessed by a Quarter OF
q Million People,

single beach. Between them hung a
chain Of fire. Far out on the black
bosom Of one, boats, ablaze with yellow
light rose and fell with the waves. The
pillows Of the other beat with q
mighty swell, From its midst sounded
the voices OF twice ten thousand men,
They were singing, but the deep
rhythm Of their song was drowned in
the myHad.tongued Clsmor OF the 200
600 people massed about them. 1t was
night for Titans, Men were lost, It
was tho browning event Of q day which
{ has SGT new standard for the world,
For half u mile along the splendid
sweep Of the lake front men we're
massed a,hundred deep. From the per-
islylo 10 the batt!eship was q black sea
OF people For hours they sat and
waited, filling the mir with strange,
uneasy uproar. The lake, which care
lessly threw its wave against the sea
wall, was silenced Then a single voice
in the swaying multitude started asong.
Thousands caught the strain and faint
ly up through the din rose the tender
melody Of Nearer. My God, TO Thee"
The sun had set in cloudless beauty.
But, as the shadows fell among the
white palaces, sons giant hand drew
curtain Of BLACK across the eastern sky.
Against II slender little rocket leRped
and apluttered into uothingness Then
from the crowd came roar, made OF
hundred thousand cheers, that told OF
the pent-up patriotic leryor OF the peo-
pie.
"oAp GLORY IN a BLAZE.
Out Of tho north, high over dim
domes and fiery minarets, tiny globe
$ OF light aoated out across the lake.
Slowly below it dropped the folds of
flag Of fro, until with every star and
stripe ablaze, "0ld Glory" burned itself
into the nikht For half mile through
the clouds q giant search light followed
it with o train Of glory, and until it
vanished such shrill, triumphant
shout beat up against the sky as must
have taught the listening nations in the
White City what it means TO live under
the flag OF universal freedom.
AT Cookbook the vast multitude which
had all day poured through the wide
avenues and In and out Of the great pal
aces swept irresisibly toward the court
OF honor. To them were added other
tens OF thousands coming from the dus-
ty town to spend an hour within the
gates Of paradise. After the gray morn
ing had come sunshine and the early
twilight filled the court nth mellow
golden glow. Only TO the north hung
veil OF thick purple clouds. Darkness
came on with sluggish steps. Weary
people 80, 600 strong crowded the benches
on the eastern plaza Other thousands,
exhausted, stretched themselves out on
the thick green grass plots about the
grand basin. Fresh Corners surged TO
and fro, crowding the bridges, climbing
out on overhangilg arches, clinging to
the limbs OF giant statues, high above
the ground.
Before the first yellow bead in the
gorgeous necklace Of the grand basin
was aglow every spot was filled. Dying
sunlight glistened for u moment on the
golden Diana, and her flying robes
we're blown straight by a breeze which
brought GOODNESS and refreshment
from the west Family against the
fading light all the classic lines Of the
Court OF Honor were outlined In stipple
work OF fro. AT last the lights OF ma
ture we're turned off and the grandest
spectacle earth ever saw was full upon
tho stage.
SEARCH IIoHTs FLASH FORTH.
The great search lights blazed from
their heights, Telling now upon the
multitude in the audience and now
shining upon the palaces Of that vision
which Chicago has made real. An or
chestra greater than ever sat within
theatre played soft, familiar music out
on the water, ,bordered with a fringe OF
gold and laced with Pickering silver
lines; sweet-voiced singers sang OF
"Home, Sweet Home" On either side
the white beauty OF the MacMonnies
fountain the electric jets filled the air
with peacock feathers. II was weary
waiting for the other thousands on tho
lake front. They had come early and
maased themselves on every available
spot. But on the Casino pier 10000
men and women were packed. On top
OF the Peristyle were favored guests.
Stretching away 10 the north until
the darkness swallowed it the line was
solid and unbroken. Out on the lake
between tho Casino and battloahip u
hundred yachts and launches were at
anchor Each OF them carried colored
lights, and some of them we're ablaze
with spots Of fire. In the center was
the revenue cutter Michigan, shining
like o planet enid the lesser stars.
10 the north the fierce search light
at tho bow OF the Illinois utterly
dimmed the lines OF the red, white aud
blue lanterns. which hung from her tur.
waited patiently. Against the northern
horizon the twin domes Of the New
York state building were abla5e with
electricity, and from that direction at
intervals lonely rocket shot up into
tho sky The crowd was goodnaturod,
A band lost somewhere In tho mass
played through It's patriotic repertoire
at Intervals. People scattered along the
limo sang verse Of America" or "Pull
for the Shore" but tho stir aud hustle
OF the crowd grow louder and uneasy
Boisterous appliance broke out when
there was nothing to applaud. Mon
shouted with inpationco at the work.
mon along the bonch. People stretched
themselves and stirred about in surRlng
masses,
Suddenly the balloon carrying tho
stars and 6tripes in fire Aoutod out DO.
foro tho people. That started q wild
cheer that beat fiercoly down tho lake
aa tho multitude caught sight Of II.
Thon in an instant aChain Of red, white
and blue FIRE blaSed down the shore at