The morning call., 1894-01-28

rolled its gaunt and lean arms In the
darkness. but the people were either for
saking or neglecting them. On the right
the scenic railway with its thrilling rush
and rumble seemed to catch within its
tolls hundreds of passers-by; but the ride
was short and in keeping with the spirit
OF the hour
Ine passengers became inspired with
the passion for noise and hurrsh. Every
carload bore shouting crew. The voices
filled the night air; the shrill steam
whistle TOOK up the sound and carried it
long and loud, aud away in the far valleys
the deep moan of the locomotive re-
sponded. Every man, woman and child on
the walks about seemed to join voice to
the increasing din. The men WHO stood in
front OF the concessions pr0claiming the
attractions within raised their voices even
beyond their usual height Elation and
the impulse of eXaggeration seemed to
seize upon everybody. From the western
end o'fthe Midway. from the '49 camp and
the Esquimaux village and the ostrich
farm the dozens of visitors came rushing
to join the enthusiastic multitude.
| The bulk of them had now got well
started down the road to the scene of the
| fireworks. A few had strayed into the
crystal maze and become lost la the con-
fusion of hundred reflections of them
selves on the deceptive mirrors. Just at
the hour when the entire length of the
road was beginning to be filled with the
great numbers of moving people, the elec-
trio circuit failed. the lights went out, and
at z 30 at night atsleast 5000 of mankind
were left in darkness. 1t was as if the
of ho6
twenty years and things had become as
they were before man 'harnessed the
lightning" when the curfew sent men to
bed with the beasts of the field. But this
preelpltate recurrence to the memories
OF old endured only few minutes.
The lightning was quickly reharnessed,
the lamps set going and the multitude re-
leased from what might have been a
serious embarraSs ment
BY 1880 the greater part of the people
had reached the plains before the fire.
works. A price of 80 cents had been
placed on the seats in the grand stand and
all but few persons were obliged to
stand. Some clever ones found loose tim
bers, with which they constructed tempo
rary seats. Others built bonfires here and
there to ward away the little cold of the
evening. From above, the great crowd
resembled nothing so much as the con-
course at the opening of Oklahoma Terri
tory. The groups about the bonfres, the
men driving stakes here and there for
seats like men locating town lots, the hum
and suppressed excitement of the occas sion,
the unusual nun bers present-onIy there
was this difference: it was the occasion of
the dedication of great exposition, where
all interests were alike, where there.was
no contention of citizen against citizen
where everybody was awaiting the one
thing: the signal for the first rocket, when
a mighty shout was to go up, the bands to
play, the set pieces to discharge and
opening day to close In flash of glory.
The thunder and blaze of fireworks pre-
sented TO the multitude most brilliant
climax for the glorious midwinter day.
And such fireworks as they were! For
grandeur ard great variety they had not
been equaled in San Francisco. and they
were admirably sustained, from the grand
salute OF bombs until the go lden sheen of
Niagara was eclipsed by the blackness of
the night 1t was not display of one
rocket after another. and then an occa-
sional set piece by way of variety. Moth
ing OF the sort, but q lavish exhibition of
pyrotechnic wealth in various forms all
through. Some rockets were really WON
derful creations in fiery elements, bombs
were terrible in their strength and explo-
slons; and beauty was always present in
golden showers, graceful falling figures
and rich cOlorings against the sky.
There was perfect background in the
high hill south of Golden Gate Park.
though frequently the rockets and bombs
shot far above the summit and unfolded
their glories in the darkened azure. Then
the very stars seemed dimmed and all eyes
gazed enraptured on the new lights that
hung awhile far up above. Another rocket,
another mighty bomb, and still another
reached successfully the same height, and
so brilliant glow light up the heavens
NJ eanwhile exhibition pieces were ablaZe
below, funny whistling rockets, geysers or
volcanoes filled the lower space.
Soon after s o'clock the electric lights in
the recreation grounds were dimmed and
presently a salute of forty-four report
ing Dombshells. one for each State in the
Union, was fired The reports resembled
hiring of heavy artillery and helped 20 SEND
the exhibition off with good deal of en-
thusiasm and p0mp. No sooner had the
last State been thus saluted than the wide
area with its vast concourse of people was
brightly Illuminated with colored fires for
five minutes. The coloring was greeted
with cheers as different pleasing contrasts
were presented in succession. Darkness
had scarcely fallen upon the scene before
gorgeous framework bearing the word
Welcome" in pink letters was burning
This piece had blue frame and a brilliant
sun case with an effect fifty feet across.
Presently what the fireworks men called
a union battery was fired. This was
marvellous display of colored fires fringed
with golden sparks that were vomited
from the earth, it seemed without end.
The battery was 100 feet long and was
supplied by go Roman candles, that emit
ted balls of red, white and blue in all d.
rections. as we'll as great volumes of
| brilliant sparks. AS the lights were fad
| ing, a roar of bombs startled the spec
| tators.
| The hidden monsters, breaking loose
their simple bonds. shook the earth and
| caused the air to vibrate. Then, as thew
flew upward, leaving trail of fire like the