The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-02
SPECTACLE is READY
MT. yESUyIUS WILL BELCH FORTH
AT POMPEH TOMORROW.
Indications of n Big on
the Opening Nfght-FirewOrks D.
prOpriate to Labor Day.

A series OF outdoor entertainments, abb
solutely unique so far as this city is con-
cerned, will be inaugurated tomorrow
night, when the first production will be
given of the historical spectacle. 1.-THE Last
Days of Pcmpeii," at Lincoln Park, corner
of Sixteenth street and Central avenue.
This mimic representation of one of the
greatest tragedies in the history of the
world is given on a scale Of great elabora-
ton and beauty, and as nearly in accord
ance with the historical facts and tradi-
tons as can be gathered from the re-
sources among the ruins Of the Inflated
city and the volumes that have been writ
ten about its destruction.
The Last Days of Pompeii' has been
brought to indianapolis purely as a. public
enterprise for the purpose of providing
an attraction to draw out Of town people
TO the city and to entertain them while
tney are here. If the experiment should
prove to be successful, and there is reason
TO believe 1T will. these fall spectacles will
De continued here every year, as they are
IN many other cities. To produce it here
involves the outlay of more than $40, 600,
ana leading business men have subscribed
TO the guaranty fund th~ree-fourths of that
amount to make up a loss should any be
sustained. The experience In other cities
has been that this spectacle has made
money, and from the present indications
that will be the experience in Indiana polls.
me representation of the city of Pompeif
Is made by a great picture which stretches
almost entirely across the park Enclosure.
In front of this are buildings from twenty
to forty feet high, representing the his
torical edifices of the city, while directly
in front of the latter is the great stage
on which the dramatic portion of the en-
tertainment takes place. Back of it all is
Mount Vesuvfus. On the stage are given
tne marches, pageantry and groupings
Wnicn add 10 the realism of the scene.
The story depicts as accurately as possi-
DIE the scenes and incidents In Buivers
mover or The Last Days of Pompeii.'
Inc occasion Is the annual celebration of
the goddess Isis, whose temple faces the
spectator. Arbaces. a rich Egyptian, whose
tiers at the right, and who has assumed
py reason OF his great wealth. q leading
ana influential position in Pompeii, is the
leading and central figure. The feast of the
great Egyptian goddess has been chosen
Dy MIN as an opportune occasion to dazzle
the eyes OF the fair lone. with whom he is
begins the streets fill up with the popu-
lace, who assemble to witness the festiyj-
ues. PRESENTLY a trumpet is heard, when
small, hower-strewn barges pass across the
ornamental lake. and the prows of the
gaIleys make their appearance as from un-
DER the triumphant arch; groups of SOL
diers. with standards and musical instr1-
ments, emerge and announce the coming cf
Ar6aces;, who appears clad in purple and
gold, Followed by the entire gorgeous pro-
cession. Arbaces awaits the arrival of the
gaIleys, which now advance to the temple
steps. From the first alight soldiers and
affiance bridegroom-the Greek Glaucus.
Arbaces receives lone with profound
o~6eisance, but barely condescends to notice
The procession is formed and the guests
take positions under the portico of
festivities prepared for them. The door of
the Temple Isis is thrown open and the
1Tgmpiers Illuminated interior is discovered.
aloft the golden image OF the Egyptian
GODDESS. Nydia. the blind girl. appears at
the side of Glaucus;. all kneel to the golden
CALI, and suddenly Arbaces cries, IF there
be a Christian present. let him worship the
goddess. or death be unto him" The peo-
pie cry, "Glaucus is a Christian!' lone
secretly that her aHianced husband IS
a CHRISTIAN. rises in terror, but Glaucus
advances toward the idol, which now APP
pears to glow with internal fire. Vesuvius
also shows signs of an approaching erup-
when Nydia prevents him, and, rushing
toward the goddess, herself overthrows the
tripod which stands at the idols feet. All
quakes, the mountain vomits forth flames
and clouds of smoke, the temple columns
latter; the people. forgetting Isis and her
Gus seiZes lone, and, with Nydia clinging
TO him, manages TO enter a boat. and are
seen. amid the flashes of lightning and the
glow from the torrents of flaming lava, es-
Gaping across the water from the doomed
city: Arbaces is killed by a falling column,
Whlie the people, screaming and shouting
Tor AID, rush in wild confusion in every d-
rection.
1t is difficult to give an adequate descrip-
tion or this spectacle, and it is in Itself it's
best Advertisement. The picture and de-
signs were drawn by men who personally
visited and inspected the ruins of Pompeii.
James Pain u Sons. of London. England,
resentatlon. which has been so successful
Wherever IL has been presented. They have
succeeded in making the representation re-
markably realistic by the use of ingenious
mechanical devices and the employment of
lights and colored fires. At the conclusion
of each performance will be given the
greatest display of fireworks ever seen in
TINS city. Pain & Sons, ii will lie remem-
6ered, were the pyrotechnists at tae worlds
signs which they invented and produces
there for the first time will be given here.
In addition to these. there viii be many
special designs appropriate to the different
nights. AS tomorrow is Labor day emblems
and figures representative of labor will be
gwen. Next Thursday night will be
tnulaha night with Governor Matthew's
picture In IRE as one of the speciai at
fractions. and next Saturday night UNITED
states night" when the special designs
VIII be of a patriotic character. These will
be the only performances this week. There
Will be three next week and four the week
which is State fair week. If
rain should prevent the performance on
any night 1t will be postponed until the
next succeeding clear night.
me local managers of Pompeii are salts
ned that II they are able TO secure a large
attendance tomorrow night further adver-
of the spectacle to any great ex-
tent Will be unnecessary, for it is the most
beautiful and elaborate thing OF the kind
ever presented in Indianapolis, and the
here will be the same in every
respect as that in other large cities of the
country. In all there are $50 people en-
ployed in the representation.
Guarded ny THE SEA