The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-07-04
ject became suddenly filed with flashing,
suffering, glowing lights.

JecC became suddenly Ullcu WIN IaSNlnS,
suffering, glowing lights.
This display continued for several min.
utes, a portion of the scintillating dew
drops rising with the balloon and others
floating slowly toward the earth. "Splen-
did! Good! Beautifully were the ex-
pressions of the spectators.
The next scene on the program was the
firing of a cannon by means of a teapot of
water. The cannon itself had been made
by the Folly boys. A two-inch auge hole
was bored into a curly maple block; the
wood had been cut into the shape of an
iron gun, then some iron bands from the
hubs of an old wagon heated red hot were
driven on and suddenly cooled. The eX-
panled hot iron shrunk down so as to
bind the wood firmly, and after they had
applied a coat or two of black paint they
had a fine homemade cannon, but, of
course, they had to be careful about over
loading the piece. The improyised gun
had been charged with powder and wad-
ding, and lay upon the ground all ready
for service. Joe took an Old teapot, turned
it over and hit it with ii stick to show
tina it was empty, then placed it beneath
the pump spout and filled it to the brim
with water. After taking a swallow from
the spout he placed it near the amor His
wanda piece of broomstick-Was passed
several times over the tin vessel while
a jargon Of senseless words was spoken.
Ernest meantime lighted a match and
applied it to the water. Instantly Il fame
shot UP, and placing a fuse from the tea
pot to the piece of artillery, the boys
stepped back. A flash was followed by a
loud report, and the ~assemblage shouted
with wonder.
The third display was what the rural
lads termed the fiery serpent" Joe
produced a long. ragged cloth object that
looked something like a huge black snake
with a wooden head and two irregular
wings. After holding it up so that all
| could see it, he passed out upon the lawn
into the darkness, followed by Ernest.
| Presently the spectators saw a glow of
light: Il cracking sound, and a peculiar
| whizzing followed; then a stream of fire
mounted the air with marvellous speed.
The fiery serpent flew skyward higher
| and higher, throwing out Il brilliance that
made the lockers on hold their breath.
! The suffering, squirting reptile formed
an arc, and after a long flight came hiss
ing down to the earth.
The visitors were really amazed. "Thrce
cheers for the Folly boys cried Ben
Slade, swinging his hat. The cheers were
| given right heartily, followed by a tiger.
EX%planation.
"Now, tell us how it was all DONE they
begged, and Joe explained.
"The shower of dewdrops," he began.
"was produced by attaching a lot of long
| fine threads to q wire rim at the base of
the balloon, to which were fastened the
| strings taken from a lot of firecrackers,
| i~nterspersed with little rolls of tissue pa,
+ per containing wet and dry powder. Some
of these became detached while burning
| and floated earthward, while others were
| carried on. A slow fuse kept those upon
the threads from i%gniting until the bal
loon was we'll up from the EARTH"
but the firing of tic cannon with a
| teapot of water"
"The old teapot contained a little coal
oil, which l was careful not to turn out
| when upsetting the vessel. Of course it
arose to the top when the water was put
in, and was easily ignited."
The boys laughed heartily. "That was
a good one. Now what of the fiery SER
pent?"
THAT was a mass of rags and cotton,
very slightly dampened with benzine, and
| rolled into the form of a snake, but II
| contained also G lot of wet and dry pow
I der. The serpent was attached to a
crotched stick, the end of which formed
the reptiles head, and the branches the
two wings. A stiff spring-pole was SET
firmly In the ground and then bent over
and held by a catch. The crotch was SCI
aside the %spring-pOle ct an angle of about
As degrees, the serpent lighted and the
spring-pole set loose. That threw the hiss
ing reptile high in the air."
"Bullyv' cried impetuous Fred Bruster
Shout after shout sounded out on the
night air as the large company OF boy:
left Folly Farm thoroughly delighted witt
their home made Fourth of July enter
tainraent. .t.