Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-05
cANNoNADE IN EAST OMAHA.
Scenes Incident to Fall of Nicl<sburg
to He Re-Eupctcd.


..... to lie Rc-Ennctcd.
The amphitheater at CORTLAND Beach,
from which the realistic representation OF
1.-THE Last Days of Pompeii'' was seen last
year. is rapidly being prepared for the new
and more elaborate spectacle which will por-
tray the scenes incident to the fall OF Vicks-
burg in the civil war. The vast stage Is
being transformed into miniature picture
of the city and forts Of Vicksburg, and so
successful is the effort Of the stage car
penters and painters that the background
presents an almost perfect imitation OF the
exact appearance Of the southern city in the
days when Grant and his army thundered at
its gates.
The vastness of the enterprise may be
imagined when it is stated that 1t requires
nearly five acres of ground for the produc-
tion. The mimic city Of Vicksburg consists
of 10000 yards of scenery, and this extends
for considerable distance on each side and
back of the stage, representing structures
from twenty to forty-fve feet in height.
The scenery is painted from photographs OF
Vicksburg taken on the spot. and 1t is said
to be a wonderfully exact likeness OF the
city and its surroundings. The view is from
the north and the audience looks down the
river between the two forts that at one
time contested the passage of the union
| fleet. Houses, streets, trees and other natu-
| raj features are SO perfectly reproduced that
| they may be instantly recognized by any OF
| the veterans who followed Grant in his march
upon the city more than thirty years ago.
AS the mimic city will appear in the blaze
| of the numerous arc lights when the public
| is invited to witness the spectacle. 1t Will
| be a perfect picture. While the audience is
| still wondering at the marvellous effect the
| confederate sentries will appear tramping
| over their beats and finally disappearing
| around the corner of the huge fort on the
right. Then the music changes and the viii
| layers and darkeys come down through the
| city and stop on the stage, mingling in just
| such a crowd as might be seen in the streets
| of the real city. Then General Pemberton
| advances from the fort and the rebel troops
| are reviewed, while the sappers hard
| at work strengthening the outposts of the
| fort. The rev ew over, the bell of a steam
| boat is heard around the bend of the river
| The colored quartet sings Maryland My
| Maryland" and the refrain is taken up by
| the voices of $50 darkeys who throng the
| streets. The steamboat arrives just as the
last note Of the song is heard and puffs up
! to the landing in the center Of the stage.
| A bride and groom are among the passen-
gers, and they are married by an old darkey
| preacher. while the occasion serves to in
| troduce lot of amusing stage business. BY
| way OF celebrating the marriage, the specially
| performance is introduced, after which the
| bugle sounds, the lights are extinguished
| and the soldiers go to rest behind the rugged
| walls Of the fort. '
In, the night a courier appears with dis
patches for General Pemberton, who appears
| to receive them. Then a union soldier swims
The river and steals up the street toward the
| grim battlements of the fort. He is discov-
| cred by the sentries They fire and the spy
| falls, wounded. General Pemberton is hastily
called and orders him to be searched Dis
patches are found on his person which MAKE
| it certain that he is a spy, and the rebel gen
era orders him shot at once. The death
| squad files into line. The already wounded
| soldier is bound and told that he must die at
qep W ha
| winds around him. 1.-THE union forevern J e
| shouts, and the ecno is al the report Ct
| The rebel rifles. He falls and his body is left
| where 1t lies.
| When the soldiers have again disappeared
into the fort two union soldiers row silently
| down the river and succeed in rescuiug The
body Of their comrade under the guns VI The
fort The quartet sings John Browns Body
| Lies a-Mouldering in the Grave" The strain
is taken up by the band and detachment Of
union troops appears. General Grant follows
and the quartet changes the melody to
Marching Thro' Georgia" Another detach-
ment of the boys in blue files out of the dark
ness and joins the first. after which General
Grant reviews the troops, Then the bugle
sounds again, the camp is quiet and the quar-
tet sings THE Vacant Chair"
Suddenly another bugle call, sharp and de-
csive, brings the sleeping army 20 life. A
courier has arrived with important dis
patches. Grant and his staff hold hurried
consultation. Soon the sound of firearms is
heard ana presently the skirmishers appear
and the firing becomes more rapid and deadly
In few minutes more the battle is on in
earnest. All the troops on each side are en-.
gagged, while the cannon from the fort ex-
change quick courtesies with the union bat.
terles below. The nurses and sappers CARY
of the wounded and the gunboats and the
steamers Of the fleet Join in the cannonade
The spectacle is wonderfully lifeiike and
continues until the union army is victorious
The men in gray are driven back. The bat
| nj of hA fOr polt haf hn lie
guns of the northern men and finally the
fight is over. The bugle sounds cease tir,
ing" The soldiers go into camp and Genera
Pemberton surrenders to General Grant. Their
follows the wonderful fireworks display, In
which $1,000 worth Of pyroechnics are eX-
| DlOded every night