Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-08

A good sized audience witnessed the
initial production in this city of Pain ;
great. pyro spectacle THE Last Days Of
Pompeii," last night; but there were many
vacant seats. which should be filed dur
ing each remaining performance Of the
engagement. That the audience will be
larger each succeeding evening. goes
without saying for it is a well known fact
that merit is the very best advertisement
for any entertainment. 1t was the unani-
nous verdict that the production was the
biggest and best out door entertainment
which has ever been given in this city.
Nothing promised by the management
was lacking. An idea of the magnitude
Of the production can only be gained by
personal visit. Several acres are en-
closed by the big canvas fencN and three
hundred persons are employed In the Sc
ries Of beautiful pictures which aroused
so much enthusiasm in the audience last
night. while it is claimed that the daily
expense TO the Pains Is more than $1,000.
The weather was cool last evening, ana
this probably prevented many persons
from being present. Patrons should take
their wraps with them unless the weather
is warm this evening. The city will be
filed during the next few days with visit
ors to the Fair. and everybody will visit
the fireworks display in the evenings.
The entertainment commenced about
eight o'clock and continued nearly two
hours The enclosure was lighted by cleo
tricity for the first part Of the perform
ance. and the current was shut off when
the pyrotechnic display was given. The
scenery has been accurately described in
the Register. 1t represents the ancient
city. with Mt. Vesuvius in the background,
its summit rising nearly 100 feet above the
surface of the ground.
The first part of the entertainment con-
sisted of a iudicious admiXture of pa
geauty. dancing. singing, music and ath-
letic and acrobatic feats. Several hun
dred persons in the costume of the an
clients stood in front of the city, and
watched the festivities, which consisted
of performances upon parallel bars ana
trapeze. classic posing. juggling. etc. This
feature of the entertainment was really
very creditable. and the audience mani
Tested its appreciation in frequent out
bursts of applause. The athletic feats
We're interspersed with dances ana
marches. and the music was provided by
an excellent band. The hippodrome races
were superior to those seen in the big
circuses. while the special features are the
very best IN their respective lines.
The eruption of Vesuvius and destruction
Of the city is q sudden snd awful inter-
ruption. and forms a magnificent finale.
1t is a splendid piece of realism. Even
more pleasing is the display of fireworks
which brings the entertainment to an end
1t begins with a shower of rockets from
the rear Of the scenery, and for half
hour bombs and rockets alternate with set
pieces. and all are of the order which has
made Pain famous. During this display
the enclosure was darkened. and displays
were made from unexpected quarters, fol-
lowing each other in rapid succession, and
all eliciting expressions Of surprise and
admiration from the audience. This dis
play included big aerial shells fired from a
mortar. numerous 4-pound rockets carry
ing twinkling stars of changeable colors,
silver streamers. peacock plumes, comets,
chemical fires attached to parachutes,
causing them to float in mid-air; snakes
musical dragons. electric boobies, shoot
ing stars. fire fish, revolving devices foun-
tains. and all sorts Of pyrotechnic novel
ties. including q dozen set pieces.
THE Last Days of Pompeii' will be pro-
duced again this evening and on Wednes-
day and Thursday evenings.