The sun., 1896-10-25

while still another beam wss seen coming from
the Jersey shore. The spectacle of weird dance
and play by these ehostly lights was
10 itself wondrous, and 70 IL were added the
flaming red plumes OF steam from every funnel
nfioat, the lamps that swung aloft over the decks
of every steamer. the long lines OF fohtihG
fire set adritt In the wake OF dozen
tugs, and the foaming water that Glowed ana
sparkled and danced In the light OF the
myriad fires. Thus at last the head OF the meet
reached the upper bay and swung around oppo-
site Battery Park. On every housetop, on every
bulk khead. and on every pier along the route tue
wondering populace had been massed as never
before at night
CROWDS ALONG THE WATER FRONT
To those who looked from the ships at the sea
wall II seemed as II great proportion OF all the
people OF the city must have gathered there, but
when Battery Park opened to view the throng
that had gathered there to see the final display
OF fireworks was so dense rs to make the other
crowds seem of small moment.
How long they had waited might be con-
jcctured. but that they should have waited at
nil when nothing but few shadowy huiks out
on the bay, and only one with an arch or lieht
over 1t, was all they could see. was wonder.
But with the arrival Of the head of the fleet their
patience was rewarded.
To those who could see tho river 1t seemed as
ifthe coming vessels overlapped one another to
form floating bridge of light that reached nj
most to tho Jersey shore. Then tho scene
changed as the fleet massed in one great squad
roma veritable city ahoat between tho old
Castle Garden and the statue OF Liberty, tower
ing aloft on Bodlow's Island.
For a brief interval the fleet moved to and
fro. and then there was such q burst of light
and roar OF bombs from the anchored floats as
made the waiting hosts shout with delight.
THE FLAG IN FIRE.
Tho beauties OF the display that followed for
q minute were beyond description. Then bal
loon was seen dimly as II rose swiftly above the
bay. What II had been sent up for when 1t
was SO poor an object as 1t seemed at
first few could conjecture, but while
they all gazed. there was o slight explosion in
the basket OF the balloon. and instantly mag
nifcent picture OF Old Glory drawn in flaming
stripes and stars. unfoldsd to view and foated
slowly away on the breeze.
With one accord tens of thousands of specta-
tors took Off their hats TO shout. while every
skipper OF every craft afoat paved the air in
enRer haste to grasp the cord that would
add tho blare of the steam whistles to tho
wild applause of the multitude. Then came the
displays of rockets in such sheafs as filled the
air over the whole fleet with clouds of burning
sparks. There were volcanoes OF bombs that,
rising high In air. exploded with roar that left
a black nucleus OF smoke. surrounded by a SUM-
burst OF shooting flames.
The chief feature of all tho transparencies
that were displayed at the Battery and through
out tho line Of the procession were the immense
yellow canvas dollars, with powerful lights in
side the canvas, so that tho transparency
showed yellow on tho outside. Over these dol
lars were notices of various kinds. Most of
them read:
I'VE are for an honest gold dollar" or This
10 the wage-earner's gold dollar"
The biggest transparency of all was on q rail-
road float at the Battery, and was 235 feet long.
It read:
q McKinlnx and uoharr PrntertIon and Prof.