The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-27
THE NIGHT DISPLAY.
Nominations, Rockets, CnnnOnading
and SearchIights.

RYDE. Isle of Wight, June 26.-The IL
Elimination of the fleet at Spithead was
che of the most charming sights of a
week of delightful spectacles. The night
was pleasantly dark no moon dimmed the
effect of mortal creation, the waters of the
Solent were reposefully quiet and every
thing contributed to enhance the success
of the programme 1t was all ghostly, fam
tastic. suggestive of fairlyland and the
world of magic-a fitting termination to a
day of imposing realities and iron facts.
The brutal grimness of all the englnery
of destruction, savage looking guns, VEN
omous torpedoes, the veritable teeth or
war, was lost in peaceful shadow and
softening gloom The spectator knew it
was all there; but it was not relentlessly
thrust upon the mind as it had been the
day long from every angle of vision. the
mantle of night shut out what was Earring
to the noncombatant and revealed only
that which was agreeable.
A minute before o'clock the miles of
waters showed only such lights are
usually associated with shipping, reds and
greens of port and starboard, while lights
at mastheads, CLEANS that, like tiny rows
of diamonds, showed the ports of passenger
crafts with here and there some parti-
colored lights that had been lit on private
vessels before the time. AT O'Clock there
was flash, a rocket from the RenoWn
ripped into the dark blue and, bursting with
a shower of splendid stars, Signaled the
lighting up of the fleet The stick of the
rocket had not turned towards the water
ere the mighty fleet was suddenly skele-
toned in brilliant yellow light, hulls,
smokestacks, spars and cordage being
thrown into strong relief Light lines ran
in graceful curves along the sweep of the
monsters now CHASTITY gray in the sudden
glare and from bow to stern over the mast
heads were garlands of incandescent light
hlln h.
horns of night" "A few minutes later they
vanished with the suddenneSs of their APP
pearance. leaving the spectator staring at
the place where they had been. Then the
darkness was broken again, this time by
numberIess search ligths which, with I'M
canny glare, like the eyes of hundred
cyclops patterned the heavens as a chez
quer board with radiant bands. Later these
''eyes slowly swept the gathered craft and
the shores beyond, as II seeking something
to discover or devour Then they were all
shut off leaving the darkness more visible
than ever. pause, and the darkness was
pierced by hundreds of signal rockets, am
bitiously soaring into the blue with mes
sages of jubiation, not disaster. delivering
them and falling burnt out and useless into
the waste of waters.
The purpose of this naval exhibition was
not to be overlooked, however, the might
of Britain, its ever-prepared strength, was
again to be impressed upon the staring
thousands. A signal rocket Heaped from the
Renown and now there was provided an
exhibition of what war would be like if
cruisers should engage at night. A royal
salute of sixty guns was fired from every
ship capable of firing it. Great guns and
small answered each other in one pro-
lonSed roar rising and falling in intensity
as more or less of them fired together 1t
was truly awful Even the certain lnowl-
edge that there were no deadly missiles in
the guns did not prevent chill feeling
from creeping over many of the civilian
spectators.
The foreign war ships .moored opposite
the British lines joined the cannonade and,
to the superstitious. there was from the
deep throated guns of the United States,
Russia France Germany, note of def
ance, a resonant resolute answer. gun for
gun! Yet, all was in honor of Victoria.
Then the angry roaring ceased, much to
the relief of thousands who were stopping
their ears and as the panoply of unpleas-
ant smoke slowly drifted away the fleet
again stood revealed in fairy lines
of lightness. The signs of war were dim
ming and disappearing in the shadows the
gentier side of things was again put to
the front to instill into the minds of de-
parting thousands, that while the dogs of
war were Ready, aye ready" that after
all what the people came out to see was
the triumph of peace and the glory of
the Queen