The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-08-18
THE OlD GREEN AGL0W Festooned With MuIti-Col- ored Globes Under Whose PriSmatiC Hues Thous-
 ands Mingled.
WELCOME TO FIRE CHIEFS
I BRILLIANT SPECTACLE AND ONE
 OF RARE BEAUTY.


 Estimated That Between 3O,OOO and 50,- 900 People Witnessed the Examinations Visitors Astonished and Delighted at the Display in Their Honor-The Twenty national Association of Fire Engineers Opened in Warner Hail-Parade of the Visiting Chiefs-Addresses by Mayor Farnsworth, Chief Kennedy and Ex- Mayor Hendrick-E Evening Session Abandoned-Paper to be Read by Chief D. J. Swenie of Chicago on "The Best, Safest and Quickest Plan for Fighting Fires in Large Buiidings''-Comple List of All the Delegates to the Conven- Plans for To-day-Fight for the City in Which to Hold the Next Convention is on in Earnest.
 One of the largest crowds ever con- gregated in New Haven gathered last evening to witness the initial one of the four nights illumination of the lower half of the green in honor of the hun dreds of visiting fire chiefs. The crowd thronged every part of the lower half of the green and all the near by streets from curb to curb. Fully 30,O0O rersons were in the vast assemblage, ksx +oe y,1an he Der present at higher figure, some even estima ting that 5O,OO0 persons were present. This last is probably an over-estimate, but in any event the crowd was one of the largest that has ever been assembled in New Haven
 The illumination was a grand suc- cess and lighted up the green with brilliancy closely approaching that of day light From a distance of two or three blocks the green appeared to be studded with stars, the little incandes- cents twinkling like celestial settings. In beautiful bows and arches the lights blazed forth, some in colors, but the greater number in common plain glass globes.
 In front of Center church a large arch, with the inscription Welcome Fire Chiefs" outlined in incandescents, was a prominent feature of the display. Near the lower corner of the green was a large arch outlined in colored lights. adding gratly to the beauty of the scene From the corner of Chapel and Church streets the green appeared like sea of moving heads. Everywhere were seen the tri-color badges of the fire chiefs, and the blue badges of the lady visitors. All of the guests were delighted with the beauti- ful display in their honor and all who were heard to express themselves in the matter pronounced it one of the most beautiful and elaborate illuminations they had ever seen.
 From the large fixed piece over the band stand radiated lines of light, the entire display preserving an order and design which enhanced the beauty of the brilliant scene.
 An electrician was stationed in the box erected at the top of the band stand and by expert manipulation of the switches caused spirals of light to dance around the large black cylinder which enclosed about twenty five feet
 
 ing, to vary the sameness of the illu- imitation, he suddenly turned out the lights in various parts of the green and then as suddenly turned them on again, producing an effect startling at first to the crowd, but unique.
 The electrical display was pronounced by many who had witnessed like dis plays in other cities, the finest ever given in New England. Fourteen hun dred incandescent lights furnished the illumination, and to run these power was furnished and will be furnished gratis by the Fair Haven and West ville Railroad company. The lights are strung on wires, all radiating from the upper part of the band stand, and they are so managed that in case a wire breaks and falls to the ground, the cur rent of electricity passing through it can be at once turned off, thereby ob- viating considerable portion of the danger that might result from a live wire dropping into the crowd.
 From every section of the city, and from many nearby towns, people last evening poured into the central part of the city. All roads led to the green and as early as ' o'clock every car which arrived at the green was packed to it's utmost carrying capacity with sight seers.
 At 8 o'clock the Old Guard band, sta toned in the band stand, began the evenings concert At that hour the signal for turning on the lights of the illumination was given by a stroke of the fire alarm bell. As the bell ceased striking the green burst into a gorgeous prilliancy In an instant the green. which before mad been in total dark ness. except for the few lights on the band stand, became flooded with a glare of light. Exclama tions of admi- ration broke from every lip and swelled into a shout, as the immensity of the display and the gorgeousness of the spectacle were realized.
 The illumination lasted until Il o'clock. The concert by the band con- tinued until about 10 o'clock, and when i. ceased the crowds began breaking up.