The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-23
SHAFT IN GOLDEN GARB
SOLDIERS MONUMENT ILLUMINATION
INDEsCRrBABLY BEAUTIFUL.
Thousands of People Crowded I'm the
PIazn Last Night to Wit
ness the Test.

night to see the test illumination of the SOL
diers' and sailors monument was esti-
mated all the way from five thousand to
ten thousand people. Although there were
many counter attractions during the even
ing, Monument place, for two hours, was
the chief point of interest for home people
and visitors From until nearly 10 o'clock
the lights were on and the crowd stood and
locked and marveled. The test illumination
was an electrical triumph and Indianapolis
people are agreed on the assertion that
nothing so magnificent was ever seen in
this city. 1t cost 5000 to deck the shaft in
this bewildering electric garb.
BY O'Clock the thoroughfare around the
monument was black with buggies bicy-
cles and pedestrians. The steps of the mon
ument were crowded and the throng surged
restlessly and pressed up to the edge of the
fountains. Meridian and Market streets, on
Doth sides of the monument, were full of
people. The balcony, which extends almost
the entire length of the English Hotel, was
crowded with the guests of the house. Many
others viewed the display from the Circle
Park Hotel and the Plaza. Early in the
evening the policemen sent to watch the
crowd deemed it advisable to clear out the
carriages, taking this precautionary meas
ure TO avoid accidents. The drivers of all
vehicles were told to move on and there was
many an argument and many an exclama-
ton of disgust from the occupants of COM
Portable carriage seats. Wheelmen were
compelled to dismount, and this order also
met with disapproval from those who were
riding bicycles Both orders. however, met
with the appreciation of those who had
neither bike nor buggy. There were no
accidents, and the only uncomfortable feat
ure of the occasion was the hot weather.
The atmosphere was close and warm, but
people crowded up to the fountains and
imagined it was cooler there
1t had been announced by those in charge
OF the Nominations that the display would
begin at O'Clock and last for one hour 1t
was a few minutes after o'clock when
Electrician Harry Francis, in the engine
room of the monument touched the switch
and threw the complex machinery in mo-
ton. The crowd had grown anxious and
restless, and when the big arclights at the
four corners of the monument flashed out,
little before o'clock, there was great
shout and much clapping of hands, for the
crowd believed the general illumination
was on. There was a little disappointment
when the arclights only flickered and sput-
tered noisily ard shed dancing CLEANS on
the blue waters of the fountains AS if to
AClSAlSu Tie electrical display ABOUT the
monument, the sky was dark in the north
and east The monument stood dark and
grim against the black sky and the figure
of Indiana at the top was almost merged in
the inliness of the night Suddenly there
was burst of light about the monument,
and as the five thousand incandescents
twinkled into light the great shaft was
trimmed in lines of golden glory.
simultaneously with the lighting of the
monument, the cascades on either side took
mr. ln fol linz
cleaned in varied hues. In moment the
four searchlights at the top of the shaft
on tt 3 figure of Indiana until her graceful
proportions stood out clear and bright
against the somber sky. Then they searched
the heavens and threw broad shafts of
light into all parts of the city. They illumi-
mated Christ Church building and fell on
the uncovered walls Of the editice. Now
and then the men manipulating the search
lights would turn them downward, spread
ing flood of dazzling light over the peo-
in fluffy summer gowns, walking with their
young men, came under the powerful white
hight and the maidens scrambled to get out
of the searching rays
TWO HOURS ILLUMINATION
For nearly two hours the monument wore
its golden garb. The Examinations extend
ed from the top of the shaft down to the
waters of the fountain First there was
border of incandescents at the top, con-
sisting of 12S lights. The sixteen windows
of the shaft were framed in incandescents
Festoons of glowing lights were strung
about the army and navy astragals. The
medallions in the navy astragal were en-
circled- with incandescents, Just be-
low the army astragal on the
north and south sides of the monument
was large shield of red and white lights.
Below the shields was the American flag,
stripes, and the blue shield studded with
cleaning stars. BY a clever mechanical
continuance every third light in the flag
was extingushed and at once flashed out
again almost Instantly. This gave the flag
waving effect, which is very pretty.
The spectacular feature of the display
was in the fountains, where the skill of the
electrician is most prominent. The cas-
cades We're constantly changing from white
to red and then to green. This effect was
given by rows of ncandescentS placed I'M
der the cascades First the falling waters
would take on. rich white, then beauti-
full green shade would appear and in mo-
ment this would fade away and the waters
would become crimson. The people loved
to stand and watch these constantly chang
ing effects on the water in the basins. Some
times the surface would have the appear
ance of a glorious food of moonlight, then,
when the crimson would apear, the basin
would take on a dull red. Beneath the
first cascade, facing the east, was q double
triangle with the letters ~: r." and the
lily in the center. This is the emblem of
the uniform rank of X. of P. 1t was formed
of different colored lights, which shone
through the falling water On the west
side of the monument, beneath the first
cascade, was the emblem of the subordinate
lodge, also done in red, white and blue
lights. On either side of these emblems
there were whirling stars and serpent
wheels, the lights being so arranged as to
give them Kaleidoscope effect. The
crowd fingered about the monument until
the Illumination was shut off. The lights
disappeared like a flash at 9:35 o'clock, and
again the shaft stood like a great shadow
against the sky.
Every night this week the monument will
be Illuminated and, beginning with tonight,
the lights will remain until II o'clock.
Marion Club Lights.
The decorations at the Marion Club in