The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-25
FIREWORKS LET LOOSE.
Tonch of a Cigar Plays Havoc with
PIANO Pope's stock.


One of the liveliest pyrotechnic displays
ever seen in Savannah was witnessed be-
tween Y and O'Clock last night by the
Christmas jewellers who happened to be
in the neighborhood of Piano Pope's fruit
store on Broughton street, No. IS, east. 1t
was a corker, and things We're kept lively
for about five minutes Then the fire de-
partment arrived and stopped the fun.
Several soldiers and civilians some of
them on mischief bent were standing in
front Of Popes place. They were smok-
ing cigars or cigarettes and dickering with
a Greek who had been left there to look
after the business. Presently one of the
men knocked over a box of hrecrackers,
whether Intentionally or accidentally, a
guard standing near could not tell. But
the provost saw the box fan and suspect
ed that 1t was not accidental. He told
the man that he had to be more careful,
when he was assured that it had been an
accident and the guard turned his back
and the fireworks began. one of the men
had touched a lighted cigar 20 the pile.
BrOughton street was as once enlvened.
were not in il at an Cannon crackers
popped in a Tremendous fusi,ade and sky
rockets and Roman candles added their
poppinSs and hissiugs TO the general noise
and sent their fiery missiles hurting
across the street and up into the air.
large crowd had gathered. il came in
hurry Some Were running toward the
trouble and some were running away from
il. 1t could not be tod what the trouble
mendous roar of the crackers. Ii might
lave first been thought chat some one was
only setting off a whole pack of the things,
but il was not long before il was seen
chat something more serious was the mat
ter. The crackers continued to roar, AID
The noise was mingled with all manner Of
screenings and whis,Hnss. \ whole me
ragerie of fizzlers, peppers, shooters and
what not seemed to have been set loose.
The crowd running toward the scene,
which was lighted up by the glare of the
discharges, met others running away.
These latter did not know what trouble
was going on in their rear. IL sounded as
if there might be a, great baltic IN pro
gress and one or Two said they had con
fidenuy expected to find five or six com-
panies of the soldiers engaged ia fight.
The discharges We're without intermiss.on,
and almost the entire stock must have
gone off before the hremen arrived. There
was no cessation apparent UP 70 ne time
the first stream Of wafer was poured on,
however ard it is possible the .dlspl ~
would have continued for some time.
Evidences of the destruction We're scat
tered AL about. 1t looked as if all the
Roman candles had been pointed right
straight across the streets and all the Sky
rockets straight up. A line of fire was
opened in both directions. The plate
glass windows IN the large stores across
the street reflected The display and receiv-
ed the Roman candles discharges. Pano' S
awning over the front Of his place under
which the fireworks were stored, took
about the fraction of a moment to be shot
fun Of blazing holes. / soon dropped eff,
and then the rockets had free path for
their vaulting embticn. They went sky
ward in hurry, adding 10 the beauty of
the scene
The alarm was turned in by policeman
from box No Is, corner of Broughtou and
Whitaker street He saw what was go
ing on up Broughton, and knew the fire
department would he wanted When il
arrived the fireworks were soon put out.
The flames were just beginning to find
access to Pcpe's store when the depart
ment arrived. The place had to be flood
ed with water There is probably a con-
siderably damaged stock on hand now.
Pope has insurance, however Harry &
Train having $1,000 in one OF their compa-
MES. No arrest was made, as il was not
known who had set off the pile.