The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-12
GARFIELD PARK LAKE ABLAZE.
Covered with Gasoline and Fired-The
Mimic Battle.

Mimic hattie.
Fully twelve thousand people thronged to
Garfield Park last night to witness the de-
struction of Cervera's fleet on small scale.
Bicycles, carriages and street cars in large
numbers served to convey the crowd, and
still many found it necessary to walk, and
many that rode to the park on the cars
were compelled to walk back to town or
wait until past midnight for street car ac-
commodation. Cars run until half past 8
o'clock at intervals of three minutes. and
each was loaded to the guards. Accidents
along the way, however, caused some delay.
At the turn off Illinois street at South a
trailer broke wheel and it was necessary
to ditch the car and crowd it's load on to
the motor. At the turn where the cars leave
Madison avenue another delay was caused
later in the evening, and second time a
trailer was run to one side of the road.
At the park elaborate preparations had
been made. The lake was lined on all sides
with colored lanterns as was also every
main road through the park. And confront
ing the person entering, large emblem of
the L. A. w. was set with incandescent
lights, the wheel and wings of yellow and
the letters of the purple of the organiza-
ton. AS the immense crowd gathered, col
ored lights were burned, lighting the lake
from one end to the other and showing the
eXpec1anL races OF the crowd as they llneQ
the banks on all sides: Gradually the people
assembled and crowded around the water
until the chances for the newcomers seeing
the spectacle were hopeless Then the little
knobs that are found in numbers through
the park were covered, and still the people
came. There was the best of order, however,
and beyond a small amount of pushing and
crowding there was no inconvenience AS a
preliminary, several small pieces of fire.
works were touched off. large flag Great
ing the greatest excitement and applause.
1t burned for several minutes, and from the
time the crowd realized what it represented
the noise was deafenng.
The crowd was in an imaginative frame
of mind and appreciated every turn of the
great spectacle of the evening The people
opportunity of airing their knowledge of
the details of the great sea fight before Sam
tiago AS the mimic battle proceeded ex-
plantations were heard on every hand Each
contradict his neighbor. The preparations
were complete for the battle. fntrench-
ments in the form of empty boxes were
thrown up on one side of the lake. and here
were located several companies of the Boys
Brigade in full uniform. Some difficulty
was experienced in getting Spania rds to ill
the Entertainments. and TO overcome this the
companies were detailed for the distasteful
duty. They wore the regulation blue. but
this was not noticed by the excited people.
occasion, and red lanterns on the shore
warned people 10 keep away from their fit-
tings. These. with few row boats as rein
forcements, were lined up in battle forma-
ton, and the fun began. Worthless tubs
had been labeled Spanish war ships and
at proper intervals these were beached and
fired. Amid flying Roman candle balls and
the glare of red lights the crowd cneered
as each Spanish ship was successiVely
destroyed. The remains now lay charred