The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-15
DEWEY'S VICTORY AGAIN
ENORMOUS CROWD SAW THE "BAT-
TIE OF MANILA" SPECTACLE.
Great DispIay-Of Fireworks-Attend-
ance ut the Fair-The Pre-
MUM List.

Judging by the large crowd that went to
the fair grounds last night to witness the
Battle of Manila" advertised by the State
Board of Agriculture as a special attrac-
ton, the plan of keeping the fair open at
nights at half-rates will prove popular. The
street car traffic to the grounds was per-
haps heavier last night than ever before in
as many hours. Train after train, contain
ing from three to five cars, ran over three
lines
When the performance of the spectacle
began, at o'clock, 5000 people were massed
in the grand stand, and perhaps as many
mere crowded down to the race track at
either end of the scenery. The attraction
seemed to please the crowd, especially the
fireworks that followed the spectacle. Those
who had seen other Pain spectacles and
went to the fair grounds expecting to see
something equal to the Last Days of
Pompeii," were disappointed to a certain
extent. Yet every one apparently seemed
to think he had ''got his moneys worth"
According to the descriptive programmes
of the spectacle, the scene spread before
the grand stand across the rack track rep
resented Manila harbor. On the painted
canvas were the outlines of war ships, but
dimly distinguishable in the imperfect light
thrown from stands of red fire. Off to the
right was stone tower and to the left was
a semblance Of a fort The front row of
set STUFF represented quay and resem-
bled somewhat pictures of the place The
last row of scenery, however, to give the
effect of distance, was not high enough
Still, for the purpose intended-to set off
the pyrotechnic display with a suitable
backgrounds served well enough.
All the action is in pantomime. First a
company of Spanish soldiers appears on the
land in the foreground of Cavite There is
a sortie in which Philippine rebels are cap
tured. Two of them are condemned to death
at "drum-head" court-martial. A Filipino
woman, perhaps the mother of the men, is
in despair and rushes into the arms of one
of them. She is torn away and casts her
self at the feet of General Augusta who,
with his suite, has arrived in some state.
Her pleadings are useless. The men are led
out, a detail of six men with loaded mus
kets appears and the rebels are shot down
and carried away on stretchers after a
priest in black robes has attended them.
He and the mother follow them as thcy
are borne out. Then there is fete in honor
of General Augusti-there is always a fete
in the Pain spectacle in honor of some great
parsonage, for it affords pretext for intro
ducing specialties. Last night the burlesque
acrobatic work and boxing of the Albions,
the trapeze work of Gus Henderson and the
feats on Roman ladders by the Delevants
were applauded literally by the crowd
While the fete was taking place Spanish
soldiers remained in the foreground guards
pacing back and forth. A courier on horse
back brings news of an intended attack by
the Americans and the drums beat, calling
the men to arms. Spanish soldiers carry on
bags of sand for breastworks and fortifica-
tons Suddenly. without any warning, a
gunboat slowly appears at the right and
begins the attack, sky rockets fiaring across
the scene in imitation of flying shells. The
Spanish boats return the fire. The noise of
exploding mines, set off behind to imi-
tate cannon, is deafening. Great clouds of
smoke fill the air and shut off the view of
the Spanish soldiers, who have been at
tackled by American marines in white. The
battle on land continues, while the battle
at sea is taking place. Explosion follows ex-
plosion, and some of the Spanish boats are
blown into the air and others sink out OF
sight. The American marines, of course. re-
pulse the Spaniards who sink in despera-
ton behind the sand bags for the final de-
Tense. AS the roar of the gunboats is ST.
fenced, the American soldiers are rein
forced and there is great shout from the
audience as the band comes on playing a
national air. The STARS and Stripes For
ever" is always the occasion for great
cheering.