The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-19
BAMBOOzLED BY
A B0MBARDMENT
A Jack o. Lantern Deception Drew
5000 People to Broad St. Park.
DISAPPOINTED AND DISGUSTE0.
\ Promised Pyrotechnicai Naval bat
tie Turns out to be a Silly Fiasco.
A Few Skyrockets and Ingior-
ious Squibs Were All.

Five thousand weary. thoroughly dis
gusted people journeyed back to the city
from Broad-Street Park last night. They
had been out to witness Pains spectacle
lar piece "yhe Bombardment Of Manila
which for days past had been over and
over described as one Of the most mag
nincent productions of modern times.
Had the bombardment Of Manila been
in reality what ii was represented to be
by the effort last night the Maniiians
would SIN be comfortably ensconced
within their defencos enjoying hearty
laugh at Admiral Dcwey's expense.
The announcement that the lombard
ment of Manila would be presented mere
was made before Manila was really pom
barded which may In some measure, ac-
count for the farcicdl exhibition given.
Gould the indignant explosives which were
showered upon those responsible for the
affair be turned into l3-inch shells and
discharged at them they would gain m
idea of Il bOmbardment which might
stand them in good stead I'm the future
Seriously speaking the feeble pyrotech-
mic exhibition Of last evening, under It's
high sounding name, was an lhPoHielVA
upon the people of Richmond.
AN EAGER THRONG.
The grand-stands and audience spaces
could not contain the outpoWing OF the
people that passed the gates.
The prosperous-lookng ticker-tHker5
hustled the crowd around in1o the most
convenient corners, and while wheezy
orchestra OF four AMI 0ne-h1f pieces
played It's one tune. Dixie the assem-
blage amused itself with resisting the
bombardmcnt Of the allied powers OF the
insect kingdom and cycling askance the
movements OF a man with lantern IN
the far corner of the field.
The evening was one of the starlit
cloud-fringed masterpieces OF nature. and
the htful flashes Of lightning above the
northern horizon lent just enough color
10 make the picture sublime.
The big crowd was silent. save when now
and then a voice would eagerly outline TO
some listener the brilliant things TO be
witnessed. or when a member of the
crowd. ardent ia his imaginngs of the
promised pyrOtechnic giOries would heave
a sigh as he waited.
The mighty Pain. the fire king whose
fame had been burned in fireworks at
the four corners of the earth, had come
away from the crowds OF Manhattan
Beach and Atlantic city to provide a
treat for Richmond. Giant ships Of flame
would contest for a fiery supremacy and
the heavens would glow with the glOries
Of flame marvellOusly wrought. Had not
the show bills said SO in gaudy cOl0rs,
and had not the suave managers insisted
that nothing OF the like had been seen
here before
But the crowd sighed, whispered. and
o. A. rI..r 3D.
big gulps the colossal enjoyment In store.
The poor band bore the brunt of an
jokes that hoated among the irreyerent
OF the assemblage, and although its long
continued tune grated harshly, the hand
ul OF musicians finally had the sympd-
Thy OF the crowd.
4 FEW SKYROCKETS.
After a Wait of fifteen minutes. sud-
den hush. accompanied by cessation of
inyectcide on the part OF the audience.
announced The beginning OF the delights
pyrotechnic
The electric lights were eNtnguishcl
and a small bog with a. lighted stick in
the distant corner OF the field iet of eight
or ten coiored lights. The applause was
heart-rendins.
Hardly ha6 the last te1r fallen when "a
half dozen cOnsumptiye sky rockets
wormed their bilious way hcavenward.
The audience when This thing had c0n-
tnued for twenty minutes became impa-
ucnt and mingled their maiedictIons
against the band with demands for the
battle 90 begin.
A stout man in hIs shirt sleeves was
seen ln The dim light 90 Doe walking eXcit-
elly u the direction of the musicians. A
ferveut hope went up that he had come
10 suppress the tune, but instead Do asked
for the leader OF the band. "iIaye your
men play 'DiXle. " Dee said.
Tile fireworks On the meantime had
taken a recess, bat the crowd thinking
them only prsliminaries waited in silence.
"Turn on the lights shouted "a dozen.
ms carriage bearing three dusky figures
bore through the gates.
But the lights ala not turn on. ana the
band stil played Dixie"
The operations began again in the field
nj this point but they presented but lite
dc variety 90 what had preceded.
THE Crowd DAZED.
Two or three devil chasers ID ported
nimb.y in the grass and two dyspeptic
portraits in flame labelled. respectively
"Fitz Leo and "HObson," were shown.
After this a little frame over TO ono
side was lit. and I'm moment Good
Night was what 10 read.
The crowd seemed dazed 40 first. but as
several OF the Disguised onos,arose and
started ont the wall broke 0ut-lons. loud
and bitter.
The manager Of thu imposition was
sought by several determined looking
ones. but could not be found He regis
tered al the Lexington Hotel as "W j.
Connor New york but nothing f. known
OF him here.
10 is estimated that 5000 was taken in
Ply the show management. and allowing
$40 for the cost OF the colored lights
and nfty cents to the rat man who took
tickets. makes n net profit OF Si,934.5O for
Conner and his fellow fakirs.
The charges were % cents. general adj
mission. so cents for grand stand seats.
and q dollar extra for 'hoxcs'-all of
which were crowded to their utmost ca
pacities.
T. is not believed here that Pain Of
OBSTRUCTION Of Pompen' fame was con-
nected with last nights performance.
CRUS0E AND HE LIKES IT.