The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-01
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT ABOARD
The Famous Rough Rider Says
Dewey is the Most Central
Figure in the Country,

pOsite the olympia's anchorage. Just
below Grants tomb, where a series Of
seows were anchored.
These humble mud scows were load
ed to the gunwhalss with serried rows
OF rocketa whole picket fences formed
OF reman candles. an endless array Of
mortars. bombs and all those sorts OF
nendish Inventions When seven bells
rang out from the olympla's deck. the
aeriel artillery was let lose From that
time on It was one continuous glare
OF many eolOred fires, and a continuous
roll Of rattllns explosions. till the flery
trail OF the serpent wound its way
around down the battery. engulfing
Governors island and BedlOe's island
in its coils.
All the beautiful effects with which
the visitor to Manhattan Beach is fa-
millar were produced. but on much
grander scale. Many new features
were added. Among these the electric
bombs. which certainly electrified
every one within Ave miles by their
ear splitting detonatiOn. Another new
device was a species OF bomb that
burst into an enormous star flsh Of
fire. Sporadic arms OF fire radiated
from the explosive centre. producing
vivid effect.
While the fireworks popped. the
jacEies on the Olympia cheered and
the steamboat whistles screeched. Then
the OlympIa's crew. not to Be outdone,
put their excellent brass band into
commission and the strains OF ''There'n
Be Hot Time in the Old Town To-
night" joined with the bursting OF
bombs and the screaming OF fire
spirits.
After half an hour OF this sort Of
thing. the cargoes OF these scows were
exhausted. Then three tugs hitched
on TO one another. string Of similarly
laden scows anchored out In the stream
and started with them down the river.
A pushing crowd Of excursion had gath
cred in a black circle about the hre,
works scows. almost hiding them from
the Olympia even. The sailors got a
good view Of the picture OF Dewey,
however, and sheered It loud and long.
The fireworks scows coming down
the river clrcled about with their bat
teries still belchlng up every imaginable
variety OF combustible. The Olympia
remained the object OF all absorbing
interest and her graceful lines were
the subject Of universal comment but
the New York seemed even more bril-
liant with her shield OF fire above her
bows and her glowing lighting top.
The strong search lights were kept in
almost constant motion. 50 that their
Effect was not unlike lightning. Tugs
bobblng up and down the river seemed
mere glow worms from the shore.
From the deck OF the Olympia spurt-
ID myriad OF stars. showers Of red.
white and blue, sheaves OF gold and
Of emerald hue, ChorOuses
Il "Ahs" and "ohs" from the spectators
the explosion Of the most
effective pieces.
Satisfactory as were the large de-
vices representing Admiral Dewey and
the Olympia, no feature OF the nights
display seemed to attract more atten-
ton than the great letters Welcome
Dewey which were brought out in
hundreds Of electric lights on the mid
lie sran Of the Brooklyn bridge. These
etters could be distinguished in Bay
,nne. N. J., a distance Of eleven miles
Almost equally brilliant illuminations
Eere made from dozen OF the high
st buildings down town, colored lights
.dding to the effect.
A motto device Welcome Home.
'ictorious Admiral" 1000 square feet
n extent, was a feature OF the nights
isplay. as was a novelty called our
.mpire" produced by a mammoth com
lnatIon shell. which. at a height OF
90 feet. released large bombs with
d. green, blue and white stars. rep =
ssenting the United States. instantly 7
ollowed by a silver shell for Porto
Eco ard finishing with a number Of
mailer shells for the Philippine