Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-24
Tremendous Crowd Out to Witness
the Fireworks.
BATTLE OF MANILA fHE FEATURE
Realistic Reproduction Of Notable
Naval Victory
Y HE FIG HT A s n O. E

One would have thought, from the num-
bers, that all Washington was on the mon
unent grounds last night to witness the dis
play of fireworks. The stay-at-homes. If
there were any, which Is quite doubtful,
could obtain a slight idea of the size of the
assenblage by the crowded condition Of
the street cars which for two hours passed
down the principal streets laden to the
rails and dashboards with sightseeing hui
mainly. From every quarter of the city
the street car lines converged their burdens
at PENNSYLVANIA avenue between 14th and
10th streets whence the people made their
way into the grounds north Of the Washing
ton monument and south OF street. Where
the display to be given.
The chairs and seats which had been pro-
vided for those who chose TO pay to see the
display were soon filled, but their occupants
comprised a comparatively inconsequential
proportion of the vast crowd which Wit
messed the scenes of the evening.
The great area of ground included be-
tween B street. the bureau OF engraving
and printing, 14th street and the fish ponds
was covered with mass of humanity,
which for nearly two hours stood patiently
in the long, wet grass. 1t would be impossi-
BILE to estimate the crowd by numbers, the
people being packed so closely together.
forming the background for the represen-
tation of the battle of Manila, were construct
ed along the north line of the grounds IN
front of the monument. An arthcial lake
of about one acre in extent lay between the
scenery and the seats provided for the peo-
pie. South of the lake there was line OF
reserved boxes for distinguished guests, one
of which was occupied by President Nc
Klnley and party. When the President ar
rived on the scene the band played Hail
to the Chief and the people cheered him.
The~InitiuI Performance.
An open-air vaudeville show preceded the
pyrotechnic display. The scene was laid in
Manila, and the Spaniards were supposed to
be enjoying a festival day. There were
acrobatic feats, tumbling, tight-rope walk
ing and an execution. In the midst of the
festivities the deep boom of a big gun was
heard, and Deweys flagship was seen an
tering the bay.
ton of the next five minutes presents q
confused babel of noises, explosions, roars
of guns, bursting shells. screaming rockets
ard a glare of colored lights. Occasionally
| burst of fame and sparks would mark the
| blowing up of one of the Spa nish warships,
| and the ill-fat ID vessel would be seen crum.
| bling to pieces. All this was accompanied
! by the warike cries of the attacking Amer
| cans and the enthusiastic shouts OF the
| Then the American sailors and marines
! landed and attacked the Spanish forces
ashore. There was a sharp skirmish, dur
| ing which an incessant rifle fire was main
| tanned, and the Spaniards were steadily
| driven back Realistic effects We're added
| by carrying off a number of American sol
| diers in stretclers and on the backs of .heil
| comrades Mr.. Pains casually list at Ma,
| Mia was larger, therefore, than the olticia
| reports indicated.
| With the raising of the American flag
over the forts, the band play=d the sta
| Spangled Banner, and the people l?of
| their seats to.await the aerial pyrotec enics
| There was a wonderfully beautiful display II
| this line. the spectacle winning frequent
| bursts OF applause and expressions or de
| light from the multitude. 1t was the mos
| elaborate affair of it's kind ever witness e
| in Washington.
| Surging Crowd.
When the entertainment concluded the
great mass of humanity moved cityward
! but IL was nearly an hour before the las
| groups cleared the grounds. In the ap
sence of directions for getting out th'
| crowd followed the first movement of those
| in 'front.' which was toward street d
the most announcement and least spacious
point The crowds surged into marrow
| space, hampered by an. iron fence ana
lot of huckster wagons which We're permit
ted to remain on the spot and fufther I'M
pede the egress of the people. There was
terrific jam at this point, but fortunatel!
no one was hurt. AT the nelght Oh III
crush a group of young men wearing tn
uniform of the. United States army, formed
a flying wedge and deliberately crossed tn
| crowd lengthwise in the gateway. The!
| paid no attention to the frantic protests o
ladies at their ruffanly conduct, out per
sisted in their course. which added i'm
measurably to the confusion, and Nigh
| have caused a fatal crush.
If the people could have been guided
the outset to turn to the east, toward tn
| a Denn
| found uniInpeded egress from the ground
along a sidewalk quarter of mile long
| opening into 14th street.