The Portland daily press., 1899-07-15

Tie crowd on the Eastern Promenade
last nieht that witnessed the illumina-
tion Of the ships OF the North Atlantic
squadron and the fire works, was tire
lurgsst assembled there for years At 8
O'Clock it was estimated that there wers
over 20.l0o people On the promenade. nrd
many people put the estimate much
higher than this. 1t Is safe to say that
this display was appreciated fully as
much as any part of the celebration con-
nscted with tho visit of the North Allan
tic squadron here. 1t was one Of the
most perfect exhibitions Of the Kind ever
witnessed In Portland and besides the
10000 and more people on Munjoy Hnl 1t
was enjoyed by thousands mora along
the Cape shore and about the harbor.
The big ships were displaying only the
ususl lights at few minutes before
o'clock. About the harbor, barely ois-
tinguishatle in the fast gathering dark
ness were many yachts and smaller craft.
Far down the bay bright spot arkei
the Forest City landing ut Peaks, ana
besides this there were but few twinkllng
lights in the landscape The clock struck
eight and in an instant all Of this was
changed
With the suddenness of tie llghtninG,s
flash the big cruiser Brooklyn was trans
formed inton ship of fire. so sudden
was this change that the big crowd on
the Eastern Promenade held its breath
an instant in amazsment and then burst
forth into exslamatiuns of delight. The
three tall smokestacks end two military
masts, the outline of the hull and thu
superstructure were ablazs with electric
lights. The sight was most beautiful
one and the big crowd had hardly ceased
to exclaim when another OF the fiset was
transformed into ship of fire.
This time it was the Massachusetts.
With suddenness that was startling
| tho line OF electric lights around the hull
OF the ship. up ths military mast and Oh
the yard blazed out. Ihsre vera lights
on the superstructure also. SO that the
effect from the Eastern Promenade was
that of fiery cross, surmounting hlaz-
ing pedestal. Then came the New York's
Examinations. A gigantic shieli OF red.
white and blue electric lights was forward
of the superstructure. Her military
masts and three stacks were outlined as
was her hull.
Perhaps the most beautiful display Of
the fleet was that of the Texas. She was
nearer the crowd and perhaps this was
the reason why her illuminations was so
much appreciated. The handsome hull
of the ship was outlined as were the
Inasts and tunnels, while on top OF the
superstructure was "a red shield with some
device in white. 1t was too far away to
| make This count with the naked eye, but
the effect was very pretty. 1he Indiana's
forward military mast and tunnels were
illuminated as well rs part of the super
structure. The New Orleans did not IL
lumihate. She used her search lights
with great effsot. however. and by them
added much to the display.
The brilliancy of the illumination
lighted the harbor go that the yachts and
small steamers were mirrorsd in sea
of fire.
In addition to the display on tn
ships, there was an exhibition of fire
low the Eastern promenade. From this
point there were fred hundreds Of rocket
and bombs which exploded in mid-ar,
releasing thousan.s OF yari-colored
sparks, stars or streamers. Then there
were several set pieces, one of them repre-.
senting a battleship in action which was
particularly fine. 1t was half past nine
o'clock before the fireworks were ex-
hausted and the display came to an en3.
The crowd had enjoyed it Immensely.
From this vantage point everything
could be seen. An added attraction was
fine band concert. Suddenly the dis
play from the fireworks. float came to an
end in blaze of glory. One by one the
brilliant ships of fire were lost in the
darkness. The fireworks on Little Dia-
mond and Cnshing's island ceased to
ascend heavenward and the many yachts
and small craft floating about on the sea
OF lire were swallowed up in the black
ness Of the night.