The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-03
A BRILLIANT DISPLAY
Perhaps Fifty Thousand People on
Lee Monument Field.
BOMBS, ROCKETSAND SET-PIECES
The Exhibition, Which Excited Grea
Admiration, Lasted Thrcc-Quart-
ers of an HOur-iiOw the PeO-
nile Got TO the GrOunds-A
Portion of the Grand
Stand Collapscs.


Not since the unveillng Of the Lee Monu-
ment have so many people stood IN the
great open ncld between Richmcnd college
and the Exposition Grounds as thronsed
the commodlous suburban green last night.
The Carnival fireworks display brought
together the immense asscmblage, the
proportions Of wAch no man can even ap-
proximately estimate. There might have
been as few as thirty thousand or there
might have been as many as sixty thous-
and. The correct figures, could they De
obtained would doubtless express a num-
Der between these extr mes.
AZ the time of the unyeiling Of the Lee
Monument it was estl mated that over
hundred thousand spectators witnessed lhe
ceremony. That WAS a daylight computa-
tion. and was perhaps very accurate. but
10 size mp last night crowd is 20 literary
groDe in the dark. To the writer, VINO
was present on both occasions, 1t ap-
peared. as he gazed over the far-eNtend-
ing. sOmbre mass OF people when the pyio-
technic showers liz up he field, that last
nights multitude was not much Inferior
In numbers TO the ass mriage OK May
1850 10 is certainly safe 20 say that be-
tween half past Z and S:b o'clock there
were more people on the field than had
been LETT in the whole Of Richmond ana
Manchester combined
MADE AN EARLY START
i had been announced that the fire
works would commence at 8 o'clock. Pe0-
pie were on the way 20 the field at
O'Clock Az IL was almost impossible 20
board car except al the end Of the vari-
GUS lines farthest away from the mOnu-
ment grounds Passing through the busi-
ness portion Of the city and through those
avenues nearest the field. every outgoing
car was rammed packed and iammod dur
ing the rest Of the evening until the pyro-
technics were all over. Hundreds hurry
Ing toward the field We're met by the per-
feet human torrents that poured off the
grounds at the conclusion OF the show and
swept back 90 their homes disappointed.
a BRILLIANT DISPLAY.
The evenings programme opened with
burst OF brilliancy m s. O'Clock and for
nearly three-Quartcrs of an hour the heav-
ems We're aalow. MYRIAD flashing stars. In
all the hues of the rainbow tWinkled a
brief existence their dying sparks falling
and disappearing o. be succeeded iu turn
gems flashed into space by unseen hands
Detonatlons Of varying intensity came
family h0cl, 10 earth The burst OF bombs
no intervals and the incessant crackle OF
smaller explosives suggested an aerial
battle Of contending fairy hosts. IN which
am the participants persisted. Finally the
Noise ceased. the last glowing spark faded
Then darkness came ON the scene and
threw her -0mhre mantle over an THE
final set piece blazed "G0o1 NIGHT and
fho human sea burst the confines Of the
field and snroal ifso'f ovor tho city.
THE sET-pTECTS
The set. pieces We're received With
evidences Of greatest enthusiasm Tho
iron revenue cutter James X. poi@.
built in 1877. wooden warshins Of en-
EARLIER period. the Roanoke. bun- In lS55.
and tho Colorado. built in 1857. the com
fedorate ironclad monitor. the Virginia:
the sunurb VirgIni1-built armorel battle
shin Texas and the gallant little Shu-
brick these were pictured in fire Be
sides fiery faces Of Mr. W r Trigg Of
the Richmond shipbuillng firm Ad-
miral Dewey. Admiral Melville. Ad-
miral Hichborne Admiral ONeiIl Ad-
mirai Crowinsnieid. Admiral Bradford and
Secretary Of the Navy Long. burned their
features into ;he memory OF the thous-
ands Of spectators.
A FEW ACCIDENTS.
There were numerous incidents and
rev accidents NJ the scene Of the Dvro-
technics. Shortly after o'clock. when
only the preliminary rockets had been
projected into the 7lIv o small elevated
platform az the foot Of the grandstaui
rnvo awav Tho score OF people who
stood ON The structure were nrec.9i,0tcl
eight feet 20 the ground one lady tainted
and another had hor head caught be-
tween falling timber Fortunately
prominent physician standing near seized
The woman and held her un until her
head could be extric1ted, thus saving her
ife Several other persons were slightly
injured. A panic I'm the stand proper was
averted by the promptness Of several
gentlemen. who reassured the crowd I'm
addition to- this mishan several smash
urs of buegies were reported. So far -
could be learned. however no one was IN
jured
HOW THEY GOT THERE.
The number of people who reached tho
field bv using natures space-klllers
nrobahlv exceeded that hauled by the
street cars and transported in vehicles
Tho western norton Of the city was alive
with pedestrians from shortly after SUM
set until half rast O'Clock. Fortunately
.. was too cool for the babies. or else
lhv-carriagcs would have gotten into
The push. t0 the ANNOYANCE or the walk
srs Pint the baby-carrilge was about the
only description Of vohicie not represented
iasf night The fine equipages of the
rfeht. with blazing silc-lghts. dashed hv
the ut-of-saason ice-waeon brought forth
,rain 10 haM happy-eo-lucl,y individuals
who didn't care how they got there just
so they didn't have 20 walk. Bakers
wagons. market carts. 0ry goods wagons
delivery wagons and efeen-srocers
wagons. drays. nearly every thing that
wore wheels was pressed into service
One-horse wagons md carriages. double
teams. and even one three-horse turn
out, were there