New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-30
GL0RIES OF THE NIGHT.
BEA UTEOUS FORMS OUTLINED
IN GLORIOUS FIRE.
THE HUDSON LIGHTED TIP Ply MYRIADS
OF BOMBS AND ROCKETS WARSHIPS
AND YACHTS IAVISHIY ULIMI.
MATED - MANY THOUSANDS
VIEW THE DISPLAY
VIEW THE DISPLAY.

one. and so it was natural that the beauties of
last nights Dewey ceremonies should exceed
those Of tho day thousandfold. 40 more gor-
geous spectacle could he imagined than the
warships lying on the black surface Of the river.
with every line and spar picked out with electric
lights on either side of these stretched the
feet Of yachts. with thousands Of lamps also in
glow. The heavens shone with tho glare Of fire.
works. and even the prosaic ferryboat took on
new grace when touched by the fairy wand OF
the electricians.
The fireworks show last evening was a fitting
climax to the days celebration. II began oppo-
site the Olympia's anchorage. Just below Grants
tomb. where series Of scows were anchored
They manned by a large force of Mr.. Pains
faithful salamanders. who live in fire and are as
little scathed by It as was the burning bush
IN Moses's vision. and who seem 70 breathe tho
choking vapors of the fireworks aftermath with
supreme pleasure.
These humble mud scows were loaded TO ths
gunwales With serried Of rockets, whole
picket fences formed Of Roman candles, an end
less array Of mortars. bombs and oil those sorts
-
delights himself When seven bells rang from
the Olympia's deck. the aerial artillery was let
loose From that time on it was one continuous
glare OF many colored fires and a continuous
roll Of Tattling explosions till the fiery trail Of
the serpent wound its way down around tho
Battery. enfolding Governors Island and Bed
loe's Island in its coils. and expired at 1890
O'Clock IN a final burst Of glory.
1t was Manhattan Beach multiplied hun
dred times and amplhed IN a hundred waya
One moment whole flights OF rockets would
stud the sky with strings Of floating lanterns,
and the next myriad constellation Of floating
stars would take their places. All manner Of
Kissing sizzling. bursting things tore hither
and thther through the startled air and died
the many hued deaths OF a thousand chame-
Icons.
Tho old mud scows were transformed each
into floating section Of Hades, wherein a score
Of devils in old felt hats and shirt sleeves hoped
cheerfully about each stirring UP his particular
style of an inferno wherever he went,
All the beautiful effects with which the visi-
tor to Manhattan Beach IS familiar were pro-
duced, but on a much rrandor ale. Many new
features were added. Among these were the cleo
trio bombs which certainly electrified every one
within five miles 10y their earspitting detonation.
Another new device was species Of bomb that
burst into an enormous starNsh of fire. Sporadic
arms OF FIRE radiatod from the explosive centre.
producing vivid effect
While the fireworks popped, the tackles on the
Olympia cheered and the steamboat whistles
screeched. Then the Oympia's crew. not TO be
outdone. put their excellent brass band into
commission ana the strains Of "There'n BE a
Hot Time in the old Town Tonight" Joined with
the bursting Of bombs and the screaming Of a
thousand torrnontcd fire spirits whose seeming
agony ceased only when they fell back Kissing
into the waters OF the Hudson.
After half an hour Of this sort Of thing the
cargoes Of these scows We're exhausted Then
three tugs hitched on to another string Of SINH
larly laden scows anchored out in the stream.
and started with them down the river with the
Continuous performance" Hades stnl going on.
A pushing crowd q excursion boats had gath
cred in a black circle about the fireworks scows.
almost hiding them from the Olympia even. The
sailors got a good view Of the picture Of Dewey.
however. ana cheere1 It loud and long
Slowly the procession wended It's way down
the river the three pulling tugs in advance the
volcanic scows straining at the hawsers behind
them vomiting up rcd. white. blue and green
shapes cf every possible design. and the great