The times., 1899-05-25
DESTRUCTION OF
CHRVERA'S FLEET
Thousands View a War Spec
tacle Done in Fire.
Mrs. Mckinley and Members Of the
Cabinet Present.
Brilliant illumination of the Capitol
The EnttIc of Manila to BE Re
produced This Evening.

Another large crowd of people wit
messed Pains war spectacle, The Bat
tie of Santiago" at the Monument
Grounds last night The production. while
not as realistic and thrilling as the Bat
tie OF Manila" obtained great applause.
Mrs. Mckinley and the members of the
Cabinet and their ladies were present and
applauded the reproduction of the great
naval engagement with much enthusiasm.
The general accommodations were much
better than upon the first night. An ac-
tive detail of police was present and order
was preserved. Everything ran smoothly
and without hitch, and even the exciting
naval battle was carried out without any
of the unpleasant features of Tuesday
night.
Every box and seat was occupied long
before the signal whistle was given. A
gaiIy dressed assemblage filed the seats
to the fore, and the boxes contained many
prominent officials. Mrs. Mckinley and
$50, and were received by Chairman
Driver and the members of the Reception
Committee. Upon entering the Presidents
box Mrs. Mckinley was presented with
beautiful bouquet of American Beauty
roses by Miss Bessie Driver. The ladies
accompanying the members of the Cabi-
net were also given bouquets by Miss
Driver, on behalf of the Fireworks Com
mittee. Abner Mckinley accompanied the
Presidents wife.
The performance opened with a very
good vaudeville performance, which in
eluded the high-wire act of Jean Weitz
man, the man who replaced Blondin in
the great wirewalking act at Niagara
Falls. Other features were trick bicycle
| riding and two teams of very clever aero
bats.
| The war spectacle began shortly after .
| o'clock. The glare of red fire became more
and more intense until the smoke from the
tunnels of the Spanish fleet became visible
as the vessels stole toward the mouth OF
| the harbor. The $50 feet of stage was so
arranged that the Moro fortress stood at
one side and the cliffs of the opposite
shore on the other. Between the two
| loomed up the waters of the harbor,
snagged with reef and island.
The approaching vessels drew nearer and
nearer. and suddenly made dash into the
! open. splitting fire and hurting shells as
they came. The American fleet under
Admiral Schley at once opened fire and
| then the bombardment began. The bate
ries at MORO aided Cerveras cruisers. but
the floating forts flying the Stars and
! Stripes bore down upon the enemy and
kept up an incessant hail of shot and
shell. Here and there submarine mines
were exploded by concussion. and the
| Spanish feet was hemmed in closely by
| the terrific hail Of explosives. One after
another the vessels commanded by Cervera
caught fire and sank or ran upon reefs
and sank
The few remaining cruisers continued
| fighting but masts and spars and turrets
were blown away by shells and the war
ships were placed hors de combat, one by
one. until the last exploded and sank The
charge upon and capture of Moro was in
| troduced for the enjoyment of the crowds.
Eight hundred sailors, marines, and sol
| diers participated In this besides many
! Spaniards. The finale was very enjoyable
and thrilling and brought forth great vol
leys of cheering and applause. The Stars
and Stripes were finally hoisted and every
| body was happy.
The spectacle was concluded with a
| splendid programme OF aerial and aquatic
| fireworks introducing many novelties. A
| balloon bearing the fiery American flag was
| set free and presented a pretty spectacle
Both this balloon and the one set free last
night have been lost. The final devices
were fire portraits of Col Theodore Bing-
ham. Secretary Long, and Admiral Schley
Between 1890 and II o'clock, after the
| spectacle, the west front of the Capitol
was illuminated by the Pain Company.
The dome was outlined in glowing red
lights, while the rest of the building shOne
with white brilliancy. Thousands OF peo-
pie witnessed the beautiful scene.
At the request Of Mrs. Mckinley and
the members OF the Cabinet the pro-
gramme for tonight has been changed from
the charge at San Juan" to the Battle
Of Manila"
The Reception ut the White House.
One of the largest public receptions in
the history of the White House was held
last night, and an immense gathering
shook hands with President Mckinley.
Mrs. Mckinley and some of the ladies
of the Cabinet attended the exhibition in
the Monument grounds and did not re-
ceive.