The San Francisco call., 1899-04-16

ming tower is seen the admiral His off,
GERS are stationed at various points or
vantage and some of the gunners are seen
busy working the upper guns. Several OF
the other ships are near enough Tor oHl-
GERS and men to be distinguished upon
their decks. The pictures Of the off1cers
are in every case portraits Here ana
there are seen evidences of the few Span
ish shots that struck our vessels
Very different is the aspect presented
by the Spanish fleet. There are the dis
aster and destruction wrought by the
American guns, and there also is to be
seen the one action of the battle Whlch
saved the honor of Spain-the heroic cour-
age of the Spanish commander, who when
his flagship was sinking and in flames
rowed bravely across the sea exposed 10
the American fire TO carry ms nag 10
another ship and continue the fight.
In the construction and the painting OF
the panorama every care was taken 10
make it a true representation OF the ac-
tual scene. 1t has been treated artlS!lc-
ally, but art has been kept strictly within
the limits of nature and of history: me
scene in the picture is the scene as 1t was
on that bright morning Of victory, ~ NOM oen-
ing has been exaggerated to produce SEN
sational effects, nor anything omitted Tor
the purpose of simplifying the work or
the artists. It is vivid, realistic pre-
sentation Of the fight which has made a
new epoch in our history, raised a new Is
sue of policy In our statecraft, and which
in its results may prove the most lmpor-
tant battle fought in the world since
Waterloo.
For the purpose of preparing the pano.
rama Pierre n. Boeringer went as speclaI
artist and commissioner to Manila, made
a number of elaborate water colors of
the landscape and took series OF Pho
tographs covering the, whole sweep
around the bay From these views and
sketches the panorama was painted main
ly by August Lohr and Franz Biberstein
of Munich, f. w. Heine of Dresden and
George Peter Of Vienna. These artists
are among the most eminent in their pro-
fession and have already won high repute
for similar work in the artistic capitals
of Europe. Much Of the success of the
marine portion of the panorama is due to
w. A. Coulter. the well known marine ar
tist of The Call, who gave valuable ad-
vice in the accomplishment of some of
the technical difficulties of the drawing
of ships, and to the officers of the Union
Iron Works, who, being builders of the
Olympia assisted by furnishing plans OF
that model ship.
The artists had the further advantage
during their work of frequent consulta-
tions with naval officers who were present
at the battle. All the officers Of the Nc
Culloch aided in making the design cor
rect by their criticisms and by informa-
ton freely given, and among others who
have been equally helpful are Captain
Frank Wildes of the Boston and Lieuten-
ant c. Calkins, who was navigator of the
Olympia during the engagement, and Sol
Sheridan, the war correspondent Of The
Call.
William Wehner, to whose patriotic ar
dor and business energy the construction
of the panorama is due, has had much
experience in designing and carrying out
such exhibitions. His work Is we'll known
not only on this coast, where he exhibited
the panorama of Waterloo, several years
ago. but also in the East, where he ar
ranged a number of panoramas, all OF
which were notable for historic accuracy
as well as for artistic effect
Having acquired a competency through
the success Of these enterprises Mr.. Web
ner some years ago removed from Chi
cago and settled In Santa Clara County
where he has one of the most picturesque
estates in America. Situated on slope
of the coast range mountains and over
looking the wide sweep of the fertile val
ley, the home Is surrounded by orchards
and vineyards and backed by olive groves
along the steep sides of the higher hills
Mr.. Wehner's success as a vineyardist has
been such that he had no inclination to
return to his former business until the
sentation of a subject for a panorama
which would be at once patriotic and
beautiful. Under the inspiration of the
thought he turned at once from agricul-
ture to art, from the plow to panorama
making. Within a week after the news
of the great battle his plans were formu.
lated and the work of collecting material
begun.
The panorama is now open to the public
It represents the highest achievement
thus far in work of the kind. All thai
| panoramas taught Mr.. Wehner or his
artists has been applied to make this ven.
! ture the crowning accomplishment OF
panoramic art. 1t carries illusion to per.
! fection. The whole wide sweep of the
/ broad bay from the islands at its moutt