The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-15
ERUPTION OF
Mt. VESUYIUS
VIII be Represented in Fire
During Carnival
PAINS GREAT EXHIBITION
Has Been Secured for Wichita
by Frank Payne.
PAINS GREAT EXHIBITION

any other country has been obtained for
the great Wichita fair through the en-
ergy of Mr.. Frank Payne, assisted by his
brother, Charles Payne the well known
wild animal man, who at present is in
Chicago.
The attraction, the greatest spectacle
that has ever been seen in this or any
other country, is the Pain production
of the Last Days OF Pompeii, with the
wonderful display of fireworks which
exhibition that has been held in this
country in late years. Undoubtedly Mr..
Pain is the king of all pyrotechnists in
the world; and, while he has many other
productions of his art, none equal his
Last Days of Pompeii. Mr.. Frank Payne
took up the matter during the later
spring months. but so great has been the
demand for this attraction that only re-
Gently has there been any assurance
that it could be secured at all. MIR. Chas.
Payne went to Chicago, and while there
visited the Chicago house Of the Pain
Manufacturing company and the attrac-
ton was finally secured for Wichita.
AS 1t was through his earnest work
and fundamentally that the great at
traction is Secured, MrFrank Payne has
been placed in full charge OF the entire
production, and it might not be amiss
10 mention that the guarantee neces-
sary to secure this great attraction is
ten thousand dollars. However, moth
ing has ever been known 20 attract such
great crowds of people-who are not
satisfied to go one night, but continue
70 attend every night.
The fireworks display which was here
last year was run by four men, but
in this production the chief pyrotechnist
OF the Pain Manufacturing company, Mr..
James Cunliffe. brings with him corps
of twenty mine trained men, VINO ham
die nothing but the fireworks.
The production IS now IN Chicago,
where as great crowds are in nightly at
tendance as there were at the Worlds
Fair. The same production exactly, in
every detail, is coming TO Wichita; and
II is already predicted that the entire
guarantee, enormous as it may seem,
will be covered in the first two nights.
The seating capacity will be about 5000.
besides the standing room.
There has been a demand for an adj
vance sale of seats, but this has not
been decided upon. The entire matter
has been placed in the hands of Mr.
Frank Payne, who has made some sacri-
fees in order to secure it, and while the
sole management is a very difficult IN
dertaking it is a compliment TO his
ability and he will receive the support
of every citizen of the city. No attrac-
tion on the road now or at any other
time has the drawing power that this
one possesses, and there is nothing as
great in any country.
The spectacle consists of a scenic rep
resentation Of the city of Pompeii in all
its splendor of temples, and behind the
city towers an actual scenic mountain
an exact reproduction of vesuvius stand
ing nearly fifty feet in height Then as
nearly as is possible the story so graph
ically told by Lord Bulwer Lytton in
his Last Days OF Pompeif'is here dram
Rtized. showing PROFESSIONS gIadiatoriaI
combats acrobatic work, the fire ballet
before the temple OF Isis on a platform
fifty feet square, in which the dancers
appear as though actually dancing amid
flames; then the Christian leader Glau-
Gus refuses to kneel to the idol Apis and
q terrific combat ensues, during which |
Vesuvtus shows signs of an eruption |
and Glaucus lone and Nidia get away !
escaping in q boat Then. amid the
terror of flying people. the city is utterly
destroyed by a terrific volcanic eruption. |
after which the matchless display Of fire |
works begins
There are many people in this city and /
in fact all over the country who have /
seen this gorgeous spectacle, and it is |
sufficient comment to say that never has |
anyone been known to say that II was /
rot the grandest sight ever witnessed. |
Night after night the same people at |
tend. seeming never to tire of the spec
tacle. which. however. will have a diff /
ferent program here every night. When 1
the amount of the guarantee Is men /
toned. that alone seems stupendous. /
Yet recently the spectacle was given in /
8 little town Of 1890 in Wisconsin for |
= week, which paid the guarantee OF /
$4,000 and had a net profit remaining t
OF SS,cp- Another singular thing is that 4
she production never has known 4 /
weeks display to result in loss to its |
promoters; and in this Mr.. PAYNE has /
shown remarkably sound Judgment. Had
II not been taken up early and with en-
ergy, It could not have been secured: for
since the great Martinique disaster the
demand has been impossihly Of s,,pnlv
The spectacle has been seen By Mr.
Chas. Payne where they are now PLAYING
In Chicago. and he describes 1t as being
surprisingly grand. The redoubtabIa 1
writer Mark Twain feely admitted his
inability TO describe it save his remark /
able name applied to one piece of ne /
fireworks, which he called aerial sleigh I
bells"
il would have been ahsolutele limos
siele for the Fair association . have
secured greater attraction. and should 1
Mr. Payne. who has been given fun
charge. decide TO hold an advance sale
OF the reserved seats 1t viii be vel 4
coined by those who do not enjoy m,
pleasures OF being in big crowd II
takes a little over 20 people 10 mn an /
the parts OF this great spectacle. The /
costumes are described by those who
have seen them as marvelouslv besutf- i
ful- They were designed BY MAY & /
Banres OF London and Miss I,tt;e /
Campbell Of New York. the electrical - 1
fects by Charles Isaac Newton Of New
York, and the pyrotechnies by the great /
Pain himself