The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-05
DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS
AN IMMENSE SUCCESS
Great Crowds Witness the
Exhibit at the Monument.
BOTHERED BY THE SMOKE
Some of the Beautiful Pieces Spoiled.
Seen From Other Pa.ts of
the City.

Immense crowds witnessed the Ere
works display given on the Monument
Grounds last night under the auspices
Of the committee on fireworks Tie
public had been requested not to visit
re grounds, as the exhibit was ex-
pected TO appear at greater advantage
from other parts of the city. Despite
this advice. the lot was thronged Alb
solute order was maintained, howev
by the police.
Besides those who saw the fireworks
from the Monument Grounds, there were
many thousands of others who saw them
from various points in the city. The
south sides of the Treasury and State.
War and Navy buildings were crowded,
as were the steps ard porticos and ter
races of the Capitol
The display was fine and the commit
tee was highly complimented. Because
Of the dead calm and excessively heavy
atmosphere, however, the effectiveness
of the pieces was somewhat lost.
Bombs Fell Short.
The mortar was charged to throw the
twelve and sixteen inch shells as high
as the Monument, sos feet, but the
density Of the air prevented them from
| rising more than 300 feet Each shell
added to the almost impenetrabIe cloud
of smoke.
To those who saw the pyrotechnics
from distance the smoke was not such
a nuisance. and they derived more pleas
ure from the display than the enthu-
siasts who were on the spot
The fireworks committee was repre-
sented by William F. GUIDE, president of
the Business Mems Association. chair
man: Cuno H. Rudolph. vice chairman.
and Frank Sebring. secretary. W. H.
Barry. Harry Temple. and Leo Stevens
represented the Pain Pyrotechnic Com
pany. which had the contract for the
display.
The feature of the evening was the re-
lease of a balloon which carried an i'm
mense American flag. The ascension
was a great success. except to the peo-
pie around the fireworks. who were IN
able to get a good view of the flag on
account OF the smoke.
To spectators elsewhere the flag show
ed out clear and strong, and was the
star attraction OF the exhibit. Where
| the balloon dropped is rot known. but
the Pain Company offers $40 reward
to anyone who secures it.
The Presidents salute OF forty-seven
! bombs was the first thing on the pro-
gram. and it was followed by a constant
! succession OF bombs. magnesium illumi-
majors. repeating shells. and skyrockets
! Perhaps the prettiest displays were Of
J fered by the comet shells The heavy ali
was an aid 20 their beauty. and much
applause was ELECTED as the brilliant
trails of FIRE slowly descended
Paper Balloons.
Nearly a dozen paper balloons were
sent up. each carrying a long trailer o.
balls OF fire, which were not ignited IN.
til the balloons had gone as high al
they could. The balloons moved upwar,
so slowly that they left peculiar anc
beautiful spiral trails OF smoke behinc
them. which trails were shown to ad
vantage by the fierce light of the shells
exploding In their vicinity.
As the fag-balloon was rising $50 mag
nesium lights strung in a row between
the balloon and the monument were 10
nited. Instead OF showing off the monu
ment as a background for the flag. tn
| lights emitted a pail of smoke. whicl
Dersistently refused 10 rise more tia.
100 feet, and obscured instead of light
ing the tribute 10 Washington.
Toward the end Of the exhibition III,
weather conditions became more favor
! able and the fireworks were better en-
joyed.
a humorous incident of the evenin.
| was the experience OF one OF the com
mittee. He watched the bombs ascend
ing and was particularly interested IL
the time that elapsed between the high
est point Of the ascension and the eX
plosion. Several bombs went up at once
| and he noted one especially. He watche,
il until he got a crick in the neck, bu
the bomb stopped and did not explode
The committeeman had been watchini
/ a star.