The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-01
LIGHTS OUT IN LUNA PARK,
12,0O0 PERSONS IN THE PLACE
GET 4 BAD SCARE.
Nlanhoie Blew Ont and Shows We're Left
In Darkness-"Trip to the Moon"
Spectators Have Scary Time-Panio
on Train where Explosion Occurred.

l u
on Train Where Explosion Occurred
The blowing out OF manhoe at Rail
road avenue and West Twelfth street
Coney Island, last night, plunged Luna
Park into darkness and badly frightened
~ 900 persons who were in the place a,
the time.
The explosion occurred at exactly II
O'Clock. when all Of the shows in the park
were crowded, All OF these places be.
came pitch dark. The attendants kept
their heads and each ran to his post desig
mated in case Of fire or other trouble In
this way everybody was got safely to the
asphalt esplanads in the centre OF the
park.
The manhole where the trouble occurred
is the point at which the big feed wire is
connected with numerous small wires that
lead to different points in the show ground.
What caused the explosion Is a mystery
and little il left Of the conduit to show the
origin OF the blowout.
At the time, Brooklyn Rapid Transit
express had stopped beside the manhole.
The cars were crowded and when the ex-
plosion came the passengers rushed for
doors and windows. The lid Of the man.
hole few so feet in the air and descending,
crashed through the heavy planking Of
board platform alongside the tracks. A
shower OF cement. dirt and bits OF wire
landed on top OF the cars.
When the lights were e1tinguished in
Luna Park there were 300 persons In the
show known Is "A Trip to the Moon
This spectacle is arranged in a long shed
and the delusion Is accomplished by means
of many electric lights The explosion
occurred just n few yards in the rear OF
this shed and the roar came as great shock
to the spectators, who had just gone through
q thunderstorm in an imaginary airshp
and were about to be received by the King
of the Moon. Women and children began
to scream.
There is no dangerl The lights will be
turned on in a minute shouted the at
and this cry was taken up by the
cool headed male spectators. In order
to get the people out OF the shed 1t was
to lead them through a narrow
exit, which under ordinary conditions is
awe inspiring. The floor Of this passageway
rocks up and down.
The 800 spectators in the place last night !
were a shrieking lot as they wound their
y.
All, however. were led safely to the centre
Of the park, where the only source of illumi- !
nation came from the real moon.
Meanwhile attendants in other parts Of !
he park we're busy announcing that there |
vas no cause for alarm and that the lights |
would be turned on soon. Bands were !
marched out into the main walks and blared !
way, relieving the fears of the thousands !
Who were pushing toward the main en-
rance.
Will Hill, who performs on a high wire
100 feet above the lake between the two big
overs, was in the middle Of his stage
chen the lights went out. Hill is aided in
lis act by two big searchlights that are
ocused on him from the tops Of the towers.
he mo onlight was OF little use to him as
he moon was behind one Of the towers
Hill Just sat down on the wire and held
n tight to await developments. At
endants with megaphones below called
ut to him to get down. but Hill answered
hat he would stay where he was At
D4O o'clock he was still in the centre Of the
ire, but by this time the emergency light
~ plant OF the park had been got going
nd a shaft of light was trained on the
ire walker.
BY means of this he managed to con-
nue his performance and prevented the
rowds from crushing their way out.
Tho emergency lights only lighted the
alks of the park, and all shows were called
#. The Edison people found it impossible
:, get the current going again, and Thomp-
On 4 Dundy decided to close up. At
80 o'clock all the spectators had passed
mt and the park was closed