The Washington times., 1904-05-22

Wv are you going down The
From all accounts IL is
worth the trip. Strange things and
strange peoples are to be seen there.
queer specimens Of the 1otsam and jet
som Of troubled world. The wonderful
products Of mans inventive genius are
there also-mechanicaI contrivances that
perplex with their ingenuity and amaze
and hold The spectator spellbOund with
their beauty OF structure and effect
1t is reliably reported that some money
is needed to get into touch with all these
marvels-but that, Of course, is an Incl
dent Patriotism may inspire the build
ing Of worlds fair, but no one Of
them was ever operated because of a
desire, among those principally interest
ed, for an improved state OF health.
In the selection Of a name for this
vaudeville feature of the great fair the
management has shown "A commendable
originality. Since 80 one has heard OF
The Midway every time Squash county
has had its annual exhibition Of agricul-
tural products and fatted pigs-and one
grew weary For the change even in
name some gratitude is due the st.
Louis powers that be-and a broader
change from old standards IS promised.
To borrow an arrow from the culver OF
the circus press agent, the shows along
The Pike are to represent The grand
est, most glorious. and gorgeous aggre-
cation Of Oriental. Occidental. Arctic
and Antarctic wonders the wondering
eyes Of a startled world have ever be-
held"
Fleet of War Vessels.
One Of the great attractions Of The
Pike is the feet Of miniature United
States war vessels that has been put
afioat in a lake on the grounds. The
fleets first maneuvers were executed the
other night, in the presence Of seven
officials OF the fair and a great throng
OF spectators. Twenty-six of the vessels
took part in the exhibition.
These boats range in size from 10 to p
feet In length. and each is a model Of
some class Of fighting ship. u.an-of- war.
battleship. cruiser. blockade runner, tor
pedo boat or submarine boat Each boat
is handled by an operator who is in
visible to the spectators. Electricity is
the motive power.
The boats are built OF sheet steel. and
the twenty-six are said TO have cost
10000.
The performance consists Of a feet Of
warships steaming out from a scenic
harbor. with smoke pouring from every
funnel A salute IS fired. signals ex-
changed, and the fleets drill commenc-
ed. At the time. it is difficult for the
spectator 70 realize that he is not look
ing down, from "A great height. on
fleet Of actual men Of war
After the feet has steamed back 10 its
anchorage its place is taken by school
OF smart-looking torpedo boats that go
through the water ike sharks, and
give a display Of torpedo firing at a
floating target.
After every successful discharge Of a
torpedo a great mass OF water .eaps
high In the air IN the vicinity OF the
target. A little submarine boat then
rushed in, with a coming tower lust
visible above the water surface. Its
shot at the target was successful. az
was evidenced by a huge volume Of wa
ter mounting hundreds Of feet above
the surface. When the submarine boat
retired. her place was taken by the sup
posed crack shots Of the feet, who
steamed in and discharged their heavy
guns at two cOnical-shaped targets.
Every successful shot was registered
Dy a pun Of smoke from the place sup
posed TO be struck on the target.
Inspection by Admiral
The next item on the program was the
inspection Of the fleet by the admirlrs
flagship.
The little vessels. after some clever
maneuveTs, came into line ike a COM
pany Of soldiers A. the flagship, ac-