The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-27
Big BOER WAR SHOW OPENS.
FOURTEEN ACRES or WARNING
ARMIES AND NOISE.
British and Boer Troops OF All Kinds
In the Mimic Fishting-Great We'll
come for Gen. CronJe-Races and Other
Mounted sports-s0O Men Take Part.


There was a preliminary performance
Of the Boer War sp -ctace at B.iShtor
Beach last night. Folks who went out te
hear a whole lot of noise found what they
wanted in plenty, There was lots OF fine
horse n,anship, too with drills OF cavalr!
and art illery and races between riders OF
various nationalities and drivers OF al
manner of strange vehicles. There are
800 participants In the show, which il per-
formed in an open arena fourteen acres
in extent in front OF pavilions In which
there are 10000 seats.
he big field il surrounded by South
African scenery A number OF low mis-
form the background. The detachmenta
of soldiers enter from behind the mountains
at the back and sides OF this desert BASIN
A series of canvas curtains concaAis tne
field from the spectators until the snow IL
ready to begin, and is raised between battles.
After the various attachments OF British
and Boer troops have been summoned out
to be introduced to the audience-there are
Scotch Highanders, lancers, artillery
naval reserves. colonial volunteers, Cana
dian cavalry, Poer cavalry and artillery
Basutos and an ambulance corps-t here
riding on wonderfully trained coal black
horse by F. F.. Fills, the director OF the
show.
The audience cheered the British and
the Boer flags quite impartially, but the
biggest cheering of the night was Tor Gen
Pet A. Cronje. who cantered across the
sands in a rusty black suit, bowling grimly
as the people yelled for him
The race that made the most excitement
was between English, Irish, Canadian,
American and Boer riders. The. lrishman,
had all the preliminary enthusiasm, ana
his green jacket was the most closely
watched as the horses disappeared behind
the scenery at the back of the enclosure
The racers came in without him, lhere
was a lot of laughter over his failure TO
finish. It was learned later that he had been
thrown and quite badly hurt on the back
stretch, out OF sight Of the audience. ~,
pleased the audience was The Melee of the
Rose" tournament between four riders
who endeavored to snatch roeettes from
one another's shoulders without losing their
own rosettes. The game gave every oppor.-
tunity for the display Of quick and deft
horsemanship and nerve and greatly eA-
1t is needless to say that what every
body wanted to see was the series of battles
They went with great rush. SEQ Ia came
cantering in and separated TO spy. out the
field. The main column followed behind
and wandered heedessly near to the bridge
the permanent scenery at the left OF the
field.
There came scattering fire from the
hills. The naval brigade began pounding
away with its small guns. The barelegged
Highlanders ran out in open formation,
and in a moment the fourteen acres were
hidden under pail of smoke. while ma chine
guns drummed and bigger guns shook the
ground with their explosions and rifles
were cracking and popping the whole
length of the arena. One by one the British
men and horses fell the horses that pre-
tend to be wounded are not the least interest
ing actors in the show and the battle of
Colenso ended with the annihilation of the
British.
Other scenes portrayed were the battle
Cronje, and De Vets flight between two
British blockho,,ses in barbed wire trocha
line, and tableau of Boer and Briton
paying their compliments to the United
States flag.
The first regular performance will be
given at three o'clock this afternoon There
win be shows every afternoon and every
night, including Sundays. 1t is to be
hoped that by tonight there will he more
light she'd on the scenes. Except where
the gloom was relieved Try searchlights
it was quite impossible to get an idea Of
what was going on except immediately
in front of the arena.
Later in the season a whole midway Of
amusement ventures is to be establish ed
on the lands of the Brighton Beach I'm
provement Company. of which ". A. Brady
Is president, and then the Brighton Beach
end of the island will enter into serious COM
petition with the older amusement parks at
the Nest End.