The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-15
MULBERRY ST. CELEBRATES.
BOnbardnirnt OF Noise and Light Win ds
LII Italian Feast DAY Show.

Mulberry street closed its three days
celebration OF the fiesta of Maria Sanctis-
sima d Montevergine last night with a
display of fireworks that produced enough
noise and flashes of light to suggest a bonn
bardment Of n mighty fortress or great
sea fight The celebration began on Satur-
day last and continued through Sunday
and was to have closed on Monday night.
The rain interfered, and the display OF fire.
works was put off three days
Feast days with Examinations and fire.
works are common in the Italian quarters OF
Manhattan and Brooklyn but this was the
first one ever held in honor Of st. Maria
of Monte Vergine, and it was the first that
was Mulberry streets own. Elizabeth,
Baxter Madison and even Mott street
have put on festal attire many. many times
in honor OF various saints. but this time
Mulberry street bore the honors exclu-
sively. Seven arches of green, yellow
and red lights, twisted into various shapes
and designs, spanned the street from
Bayard to Hester street. Alternating
with the arches Of light were other arches
of flags and banners. The lights con-
sisted OF little sweet oil lamps placed in
jelly glasses Nearly every arch had
flags. More than $500 Of these lights made
up the illumination.
T he celebration was in charge Of the
Societa' iii NJ. S. Montevergine-N erco-
glianes, of which Vim cenzo Silvestri is presi-
dent, and directly in front OF his cafe. 81
Mulberry street, shrine was erected.
A req reduction Of the famous picture in
the convent Of Monte vergne, at Avelino,
abo,lt sixty miles from Naples, was in the
back Of the shrine, with numerous candles
burning in front of it: The crowned Virgin
was shown holding the infant Jesus in her
white fnd gold in decoration. Thousands
of colts had been cast into receptacle
beside the shrine. Scores Of lanterns
were hung from windows and fire escapes
along he two blocks Of the illumination.
Hester and Bayard streets, near Mulberry,
also had several strings OF lights across
them.
The set pieces of the fireworks show last
night were assembled In the northern end
of the block of Mulberry street between
Bayard and Canal, and when the time came
they were moved out to the wide space on
Canal street where Mulberry crosses it,
Thousands Of the neghborhood residents
were driven back by the police and then
the boom and hiss of the fireworks began
Wheels turned and rockets darted, bombs
smoke filed the streets. The conclusion OF
the display was marked by fusillade OF
bombs that seemed as noisy as the l0-inch
guns of warship. The noise 80 frightened
the people that hundreds started to run
away
after the fireworks display was over
thousands walked about the streets until
nearly midnight, and the numerous cafes
and shops and street vendors did thriving
business
The feast of the Most Holv Mary of Monte
| Vergine is one Of the best known in Italy.
1t is celebrated at Monte Vergine on Sep
| TENDER I of each year. From 10000 t o
| so 600 pilgrims visit the con vent at that
! time and many of the penitents 60 barefoot
/ The convent was founded in 1ll9 on the
ruins of temple of Cybele. The church
not only contains the miraculous picture
Of the Virgin, copies of which were on sale
! in the Italian district during the festival
but the tomb of Catherine Of Valois, who
caused the picture to be placed there.