Evening journal., 1907-04-27
THOUSANDS SEE CITY BURN
Greatest Circus Feature Ever Devised
to Be Seen Here.

To sit In comfort and safety and
see the burning of q city: to hear and
look upon the scene OF pandemonium
i'm the flame-hlled streets: to witness
the arrival of the police and The
stretching of the are-line; and then
TO calmly watch brigade OF forty
skilled tromen with q complete bat
terry of hre-hghting devices. roscung
women and children from the upper
windows of hotels anl department
stores, and after a fierce battle to
conquer the names-all this Is a spec
tacie that but very few people have
looked upon. Yet all this and much
more are what constitute the opening
feature of the great Adam Forepaugh
and Sells Bros. circus, which is sched-
uled to exhibit In Wilmington on May
3rd.
IL Is only because OF the size of the
main tent which Is the largest ever
constructed, that the Adam Forepaugh
and Sells Bros management Is able
to present the great spectacle. When
you come TO consider that the scenery
required could not he even stored In
the largest theatre IN the world, some
NNANN NA NANh HNiANN AANNANANM may NN IANNIs
What les usually known as the hippo-
drome course is the ground upon
which the city is built by a series Of
theatrical sct-pieces the rings and
arenas are converted into a park, with
statuary, fountains, shrubbery.
flower beds and other adiuncts of
pleasure grounds. Surrounding this
park Is am architectural masterpiece OF
scenic achievement solid city OF
hotels, department stores, shops o;
every nature, great slSyscrapers, tow
ers, cathedrals and an manner OF
structures that go TO mako a metro
polls. over 1000 people and 500
horses are used TO give this city life
A band of musicians plays In the park
pavilion. nurse maids play with chit.
dren on the grass ana londolas glide
gracefully across the lagoon
on the streets an tho activity Of a
commercial centre IS presented to view
delivery wagons, automobiles. cabs.
fully equipped trolley cars, fruit vend-
crs, organ grinders. newsboys mcrch-
ants and loafers- all I'm constant ac-
tion. Women In rich silks and beg,
gars in rags; men from the dives and
gayly dressed swells from that mingl-
ing of misery and wealth. of splendor
and of rags, so common TO city life
and yet so strange.
In the distance is heard the strains
of an approaching hand: vehicles draw
in 10 the curhs; crowds limo the pave
ments and necks are stretched IN an
effort 10 see. Down the street, gay
with banners and flags and glittering
with rich costumes and trappings.
comes the fete-day procession Of men
and women and horses and children
I'm floats. AS the crowds ON the streets
on the park front, the festal scene
changes TO one of confusion as an
alarm of fire is sounded
From the upper windows OF n big
hotel a ribbon of smoke is pouring
I'm other windows womon and children
view the parade unconscious of inn
pending danger. The column of smoke
grows and back of 1t the glow Of
flames threatens q terrible disaster. A
patrolman rings in an alarm at q
signal box.
Flames now burst from other Win
dows and frenzied women and chit
dren. caught i'm the trap of fire, cry
for help 10 those below. An explosion
in a ncxt-door basement sends "a show
er of broken glass and burning debris
over the heads of the spectators. A
squad of policemen forces the crowd
! across the street ana stretches a fire
line. Then mid the din of changing
gongs, fire engines and hose and lad
der carts, the fire battalion comes
/ plunging down the street, Almost ia
a moment the telescope ladders are
| hoisted TO hame-enveloped windows.
] life nets are manned; streams Of water
are directed into melting ruins, and
the work OF rescue and the great Bat
I tie with flames begin.
This realistic enactment of one of
the tragic episodes Of city life faith.
/ ful in an it's fearful details. is Ia 81.
self an exhibition superior TO all an,
everything else that has been under
canvas. The final conQuering OF The
flames is a scene so true TO the rea
as TO leave its impression on Oh,
minds Of spectator as. pronounced
as though he had indeed lived through
the experience In reality.