Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-06-19

Is KNOWN lldt the cntlTc UtlQ III lIOht
of the grandstand and bleachers viii
be required TO stage the paraphernalia
and apparatus used 10 portray one OF
Cie greatest catastrophes IN the his
tory OF the world. Nearly 800 EN-
ployes are required TO enact the parts
OF the ancient Romans. their slaves
and attendants. while many thousands
of dollars worth OF fireworks are used
In this Pain masterpiece.
In the designing of the Eruption OF
Vesuvius," the most skilled pyrotech.
mic inventors and the most skilled
scenic artists have expended thei.
best efforts. No cost has been spared
TO portray the scene with a realism
and grandeur never before equalled.
The beautiful Bay of Naples is shown
with the awe-inspiring Mt. Vesuvius
in the center and the city of Naples
on the left. On the mountain side are
the towns where the peaceful Italian
peasants had their homes.
There will be a wealth OF color in
the costumes of the Neapolitans who
will take part in a real Italian carnival
which forms the opening scene of the
spectacle. Actors will represent tht
king and queen OF Italy, the crown
prince and the crown princess, the al.
rector of the famous government OBJ.
seryatory and his honorable assistant,
Cardinal Frisco of Naples Generals
of the Italian army officers, soldiers
natives and foreigners will mingle
with the throng. While the native
band is playing, the people in gala at
tire are reveling in the streets. The
50 oh
and the military officers occupy a con.
spicuous position in the parade
through the streets. The picturesque
battle of flowers" then follows. and
in the midst of the merrymaking
courier dashes on the scene with a
warning message
AS a advertisement the author here
introduces brilliant specialties, includ.
ing the feast of flowers" water
pantomime," Italian dances and
chorus. Vesuvius begins to give warn.
ing of the terrible eruption that buried
two cities for hundreds of years. Jets
of smoke issue from the crater, tiny
flakes OF lava and ashes settle upon
- nearby villages, the earth opens
~ with terrible rumblings. The in.
habitants of the villages on the noun
tain side swarm into the city and add
TO the terror of the frightened popu
lace The hurried departure of the
king and queen for towns on the sea
coast is the signal for general panic
Priests vainly endeavor TO quiet the
people and pray for relief. The rumb
lings and groanings from subterrane
an sources increase and furnish fur
Their alarm. Courier after courier
dashes upon the scene with reeking
horses Vesuvius becomes more and
more active and terror strikes every
heart.
With a mighty roar rivers Of living
fire come plunging down the mountain
side. The pressure clears the obstruc
ton in the volcanic crater with a ire
mendous explosion and a vast cloud
Of vapor arises The lava escapes
while at the same time immense num-
bers Of red-hot bombs and incandes-
cent rockets are shot into the air. The
destruction of the palaces and temples
is dramatically portrayed Walls fail
upon priests while endeavoring TO
calm the terror-stricken multitude
| kneeling at the affairs.
The Eruption of Vesuvius' is but
part of the program. Following is one
of the most elaborate displays OF fire
works ever seen in Michigan. Bombs.
rockets and shooting-stars burst hun
dreds of feet up in the air. while in
genuously arranged set pieces burst
into flame.