The Washington times., 1908-07-05
Most Brilliant Pyrotechnic
Display Ever Seen in Capt.
tai, Viewed by Thousands.
CITY ILLUMINATED
ON MAIN STREETS
Old Residents Turn Small Boys
and Crane Necks in Old
Time Happiness.


1oined in celebrating the Fourth with
a spirit that signaIy demonstrates the
1lnanimity with which the palrlotlC
citizens of the Capital are joining IN
a more. consistent and significant recoS-
ysItion of Independence Day.
Thousands of people thronged inc
streets last night, and / seemeu thAl
the entire population had turHeu i'9S'I
into the thoroughfares leading 10 the
monument grounds for the splendid dis
NAV Of fireworks. Automobiles. car
Iiages and pedestrians packed the
streets and around the roped or IN 1
closure. within which the fireworks |
were set of. thousands gathered for
glimpse Of the spectacle. Men. women,
and children were packed IN SOHO
mass and when once one had become d
mar of the crowI 1t was almost an I'M /
possibility % get out
View Points Crowded.
Long before $50 o'clock the hour SET
FOR the display. every point Of vantage
had been occupied. \ special detail OF
policemen, which seemed 70 number the
entire force was necessary TO keep the
crowd in order and prevent enthusiastic
.Bovs from crawling under the ropes
This was a temptation the youngsters
found difficult TO resist, but il was al
more than the mere presence or the
bluecoats was necessary
washington has become 50 accustom-
ed 90 Indifferent fireworks displays that
the real beauty and novelty Of last
5zights program came as something OF
a surprise. A large corps of men was
,emp!cysd to set off the various tea-
lures. and for an hour these workmen
were kept busy touching of the magic
fuses.
Don't go down there" policeman
warned several persons who had per
mission to get within the incIosure, and
were walking across the ground, "there
are a lot Of buns over there
Fountains of Fire
The buns" proved 10 be figures in
n fountain OF fire that spurted into the
air 100 or $50 feet. There were about
twenty-five OF thirty Of these big tubes
and when they were set In action they
Sor.ned one Of the most beautiful sights
Washington has ever seen. They were
stretched fully the length Of an ordi-
harry city block, and spouted fire OF
almost every color Of the rainbow.
These big globes Of fire were sent
Shooting up through mist mat re-
sembled the sprays Of a real FOUNTAIN
Through the mist were showers OF gold,
bow. The fountains operated for nearly
two minutes and were roundly APP
nlauded by the thousands watching the
display.
Too Busy for Applause.
So busy were the people looking at
the succession Of bursting lights that
the only marks Of approval which they
found time TO give were expressions OF
"Ah" and oh and such Ike. But
there was too much going on to thin
very much about applause. hundreds
bf slyvrocIlets rushed through the ali
leaving 4 streak Of gold IN their wax
Stin more hundreds Of big fire streams
shot up as if from a gun and burst lice
in the air dropping q @r"r.f-l ci'S.'
of multi-colored lights Others would
burst in a perfect blaze Of red, or white
or gold and from the threats of the bis
crowds would come I gasp OF adTnira
ton only to be followed by another
when a still more beautiful rookie
would spread its cOlOTs over the sky.
There were no set pieces and thu
crowd was satisfied that the program
was confined to the beautiful rockets
each one Of which seemed to be dineren
from its predecessor. Just before tn
concluding features were shot into tn
air a long row of light IRE boxes ex
atendIng around the circle were touche
off and the entire grounds about tn
Monument were a blaze Of light In
side the line a little group Of pOliceme
patrOlled and outside was an almost IN
ending sea of faces each turned to 1h
sky as a new ray Of light shot out froT
the little fire balls.
Young America There.
Young America was on hand to 50
that the fireworks went of ali rigI
and when the last light had been show
the big crowd made its way slowly I
Fifteenth street and around into PEN
syIvanla avenue to take look at u
new District building and its illum
nations The building looked like a Of
ture with its snow white exterior az
brilliant light shining from every Wi
dow From the street a long row OF T
Electors threw an extra light on the ne
building and every corner OF the ne
home Of the District government glig
ened in the flood Of light poured upon
Munsey Building.
Just across the street the Nuns
building stood out a monster Anne
lean flag. Three floors in the upper pa
of the building were illuminated wi
red shaded lights. The three foo
Iust below shOne out in white ligh
and the three lower succeeding foe
were lighted with blue globes, CO.
pleting the tri-cOlor of the natter
emblem. Intermingled with this no.
representation Of the American cole
were 100 large flags blowing to (
breeze from every window in the I
- building. The effect was exceeding
novel and attracted the instant atte
tion of the crowds in the street.
All along Pennsylvania avenue. FRI
The State War, and Navy Buildil
mast the White House and up to
Capitol red flames burned for I
hours. The torches were stationed a
convenient distance apart so that
- seatire street was a long blaze OF lis
rejecting the spirit of a great peOpl
patrfotism and commemOratiOn of
birth.
Gee, but dis is great"
~ "Oh, just watch dat skyrOcket =
tAEAiskers on itt'
"G3Ily. III bet dat is de Mag