The Washington herald., 1908-07-05
FIREWORKSDISPLAY
AFITTING CLIMAX
Monument Grounds Scene of
PyrOtechnic SplendOr.
GREAT CROWD ENJOYS FUN
Mortar Batteries and Expert OPP
orators Fire Bombs FILLED with
Wonders High in the Air, TO Burst
and Turn Heavens Into FairyIand.

Myriad vari-colored stars, skyrockets.
and other brilliant pyrotechnic features
on tho Monument grounds last night
formed a fitting climax 10 the festivities
attending the opening Of the new Munich
pal Building and incidentally closed what
was probably the most glorious Fourth
OF July ever celebrated in Washington.
Long before the appointed time thou
sands OF persons wended their way to the
Monument grounds and awaited with ex-
pectancy the display OF aerial fireworks
which commenced at S:45 o'clock.
To describe the exhibition as beautiful
would hardly be in keeping with the spirit
Of the thousands Of spectators, who voiced
their approval OF tie display as ''gor-
geous," and the best ever witnessed in
this city.
Showers Of gold and silver hued sparks,
floating high above the earth, and serpen-
tine rockets rushing toward the heavens
gave the Executive grounds an appear
ance distinctly novel Even the clouds
that had hung low and threatening moved
away. and the moon seemed TO pause in
its course 10 view the spectacle.
Crowds Cheer the Display.
AS the prismatic torrents Of red. white
blue, and green stars exploded 800 feet
in the air. those viewing the exhibition
from the Monument Grounds set up
cheering that was sweIed in volume by
the ringing OF bells and the blowing of
horns and sirens by the automobilists
whose machines were lined up in the
driveways near by.
Chains Of stars floated lazily over the
park and drifted with the wind 20 all sec
tons Of the city. The bursting OF electric
fash bombs rent the air with sounds not
unlike the bombarding Of a besieged city.
So loud We're the explosions that many
involuntarily covered their ears with their
hands The watching thrOng was con-
stantly augmented. and at $3.50 o'clock the
area in and about the grounds was a sea
Of surging humanity.
Notwithstanding the crush and Jam OF
the spectators. a squad of policemen un-
der Inspector Cross had little difficulty in
preserving order.
Niagara Falls in Fire.
While there may have been bigger cele
brations In Washington, they have al
been mostly OF set pieces. but last nigh
the display comprised hundreds Of ihdi
vidual pieces, ranging from small rocket;
Messrs Charles Garret and Charlie
Campbell. OF the Lloyd Company. assiste,
by force Of twenty men, were in charg
Of the display. setting OF the pieces wit
lightning-lke rapidity. a number Of NOR
tar batteries covering a line Loo fee
long were used to fire the bombs. an,
were erected directly north Of the Monu
ment and about fifty feet from street
\ At S:45 o'clock the exhibition was be
sun with the firing OF rockets Shortl,
J thereafter the electric bombs we're Sc
pff. In rapid succession hundreds Of star
were sent flying skyward. making al
illumination strong enough 20 read by
Probably the most beautiful feature o
the display was the aerial flower garden
or American Beauty bouquet This wa
created from 500 one-pound bombs. fire
simultaneously from the 1.OOO-foot front
age Of batteries. Each of these bomb
contained more than twenty flowers
which burst in the air at their maximum
height.
The batteries. which were In three sets
were then used to alternately fire volley
OF many-colored balls and stars. Lloyd
electric fash bomb. which stretche
through space like lightning. was per
haps the most wonderful effect produce
during the evening. An aerial spiderwe
formed a highly realistic effect with
comet that looked Ike a golden spider.
one Hundred Shells at Once.
Every color Of the rainbow was show
when 100 thirteen-inch shells flew int
the air. a floating chain Of stars. a
with changing lights. added 70 the bri
liancy Of the display. and were in hai
mony with the festoons and bombsheIl
that burst five times giving five succes
sive showers OF stars and forming a con
bination like peacock s tail
The entire illumination was in chars
OF the Lloyd company. which furnishe
the pieces and supplied the expert oper,
tors.
Although those who witnessed the di
play from the Monument Lot obtaint
an unobstructed Wow. thousands
WashingtOnians enjoyed the scenic e
fectS from the Aqueduct Bridge and 9th,
points Of vantage.
The ubiquitous small boy was presei
in large numbers and made himself heal
by frequent Abs" Not content vii
Witnessing the display from outside q
roTCs, many youngsters wormed the
way up 20 the men who were setting {
the pieces and took an interest ga Il
proceedings that were not 10 be Inte
rupted by cries from anxious paren
without the pale of the base Of oper
tions.
Small Boys Linger Longest
Long after the exhibition was conclud
many boys fingered TO investigate {
mortars or endeavored to coax the g
ploded Roman candles to emit one mo
charge.
In the crowd that gathered were
classes and colors OF humanity. Many
the Celestial residents Of Lower Pen
10 sylvanla avenue forsook their own d
play, wandered from their heath. a
mingled with the crowds. A veneral
negro. attracted by the crowds, took up
position near the Fifteenth street G
trance TO the grounds. and expressed
voluble terms his approval OF de fla
wuks." In his excitement he incroach
too near the territory reserved for {
men operating the batteries, and had
be requested to move back
The members and friends OF the jo
committee OF the Board Of Trade a
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS : ; -