Arizona republican., 1909-03-05

were crowded by a dense throng, al expectant and eager to see the really wonderful exhibition of pyrotechnics It is believed that these crowds num- bered not less than a hundred and twenty-five thousand. Then there were probably as many more occupy ing the roofs and windows of the tall apartment houses and other buildings, private and public, which would make a total larger, it is thought, than any ever before assem- bled in Washington on a similar CO., casiOn. The program was a long one and contained many special and unique features of marvellous beauty and spectacular effect, never hereto fore seen in this country. The dis play began by the discharge of 101 aerial guns, the national salute, and was followed by the lighting of 250 prismatic fires which changed color a number of times. The illumination was superb and the effect of the changing tints on the towering mar ble shaft of the Washington monu- ment was extremely beautiful. Then came the flight of l50 rocket bombs fired from several positions so as to blend their varied colors, and then in rapid succession the discharge of a battery of magnesium balloons, fol- lowed by a marvellous sun cluster and batteries of frey sobras, and the burning of great quantities of ruby fire, which gave its red tint to every object within radius of many squares ''The Star-Spangled Ban ner" excited the admiration of the great throng of spectators. It was produced by the electrical discharge of large bombs, picturing the national shield in its true colors, suspended among the clouds. One of the great features the display was the won derful Pillar of Light" rising a hundred feet into the air, arranged in five tiers and lighting up the whole southern section of the city. Then came batteries of lightning candles, emitting blinding flashes, closely re- sembling real lightning, and followed by peals of thunder. Another new feature was the crescendo repeating bombs. The first shell fired broke with one expolsion, the second with
  first with twenty-one explosions. An amusing feature of this display was the calling out in unison by the great crowds of the number of ex- plosions as they occurred. This was followed by unique displays embrac- ing The Astroide," "The Floral Bou- Wisp." and then the Spider l.. R,- .1I which, bursting, discharged into the air a vast number of colossal many legged spiders which seemed to creep across the sky The Silver Glory was another feature of the display One hundred large bombs which were fired to a great height, contained compound which is said to produce the brightest light known to science. In its wonderful brilliance the pil7- lars of the old Lee mansion at Ar lington cemetery, two miles away, could be seen as plainly as in broad daylight The White House. the State, War and Navy buildings, the Capitol and other great structures, and the crowds of people on roofs and at windows were plainly visible. A humorous number-was the "Whis- tling Coons," the shells in their flight whistling in different keys. The Aerial Device" the firing of a bat tery of "Acrobatic Candles" and the Changing Cloud" which is a 1909 novelty of surpassing beauty, excited the enthusiasm of the throng of on- lockers. A number that set the great crowds a-cheering was the Salute to the American Flag" An i'm mense shell which was fired several hundred fet into the air, released monster streamer in the inspiring colors of Old Glory. While the crowds gaZed the flag floated away and finally disappeared. During these moments the national salute was fired Then came two miles of floating festoOns which were followed by the ascent of four large balloons, each bearing a gigantic letter form ing the name Taft" Nearly the last and the greatest sensation of the whole exhibition was a set piece, The Battle in the Sky" showing a city with its spires and lofty buildings, some of them 100 feet high and fill ing a space on the ground 500 feet long. An airship is seen passing over it. followed by others. These turn and are met by an opposing aerial fleet, when a battle ensues- One air ship after another is set on fire and falls In the meantime other air ships float over the city, dropping frey bombs, wrecking the buildings, which crumble and fall until all are utterly destroyed The action of the encounter of the aeroplanes and the destruction of the city were marvel ously realistic.