Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-03-05

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The display began by the discharge
OF 10l aerial guns. the national salute.
and was followed by the lighting OF
25O prismatic fires which changed
color q number OF times. The iiiu-
mination was superb and the enect
Of the changing tints on the towering
marble shaft Of the Washington mon
umeAt was extremely beautiful. Then
came the fight OF $50 rocket bombs
fred from several positions SO az 70
blend their various colors, ana tnen
in rapid succession the discharge OF
battery OF magnesium balloons fo'
lowed BY q marvellous sun cluster
and batteries Of fiery cobras. and the
burning OF great quantities OF ruby
fire, which gave its red tint to every
object within radius OF many
squares.
National Shield In Bombs.
"The Star Spangled Banner" excited
the admiration of the great throng OF
spectators. 1t was produced by the
electrical discharge of many large
bombs picturing the national shield IN
it's true colors, suspended among the
clouds. One Of the great features OF
the display was the wonderful Pillar
OF Light" rising 100 feet into the air,
arranged in five tiers and lighting up
the whole southern section OF the city.
Then came batteries OF lightning can
dies emitting binding flashes, close
ly resembling real lightning, and fol-
lowed by peals Of thunder. Another
new feature was the crescendo re-
peating bombs. The first shell fired
broke with one explosion, the second
with two, and SO on up to the twenty
first with twenty-cne explosions.
Among the many other novelties
was an immense shell which was fired
into the air several hundred feet and
released monster streamer In the
inspiring colors of "Old Glory"
Battle In the Sky.
Nearly the last and the greatest
sensation of the whole exhibition was
set piece: "The Battle in the Sky"
showing city with its spires and lofty
buildings, some of them 100 feet high,
and filling space on the ground 500
feet long. An aifship is seen passing
over it, followed by others. These turn
and are met by an opposing aerial
fleet when battle ensues. One air
ship after another is set on fire, and
falls. In the meantime other airships
float over the city, dropping fiery
bombs, wrecking the buildings which
crumble and fall until all are utterly
destroyed. The action Of the encoun-
ter of the aeroplanes and the destruc-
ton of the city were marvelously
realistic.
Parade in the Snow.
The paraders insthe afternoon had a
hard time OF 1t, but manfully pushed
their way through the snow and slush.
Mai Gen. J. Franklin Bell was the
grand marshal.
The military division had the right
Of way after the presidents escort.
At it's head were the West Point ca
diets and the midshipmen from the
naval academy at Annapolis. The
cadets of both schools were cheered,
as they always have been cheered at
every inaugural parade in which they
have taken part. Immediately behind
the future officers of army and navy
came the regulars Of the military serv-
ice. In the line, were the $500 men
who had formed the Cuban army Of
pacification. n is II
In the waters az Hamilton roads for
ten days the fleet which had made its
record breaking journey around the
world had been assembled. The bat
tleships, the cruisers, the destroyers
and the torpedo boats were drawn
upon for tackles" to give the sea
service an adequate representation in
the inaugural ceremonies. There were