The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-28

l
 will delight the people of Alabama at the
 state fair October 6-15 Is now the great
 est attraction at the Appalachian expo
 sltion, Knoxville, Tenn. The Knoxville
 Journal and Tribune describes the pyro- technics as the most wonderful ever ex- 1 hibited in the south.
 The Pains Fireworks company will bring to Birmingham a great variety of beautiful designs, varying from the De struction of Pompeii' to the Battle of the Clouds" Niagara FalIs,'' "Aladins Jeweled Tree" and numerous other fea- lures. which will give originality and va riety to the shows during the nine days of the state fair.
 Here is the Trihune's description of one of the spectacles which will be seen in Birmingham:
 Scenes of blazing splendor, with thun- ders of war and an excellent vaudeville show. all entered into Pains Battle of the Clouds as presented at the Appa lachian exposition Tuesday night for the first time.
 Undoubtedly the most spectacular pro- duction ever given in the south 1t was attended by the largest crowd ever at tracted by any production of any similar character in this city. All of the more than five thousand seats were taken, and hundreds of people were seated on the tanbark around the arena, while 1t was even necessary to close the gates and turn away hundreds because of lack of accommodations for them
 "The scenes portrayed are those that may be expected to attend the wars of 50 and 75 years in the future. Dirigible balloon, equipped with radium guns, heavy armament and great grenades of various character were used in the, at tack and destruction of this city of the future.
 "The opening scenes present fete day and hundreds of persons arrayed in holi- day costume and in holiday mood, are seen walking to and fro, enjoying the splendid attractions offered by the peer less vaudeville artists. In this portion of the entertainment are shown some of the best teams of trapeze and tight and slack wire performers ever seen in the south. More than 50 feet above the ground, man and woman walk back and forth upon a tight wire, with no net be- heath to catch them, should they miss their footing, take fancy steps, run to and fro. and, as a final feature, pass across the wire representing a mammoth elephant.
 While the festivities are at their heighth, and the people are laughing and talking and enjoying the performances, two great dirigible balloons are seen ap- preaching the city from the rear. With out the slightest warning the immense guns of airships of the air belch forth destruction and death. Bombs and ex- plosives of various kinds are hurled upon the city, flames burst forth from all parts, and the scene is one of real gran deur. Immediately after the attack the populace scatters and the military forces are called into play. Scouting parties open fire upon the warships with their guns, while from another portion of the city machine guns and other larger death dealing instruments are brought into use. Terrific cannonading, such as Is sufficient to shake the grandstand and be heard miles away. mark the attack of the invaders upon the city. Shells that, exploding, turn into great masses of liquid fire, are dropped from the war ships upon the city and wonderful ef fects are obtained by the lavish use of magnesia, calcium and electric lights. The scenes presented by this attack upon the city almost beggar description, but in their spiendor and spectacular effects they have never been even approached in this section of the country.
 "In all parts of the city efforts to re- pulse the attack of the invading war ships are made and the citizens also re- sort to guns hurling radium and projec- tiles that, exploding in mid air. fill the heavens with their glare. All in vain, however. for the ramparts of the city are battered down, flames burst forth in all parts. and the doom and destruction of the city are sealed In final effort to annihilate the attacking party, great quantities of explosives are used, but their effect Is more noticeable upon the city for great sections of the walls are hurled down, while the war vessels re- main practically unscathed.
 "One of the first edifices to succumb to the bombardment from the warships of the air is the tower of wireless tele- graph station, and other buildings soon fall and the destruction of the city is complete As the flames are eating through the walls and buildings of the city the warshps are seen to depart. But as they leave they fire parting vol leys, which add to the damage and de- struction that has already been wrought. The residents of the city may be seen running to and fro, sehng some avenue of escape from their burning homes, and as the flames are dying away in the distance they gather around to watch the completion of the destruction or their city.
 During the process of the fight, spectacular features are brought into play that light up the very heavens. Great clouds of smoke settle like pail, above which the flames reach to great heights. and the view must really be seen to be thoroughly appreciated. Only words of praise could be heard from the thousands of Knoxvillians and visi- tors who attended the performance, and the only possible complaint that could have been made was that the terrific