Las Vegas optic., 1913-03-05
washington SKY
IS PICTURE
FRAME
GREAT FIREWORKS DISPLAY
SHOWS LlKENEssEs OF WILL
SON AND MARSHALL

w dSllnSlO AtlANll - ltl III e
works, with the sweeping, wide-flung
rays of many searchlights revealing
the outlines of the white dome of the
capitol and other historic buildings.
made Washington a scene of beauty
and brilliancy in the closing inaugu
ration festivities last night
Never, it is said, has so brilliant a
display of fireworks or AN illumina-
ton of such magnitude been attempt
ed. Large searchlights threw their
rays along the avenues and on public
buildings, while at the monument
grounds the crashing of thousands OF
aerial bombs and the flaming light
from large set pieces illuminated the
sky. But it was not alone a riot of
bombs and flashlights. The entire
display was significant of the arrival
Of the new executives, with set pieces
showing the president and vice presi-
dent and many designs OF Wilson "
and Marshall
The illumination of the city began
shortly after sunset. At once every
part of Pennsylvania avenue, from
the capitol to Washington Circle, was
ablaze with light. Peace Monument
stood out in bold relief and the ave-
nue. from end to end was transformed
into fairyland of light by hundreds
Of incandescent lamps spanning the
street in graceful arches.
On the roofs of the senate and
house office buildings, number OF
powerful searchlights trained upon
1 the dome of the CAPITOL making the
1 Statute of Liberty that crowns it
stand out as of a living figure. Peace
Monument, originally intended for a
] fountain, was last night performing
that function for the first time since
the last inaugural. Upon it's waters
were thrown by several boxlights, diff
ferent colored rays weirdly beautiful.
The Court of Honor, in front of the
White House, was a central point of
illumination tonight, as it had been
OF activity during the day, the replica
of Jefferson's home at Monticello be-
ing the chief feature of the display,
Facing the replica a huge spotlight
threw its rays on the Jeffersonian
mansion, bringing its portico, columns
and colonial outline into brilliant re-
lief against the background of cedar
trees, their branches studded with
countless miniature electric bulbs Civ
ing the effect of thousands of fireflies
winging their way through the native
pines which surround Monticello.
From the time the illuminations be
began thousands poured through
Pennsylvania avenue to witness the
brilliant spectacle. But when the ae-
rial pyrotechnics display started two
hours later the great mass of human
ity turned its attention to the monu-
ment grounds. The display opened
with flash which gave place to a
bomb signal Immediately a host of
small balloons and airships floated
gracefully across the sky, made bril-
liant by the ascent of many rockets
and other Illuminating pieces
Following the opening flash and
bomb came the salute of 101 guns fir
ed from steel mortars. Then came a
brilliant illumination of the White
House grounds and the monument
grounds through the ascent Of
bombs, that, upon explosion, re-
leased fires that burned the nation.
al colors. The effect of this upon the
surrounding white buildings and the
Washington monument was spectacu-
lar.
AT intervals, pieces we're shown
that reflected against the sky the red,
white and blue Of the national flag
either in the form of shield or the
flag itself. The crowning effect of
the display was the Transformation
Device" which began with nam.
moth bouquet of roses that changed
into an immense American flag and
then transformed into the portarits
Of President Wilson and Vice Presi-
dent Marshall. This was by far The
most elaborate piece OF the entire
evening and the largest aerial set
piece ever attempted, it was said.
The device covered more than 2.cO0
square feet Of space
Just before Ills piece vas released
gigantic bombs ascended, and when
they reached great he'gat exploded
and formed in immense letters F,s