Evening journal., 1913-08-12
FIERY THRILLS In
FALL OF POMPEIE

More than one thousand persons
witnessed the opening production Of
"The Last Days Of Pompeii," by the
Pain Fireworks Display Company, at
ehellpot Park last night where it is to
be given each night this week. It
was q spectacle full Of realism, that
caused many thrills. More than 200
persons take part in the pageants and
dances and other showy features pre-
iiminary to the destruction of Pompei
bv the eruption OF Mt Vesuvius. Be-
fore a vaudeville performance was
given and following Il was an elaoor-
ate display of pyrotechnics. win
favorable weather the porductlon
doubtless will be witnessed by thou
sands Of persons this week.
There are many interesting sights
behind the scenery. especially in the
fireworks display which nightly closes
the exhibition of PAINS Last Days OF
Pompeii." Back of the artificial city
in an open space stands rack
against which the rockets are leaningl
q long row OF them. like picket
fence. One of the assistant pyro-
technists has charge of this part OF
the entertainment, and it is duty
not entirely free from danger. With q
torch. the fireman moves along the
line of rockets, touching one after an
other; they hiss for a moment then
shoot aloft with the speed and light
ness Of a bird.
Nearby are the heavy steel mortars
from which the bombs are fired and
greater caution must be exercised IN
the loading and firing of these than
in igniting the rockets.
The bombs are shells OF mache pa
per, loaded with the fireballs that
burn when the shells explode AZ.
tached to the bomb proper is brown
paper cone which holds from a quar-
ter 10 a pound OF gunpowder, accord
ing 20 sire and weight of the shell
"A fuse leeds from the shell and con.
meets with q quick match which run.
noWn into the cone The bomb Is
dropped into the mortar, the cone
down. and the quick match hangs over
the edge When IL Is ignited II burns
down, setting fire TO the fuse and eX
ploCing the powder. which shoots the
bomh into the air The fuse huIn'
Into the she'll and while the boml
Is ga the air it is exploded. The balls
OF irc burn as they float about anC
trait behind them ribbons of white
smoke.
The portraits and set pieces are th'
most difficult TO construct for they re
quirs no small amount of artistic skill
to grange ON the lattace frames the
littlc sticks of composition lances thel
nre tcrmcd-that in burning make thu
pictures These lancos are quarter %
hn iach in diameter and five inches long
\ An of them are black. and it would b
Impossible for novice Go tell wha
rolor they would burn if they did no
como from tho factory wrapped in pape
pf different hucs.
Y When set piece is to he made th
design is first drawn upon paper an
then traced on the huge lattices. ih
artist then puts the ends OF the fire
sticks on points arranged FOR them, am
they stand ont from the frame Ills
teeth from harroN. All of the end
nre connected with quick match, whic
when it explodes. ignitcs the many hur
dreds of lances simultaneously. Who
the smoke has cleared away the pie
Hture stands out boldly in liucs of ih
against the darkness Of the night.
.rhe Last DAYS of pompeii has hee
Engaged for six nights engage
menf at Shellpot Park. Il is the sigh
of lifetime and should be seen by bot
NE0lrg and Old. both for its cdUcationi
rhnd amusement Nnluc