The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-06
HUGE ORDERLY GRO WD ATTENDS
 AERIAL DISPLAY
More Than 20, 900 Bridgeport- CTS Praise Park Board
 And Police.
CIVIC CELEBRATION
 WAS TRULY ssSANE''
Perfect Night and Good Hun1- ored Crowd Make Fire
 works Most Successful.

Saturday evening at Seaside park a muItitude of almost unprecedented numbers locally witnessed the display of fireworks provided by the park commission. Estimates of the mum Der assembled on foot, in automobiles and other vehicles vary between 100000 and 10000 but a conservatfve estimate would place the number at not far from go, 900. It was a most orderly crowd, too, and during the program which lasted the best part of two hours, not a. single incident occurred When the fireworks and the band con cert were ended. the great assemD- 1aga dispersed quietly, all going to their homes without confusfon or dis tuEbanca
 The celebration was one of the most safe. sane and complete that Bridge port has ever. witnessed and those who attended were unstlnted in. their praise Of the park board and others who had fae affair in charge. Much praise was given the members Of the police de- 11aztInenf for the efficient manner in which thsy handled the biggest traffic problem ever presented to them. plenty Of parking space for all vehi- c1es and all drivers obeyed promptly and willingly the instructions of the traffic officers, hence. all was har- monfous and everyone appeared hap pz
 The big crowd began assembling at [ o'clock Previous 10 that hour there were many strolling about the park Bur abouts7 o'clock the t1de of travel turned toward the race course on the
 western side Of the park The traffic policemen had taken their stations a half hour before ana all vehicles pass ing the Howe statue were required to drive west ors if they parked. to face to the westward. A crowd Of pedes- trance west of Main street. The cen ter Of fhe big race course was black with hs1aazitys as in the early twilight the vhss1er & Wilson band began the first nunsoer Of the concert arranged for it. A temporary band stand was Under the direction Of Leader Cher mack the band gave a program of patriotic songs and airs by American conposerA sss<%
 The fire works program began promptly at 5-30- It had been ar ranged by President George M- Eames and Clerk B. F. Cooney Of the park board. There were many fine set pieces but what seemed to please the big crowd most were the beautiful bomb rockets of which there seemed an unlimited number. each more brilliant and dazzling than it prede- cessor.
 Charles s. Garfield acting presI- dent of the park board was present and took a supervisory interest in the prcgrana- The policemen who direct ed the traffic were under the fmmedi- ate command of Supt Birmingham and Capt Regan
 Never in the history of Bridgeport were go many people and so many automobiles congregated at one place. Although the police automobile and the emergency ambulance with a pI1y- sician in charge were present, there was not a single accident and no cc- casion for their services A number of motor boats were anchored off the park during the fire works
 The fire works display lasted for an hour and half. Viewed from a. dis tance, the lights of the park automo- 0aIess resembIed myriad asseu1b1aEe of Will O. the WIsps as they winked through the darkness. The motorists added much to the enjoyment by toot- ing their horns after some partfcu- tuneful number by the band. When the fireworks were over. all motor vehicles were sent west and required to leave the park by -Iranistan ave nue. It was about 9:30 when the fire works were over.
 A full moon sheding it's light on the waters of the sound south of the park made a scene of rare beauty and hun dreds of pedestrians remained in the park seated on benches to enjoy the sight or stro1ling about the seawaIL The tide was flood height and the breeze from the water but despite this fact many persons remained at the park until nearly midnight