Evening star., 1914-07-05
Only Blur on Independence
Day Celebration Comes in
Form of Rain.
DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS
viewed BY THOUSANDS
President Wilson and Guests Wit
ness Magnificent Spectacle From
the White House Portico.

Washington's best. biggest and busIest'
municipal celebration OF Independence
day ended last night in a blaze of glory
and red fire and dowupour of rain.
Just at the close of the band concert and
at the end of the display of historic mo-
tion pictures. presented under the direc-
tion of A. Brylawski, dynamite bomb
hurtled skyward and exploded with an
ear-splitting crash. There was an an
swering roar of thunder from the heavy
clouds that all evening had threatened a
deluge. and the rain began.
The fireworks Were magnificent. but
the rain won out. and before half dozen
of the big aerial bombs charged with
hundreds of red. green. blue and yellow
points of flame, had cast their brilliant
lights over the Monument ground and
surrounding parts of the city the huge
throng, individually and collectively. had
turned its back on the fireworks and was
scurrying wildly for shelter. which didn't
exist anywhere in the vicinity
President Witnesses Display.
Over at the White House. out of reach
of the rain. but with a clear view OF
the pyrotechnics. President Wilson en-
joyed the demonstration and was per-
haps the only person in Washington
who really did. The President. mem
bers of his family and number of in
vited guests, including cabinet mem
bers and their families. sat on the
south portico of the White House and
witnessed the display of fireworks un-
til the rain put an end to it.
The whole fireworks program. which
ordinarily would have lasted for about
an hour. or perhaps longer, was over
within about ten minutes: The big
bombs were fired in batteries. the set
pieces fixed and blaZed in their vari-
colored brilliance and the Coston lights
cast their weird hues over the scene.
But about all they shone on was sea
of umbrellas and the backs of mighty
host hurrying toward Pennsylvania
avenue and shelter. About seventy-fve
numbers on the fireworks program
were set off: the remainder. including
the immense set piece, Good Night"
were ruined by the downpour.
The night program began promptly at
8 o'clock, when a battery of dynamite
bombs, exploded several hundred feet
in air. announced the opening of the
ed by Frank Weber. Patriotic and pop
ular selections entertained the fast
gathering throngs until the evening
grew dark enough to begin the motion
pictures.
Then came the scenes upon the big
screen. and Washington. Jefferson.
John Hancock. Benjamin Franklin
and a host of revolutionary heroes
were shown in motion pictures. Be
tween times the words OF various pa
triotic songs We're thrown on the
screen, and to the bands accompanl-
ment the immense throng sang the an
thems in chorus-without doubt the
largest chorus that ever Joined voices
in the District of Columbia.
Estimates of the Crowd.
Police captains, lieutenants, mounted
policemen and others-men who have
become accustomed to judging the size
of crowds from many inauguration
days-estimated the gathering at the
Monument grounds at anywhere from
$4,000 to 10 900 persons. Capt. Peck or
the first precinct stated last night that
$4,000 was a conservative estimate OF
the immense throng. while L. Z. Ora
ham, chairman of the fireworks COM
through and around the edges of the
crowd, expressed the belief that $4,000
was nearer to the actual figures.
The final pictures showing the escape
of the members of the Virginia assem-
bly, from Tarleton's Troopers at Char
lottesville. had just been shown when
the bombs were fired to announce the
fireworks. The crash of the first bomb
seemed to tear the clouds asunder, ana
the first boom of thunder was followed
at once by the downpour So suddenly
did the rain come that the watching
thousands were caught unaware. Then.
under the glare of brilliant pyrotech-
nics-which no one watched-and to
the accompaniment of the hiss and
crash and splutter of fixed pieces ahd
fame dropping hombs-which no one
heeded-the race toward the Avenue
began.
It was a sorry ending TO day that had
been crowded since early morning with
amusements suited 10 the tastes OF every
one, from the young folks. the little fel-
lows and their sisters. to the older. ana
even the oldest ones of the District resi-
dents Rich and poor, men and women
mingled in the wild rush for shelter
Dresses were ruined. coats and hats were
soaked to the limits of their absorptfve
capacity, but nobody grumbied and no.
body showed ill-temper.
Plight of Commissioner Siddons.
The wettest man in all the deluged
thousands perhaps. was Commissioner
Frederick L. Siddons The Commissioner
and his daughter were among those who
went afoot to the Monument grounds
and. as did others-very many others
they went without umbrellas or RAIN
coats. When the rain descended II fell
on them just the same as if they had
been well protected AGAINST the deluGe
and by the time the Commissioner and
Miss Siddons reached the District build
ing they were Soaked.
Frantic telephoning failed to bring
a taxicab or vehicle of any kind to
take them home. The street cars were
loaded until only a miracle could have
squeezed another passenger aboard.
But Mr.. Siddons is man of resource:
also he is the member of the board of
Commissioners who has most to do
with the police department.
So hurried requisition was made on
the department, and the Commissioner
and his daughter went home in a pa
troll wagon. Miss Siddons seemed at
first not to relish the idea of driving
up to the Siddons home in vehicle OF
such sinister import, but as the patrol
wagon was the only available means
of transportation-well, any port in a
storm or any sort of a wagon. either.
Just so it had a waterproof cover.
AS one member of the huge assembly
THE fireworks were fine.
what we saw of them, but darn the
waterworks."
Misplaced Water Carnival