The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-09-01
VIVID PAGEANT
STAGED AT NIGHT
Centennial Spectacle al State
Fair on Big Scale.

Students OF Hoosier history will
find in the Indiana centennial page
ant, which is TO be the chief feature
OF the Indiana state fair the week OF
Sept. 4, vivid portrayal of the chief
episodes which marked the develop
ment of the Commonwealth, from the
time the first French explorers came
into the wilderness until the close of
the Civil war. There were many his
historic Incidents, both thrilling and
pleasing, during this stretch OF lndi-
ana history and i'm writing the sere-
mario for the spectacle j. Saunders
Gordon, of St Louis. brings them out
forcefully. lie spent several months
informing himself OF Indiana history.
of the spirit or the times of which he
writer's. the outstanding features of the
states formation, the customs OF the
Indians the French explorers, the
British and pioneer soldiers, the daily
life OF the settlers who sought homes
Of peace, and with fidelity the specta
| Gle follows the states expansion down
| to the time when the present era or
high civic development began.
Mr.. Gordon not only wrote the
senario OF the spectacle, but he de-
vised the rich scenic accessories
which will embellish the production.
He planned the forts, the log cabins,
the Indian village, and the other Indi-
ana scenery which will serve as the
background of the big production. He
also planned the elaborate display of
fireworks which is TO follow the spec
tacle each evening, giving pro-
nounced Hoosier centennial flavor TO
the huge set pieces and the aerial dis
plays that are to be fired.
In addition TO all these = para
tions, Mr.. Gordon has directed the for
nation of the groups OF people who
will give life to the night pageant and
has directed the rehearsals OF the
hundreds of men and women who will
present the production.
The spectacle will be given on a
stage about 500 feet long. with all the
scenic vesture necessary to make it
a great and brilliant production. Some
of Indiana's most historical men will
have speaking parts in the pageant.
among them Governor William Henry
Harrison; Tecumsek, the most IA
nous of Indiana's red warriers: Col.
Shuler, who gave chase to Morgan,
the Civil war raider; and aJnumber CT
others.
White and Indian soldiers on foot
and on horseback. fighting the battles
Of Vincennes and Tippecanoe; pion-
eer men and women venturing into
the virgin Hoosier wilderness with
their OK teams 10 set up their log
cabins and clear the ground for their
farms; the building OF the first state
, house at Corydon and adopting the
. states constitution under the historic
:, elm tree at that place. are only a few
of the intense incidents which arc
. woven into the dramatic action which
a abOunds throughout the spectacle.
There is intense interest ever the
. state this year in all affairs relating
to Indiana's centenn'a Many very
> elaborate spectaoies have been gwen
while that 1T She Indiana state fai'
will not only measure up 10 them II
magnitude and sp'. ndor, but il vii
have additional picturesque richness
since 1t is the only great page ant q
the year to be staged after night Will
brilliant Illuminating effects