Evening star., 1917-03-06
SKIES AGLOW AS
AIR BOMBS BURST
Thousands Brave Cold and
Wind to See Fireworks Dis
play Closing Inaugural.
VISITING GLEE CLUB SINGS

| With the temperature at the freezing
point and a gale of wind blowing, thou
sands of persons gathered on the north
slope of the Washington Monument
grounds and on the adjoining parking
last night and witnessed display Of
fireworks that brought to fitting close
the ceremonies in connection with the
second inauguration of President Wilson.
Just how many persons were in the
crowd would be hard to estimate, for
they were scattered over a wide area.
But policemen who have witnessed
many inaugural fireworks displays said
il was big crowd, one that was larger
than usual.
Folks must be awfully hard-up for
fireworks to come out on a night like
this to see them said one gray
whiskered copper" who had seen many
years of service.
The President and Mrs Wilson and a
party of White House guests viewed the
display from the rear windows OF the
executive mansion. The President was
greatly pleased with the fireworks.
Mud Freezes Up.
The fireworks were set off just outside
side of B street west Of 18th street. on
the parking that is devoted to base ball
diamonds. and the majority of the spec
lators took position in the natural am
phitheater formed by the north slope up
to the base OF the Monument. When
they gathered there about 7:30 o'clock
the ground was soft, and in some places
the mud was ankle deep. BY the time
they left at the conclusion of the lire
works program most of it had frozen
solid
The program of entertainment started
with selections by a section of the Ma
rine Band and by the Columbus Demo-
cratic Glee Club of Columbus, Ohio.
These organizations were provided with
street entrance to the Monument
grounds. 1t was cold work for both the
musicians and the singers. After the
Marine Band had played several selec-
tions the glee club sang airs Tor the
benefit of the half-frozen spectators.
One of them was a parody on well
known song and was entitled Are Y ou
Buckeye?" Between the songs the
singers would draw out their hand
kerchiefs and give chorus of shifts in
preparation for their next number. .
When their program was finished
they played follow your leader around
the platform in an effort to warm their
seet
Program Is Complete.
The fireworks program was one OF
the most complete ever seen in this city
There was the usual assortment OF
rockets and bombs and lot of novel
ties such as whistling devices, "hying
pigeons" Hanging gardens" and otn-
ers. Showers of gold, great bursts OF
vari-colored lights anstsra avaianches seeo. o.
sars" and "houguets of flowers" came in
endless succession.
A great set piece entitled niagara
Falls by Moonlight" was spectacular.
Set pieces representing bicycle racers
that were run along the ground caused
much amusement. Portraits OF Presi-
dent Wilson and Vice PRESIDENT Mar
shall were shown. and Chairman Har-
per of the inaugural commit1ee ai.S 50
the portraits of Wilson and Marshal!
was the motto, Peace on Earth. Good
viii Toward Man"
Another set piece showed Uncle sam
| pointing to the words LIE. sar Us rass os
| bombs which burst high in the air and
liberated chains of colored fire. sup
ported by small balloons
Cannonade in Air.
/ The concluding number was the dis
charge of 500 bombs having one
| "break" and three reports and ESQ
having one break and six reports.
For several minutes the air was filed
with all kinds of lights and aerial
novelties. love and all the, while there was
a deafening cannonade in progress.
Because Of the high wind. the sparks
frnrn the various displays were carried
for considera BILE distance and several
nersons were injured when falling en-
hers and particles OF burned powder
lodged in their eyes, Some had had t. to n. be
removed to the hospital ana i1r tfeatmeht rsa mt
.et nieres toward the spectators. cut
ting off their view somewhat and max
ing things uncomfortable for them.