The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-23
Eve Opener for Memphis.

There 10 one thing that must be borne
In mind in connection with this dis
play, and that Is that Memphians have
never witnessed anything IKE the pro
gram Gordon has contracted to put on.
Thousands OF rockets and huge shells,
rocksta weighing az much as eight
pounds and 24-tnch shells by the
scores, are listed In the invoice Gordon
submitted with a description Of his pro-
gram, The exhibition will cost $4,000,
II win occupy an hours time, without
q moments interruption. All OF the
huge set pieces will be set up on Mud
Asland In plain view Of the thousands
who win line the bluff,
The big displays Gordon has ar
ranged include an American flag In
waves OF flame, 90 by 80 feet; the spirit
Of 1918, 20 by. 20 feet; eolors q NE
BY 90 feet; President Wilson, 20 by 20
feet; the Northern lights, $50 feet long
| Gen, Pershing, 20 by 20 feet; American
| Beauty rose, 20 by 30 feet; the world In
| rotation, 40 by 40 feet; battle OF the
| Jutlands, $50 by 80 feet; sea Of fire,
$50 feet long, and monarch Of the air,
a mechanical device,
Many Specials.
IN addition to these big displays tho
program calls for hundreds Of specials
such as forest fires, twinkling stars
the proRpector's dream, rivals OF the
ornament, presidential bouquet, dia.
monds OF the sky, and 80 on almost
without number. ,
through years Of experience In the fire
works husiness-And for years he wa
connected with the old Paine company
Gordon has planned q miniature pat
tie scene that could not be excelled
This n set, easily the o~utstandint
feature Of tho entire program, occupies
q space 800 feet long and 30 feet high
II includes the operation Of a tank,
dIriKible balloon, the blowing up OF al
entire village, and the crash Of guns,
Gen. Buck at Thieasy.
Gordon's sketch for the battle o
Chateau Thierry shows, in vivid outlin
Of fire, q section Of American trench
Behind the German lines stands N
village of Chateau Thlerry. Its build
ings rising 80 feet in the air, The bat
tie commences when the American bi
guns cpen up on the Hun, the gun fir
eoon taking on the intensity OF drur
fire switchIng to q bsrrage as tn
Americans 90 over the top In ATTACK
The bombardment, as planned, viii b
50 severe 1t will be heard Tor miles
Building after building In the villag
Ia blown up by the Germans as the
nranAre for a retreat in the face of a
appaliing bombardment, and In dis
tress the Huns send up an ohservatto
balloon, only to have It shot down !
flames by an allied aviator. The Amer
leans then take the town and with y
capture q huge American flag burs'
over the ruins In n waving stream {
vivid fire, Coineident with the flag
unfurling. the picture Of MAJ -uai
Beaumont II, Buck. hero of Chaten
Thlerry, and q Memphis man, wi
flAsh out brilliantly above the smokir
debris,
II Is the opinion OF the fireworl
committee, composed OF q W. Metcsl
81, chairman; Hugh wynne, Fred Coli
smith, A, n, Morrison. Charles Nee
raw and c. X. Chaplin, that n MOI
wonderful dramatic, spectacular ftr,
works program could not have bee
drafted,
Az for Gordon he declares his PR
gram will give Memphtans ana visito
10 the centennial celebration a re-
thrill, The fireworks displays at u
Trt~State fair will be as o postal
stamp against a $1,000 Liberty bond
comparison,
Is being rapidly pushed under Gordon
direction. and TO insure its successf
discharge Gordon has arranged to pc
sorally supervise its firing,
hihEest treat IN a fireworks line tn
she has aver Witnessed declared 90
don when he affixed his signature
hie contract, when tho program
concluded | know the celebration o
k~Anization win say, without the lea
reservation, that Gordou'E Fireworks O
ceeded all expectations