The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (December 1902)

AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ENLARGER. 30 We will commence with the first and iost destructive of these terrible occurrences. In the “ Destruction of St. Picrre, Martinique,” we see a charming scene, such as could only be witnessed in tropical regions. An extensive hay, the blue waters of which are almost landlocked by a shelving beach, which merges almest imperceptibly into a richly ver dant country, backed by distant mountains rising against the clear blue sky. At the waters cde little jettics run out into the sea, and the beaweityl town of St. Pierre with its white houses and red roofs rises in terraces until it reaches the dense tropical foliage in the imiddle distance, the foreground of the scene being fringed with characteristic trees and plants. Farin the distance slumbers Mount Pelee. But a change comes over the scene,—indications of activity are seen at the summit of the mountain—faint smoke and flames rise—a dull red haze gradually passes over the scene, and the Whole sky becomes obscured by the discharge from the volcano, Presently from the edge ‘ol the crater, streams of incandescent lava are seen to roll down the mountain side, and as they proceed house after house becomes lenited by the fiery flood, and to complete the aston a GContinuous shower of red-hot ashes descends upon the doomed city. The scene is now of appalling grandeur and conveys a realistic impression of the inferno which existed on Mar tinique on the fatal day ; soon the scene grows darker and the whole gradually dissolves into ‘St. Pierre in fiuins by Moonlight,” forming the concluding tableau. How this is all accomplished in four slides will best be seen by examining the slides themselves. One special act of heroism in connection with this eruption was the act of Captain Freeman in command of the British ship “ Roddam —this forms one set of effects by itself. Here, again, the opening picture is St. Pierre, but we are standing in the lower portion of the town, the hills forming the background behind which the rays of the setting sun shoot across the sky. Soon the “ Roddam ” arriv es, the steamer passing into the centre of the pichie, Where it remains anchored, Then gradually the change takes place, the air becomes full of the burning ejecta from the mountain, the whole scene assumes a red-hot appearance and the vessel catches fire, Hames rising from the deck. It will he remembered that great difficulty was experienced in getting this ship free of the harbour, but at last it is accomplished and the “Roddam" sails away from the region of fire, the effect being worked by means of a panorama movement, the ship being taken right out into the dark night and the showers gradually ceasing. One little novelty in this portion of the effect is, that the ship continues to bun mechanically until the vessel is far out at sea, and the last picture of this set shews us the “ Roddam” arriving at the port of Castries, St. Luci , bringing to the rest of the world the ucws of the terrible scenes which had taken place. Turning to events of a lighter character it will naturally ke expecied that the Coronation festivities and illuminations come in for a share of attention. hereis the * Grand Naval Review ” with its outlines of fire and its gorgeous display of tinted are lights flashing from all quarters. The Canadian Arch, a veal work of art built up on a natural photograph with a hand painted ettect, particularly rich and brilliant. Vhe Bank of Kigland, aad others which cause us to long for the possession of the wealth within the walls of that establishment so that we may say, “ Send them all home to our address.’ We are not surprised to find that Mr. Wilkie is devoted to lis business, it must be a source of never ending pleasure to an enthusiastic lanternist to pass one’s me in the contemplation of a constant succession of such beautiful things, and we sincerely hope that the enterprise which prompts him to concentrate his lengthy experience, his work, time, and capital, in the production of the highest class of ctfect slides will meet with the support of all who have the welfare of the lantern at heart. Kee R HK K Prominent Men in the Lantern World. Weuw Series. No. 2. Misses. G. W. Gwyer ano A. Wriunway. LL workers of Lime Light Jets know the © Subjects of our Sketch, cither as being users of their Jets and Ether Saturators, or by repute. It dawned upon us one day that the readers of the Journal had not come in contact with them, except by their advertisements, so We trusted ourselves to the tender mercies of the Midland Ry., and were conveyed to Bristol, then by electric tram to St. Aueustines. We Were very fortunate to meet Mr. Alfred Willway to whom we made known our requirements, and while speaking Mr. Gwyer stepped in, after an introduction, Mr. Willway (who was so pressed with business that he was like mischicf—everyWhere) handed the writer over to Mr. Gwyer,