Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-05-18
I776.
THE CENTENNIAL.
THE GRAND OPENING
$4,000 People in Attendance!
Ceremonies Orihe Occasion.
BISHOP SIMPSONS PRAYER.
1876.

| Ceremonies OF TIE occasion.
BISHOP SIMPSONS PRAYER.
Speeches Of the President and
Gen. Hawley.
| PHILADELPHIA, May 10-The morn
| ing Was very rainy, with the prospects
of steady rainy day, but the indica-
| tiOns are now that the clouds will
break.
The rain has ceased, and the origi-
nal programme Uf the opening cere-
monies will he carried out. The@city
is crowded with visitors. The streets
are all ablaze with flags. The exposi-
ton opening is the only topic of con-
versatiOn, and since early in the morn
ing thrOngs of people on foot, in street
cars, carriages, wagons and steaIn cars,
have been proceeding toward the Cen
tenHial grounds in anticipation of the
opening of the gates. This morning
early, military parade, comprising
pOrti )ns of the Fifth division, took
place, passing through tire principal
streets of the city. The display was
fine, though not nearly so large as
would have been had the weather been
favorable.
At 1915 A. M.-The sky has cleared
and the weather is beautiful and sun.
ny, but not too warm. The grounds
are in good condition in spite of the
hard and long-cOntinued rains, though
there is much mud. The gates opened
at little after 8 o'clock, and the
crowds have been pouring in ever
since. 1t is roughly estimated that
and still there Is a constant rush o,
people through the gates. In the ia
vOrable change in the weather the orig
inal plan is to be carried out, though
arrangements had been made for the
Inauguration ceremonies in the main
building.
PROGRAMME ARRANGED.
In case of continued rain, spacious
platform had been erected at the side
of Memorial Hall. North of the CEN
tree of the main building seats are ar
ranged on the platform for officers and
other invited guestt. AT the right of
The centre are seats for the President of
the United States and members of the
Cabinet, and further to the right the
seats of United States Senators and
members of the House of Represents
tives, Governors of the various States
with their staffs the Governor. State
officers, Supreme Court and Legisla.
ture of Pennsylvania, and representa-
tives of the army and navy, Smithso-
nian Institute, United States Judges,
officers of the executive bureaus and
members of the Women's Centennial
Commission, on the left of the centre
are seats Of the Upited States Supreme
Court, ard further to the left are seats
for the memberS of the diplomatic
corps and members of the Centennial
Com missioners, board of finance, wo-
mans executive commission, foreign
commissioners, mayor, council, and
other officers of Philadelphia, mana
gers of other cities, State Centennial
boards, board of award. judges. yacht
and rifle clubs, and along the front of
the platform are seats for the memb bers
of the press, orches; ra of 160 pieces and
chorus of | 900 voices, under the d.
rectIOn of Theodore Thomas and Dud-
ley Buck, are stationed directly i'm
front of the platform, at the side of the
main building. The space in front of
the platform, except that reserved for
passage ways, is open to the public un-
til after the Inauguration. The main
building, Machinery Hall and Memo
rial Hall. are reserved for invited
= uests, and closed to the public. All
guests pass through the main building,
entering at the east or west end, or at
the south side, and thence through the
center door at the north side to the
platform. The space about the plat
form and for such distance that to see
and hear is impossible, is crowded
densely with people waiting for the
opening exercises.
THE SHOW BEGINS.
1l:30 A. NAT IL o'clock the Presi- |
dents party, accompanied by the Off |
cials previously designated, proceeded |
to the platform, the President having !
been escorted to the grounds by Gov. |
Hartranft with division of military, |
The platform was at once crowded, and |
all the surrounding space and all avail |
able points of elevation in the neigh |
borhoOd were occupied by crowds of
visitors.
The orchestra while the seats were |
being secured, played the National |
airs, and after the people on the plat
form had arranged themselves played |
Wagner's Centennial March, which |
was received with applause. After the
opening prayer by bishop Simpson of |
the NJ. E. Church, and the singing of
Whittier's Centennial Hymn the
presentation of the building took place
by the Board of Finance with appro-
pirate speeches and ceremonials, turn
ing over buildings to the com mission.
Next followed the singing of Sidney |
Lanier's cantata by the full chorus &C
cOmpanied by the orchestra. The ap-
plause of the vast crowd wss enthusi-
astic, and portions of the music were
encored, especially the bass solo by Mr.
Whitney, of Boston.
The presentation of the exhibition to |
the President of the United States by
President Hawley, of the United States
Centennial Commission, now followed,
President Hawley making an elabo-
rate and heartily applauded speech.
When President Grant rose to respond
he was greeted with enthusiastic and
applause, followed by
three cheers and tiger, led by General
Hawley.
President Grant then read his re.
sponse, which was brief and express
sive, in well-chosen terms the impor-
tance of the exhibition, and the great
ness of the events 1t commentaries. |
So great was the confusion In the |
crowd, however, and so low was tie |
tone Of voice In which the speech was