Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-02
n-A $3.50.
t~O MVU ~
.--
OSyes -
II
1V~00 0esss
AuO
Nearly SooAp0 Per-
sons See the Show.
Scenes and Incidents
Of the First Day.

CHicsoA May l.-Groves Gle veland
president of the United States. sur
roUnded by the members of Vie cabinet.
by high officials of the various states. BY
. namAspus and distinguished repro
ssntz,ion FROM lands scross the sea. and
by mighty throng % American citi-
zeus. today pressrd the button which set
in motion the milcs of shsfling and tbs
innumsrable engines and mechanisns
and tie labyrinth of betting and gearing
which mako up the machinery oe the
Worlds Columbian expn~itioa. Al the
same moment . n(eioaal slluts pcaIed
forth from the guns of the A Afdrev john
sDa. lying on The expo~isioaj grounds in
Lake Michigan. and 100 sag$ released
from their "stcps- At . concertsd signsl
swung boss and stscamcd oct unslss the
aky in scarlet. yellow and blus. In ms-
chiarsy hall . great mar srpss and the
susrcts .of the building no1aed - ths
Wheels began IN tsxn. and { greater vol
ums of sounA aross fron tho throats Of
the great eoncour-e of people who thus
acclaimed the oPening Of the grandest
achievement a American pluck. enter
prise and generosity.
Csaaaeioa oo EsakaI
Nearly all night there had bccn . con-
tinuous snsking driszIs that caused the
spirits Of the worlds fair oflicials tn sink
D. the zero point The rain continued
until ! O'Clock. when the clouds parted.
and through q riff far over the lake thers
wss gicsm of cold sunshine. II lasted
onlyfora q moment. howeves. and although
th. rain ceased the clouds still hung
ssiden and lowering over the city. Tho
wind blew family from the east. tapping
the banners and other decorations in q
dismal fashion. and. cxcep: on the -
phslt bcuIevarsis. the mud lay thick and
deep. All this. however. had no effect
upon the enthusiasm of the energetic
citizens rho had determined to witness
the opening % the fair. Before tho
first faint streak IL light in the eastern
sky heraIdied the approach Of the day.
the down town streets vere astir despite
the rain which was falling. Crowds
were hurrying from the railroad depots
ON the north and vest sides. and the
cable line~ we're discharging load after
lossi 10 passengers at the intersection ~
Madam aud La Sale streets and along
Dearborn street from Monroe street b
the lake. Carriages and omnibuses
began On hurry through the south side
avenues. and pedestrians innumershle
st their faces southwark in the direction
q Jackson Park
fastening sc~sh.
Down at the Van Buren, street station
Of ,he il,nn,s Central road the crowds
h--gaa to gather early and by day break
hlsck with p~opls awaiting the opening
of the gssee leading 'o the train plat
form AZ the morning sore on the
shrrngs increased. t.xcurs,on trains
FROM nearby pcinss and the regular su.
burhan trains on th. various roeds
Brought thousands who ssi,ied to the
crowds from other scurcesI
Nine o'cicrh saw evesy available means
of transportation tested e. its fuil ca
pacity and. in >ome ca<rs. beyond 10. As
Ia o'csock. the hour for the opening ex
erc,ses. drew near. the rush reached its
hight, snh~tdinx ~ II o'esock vac
reached. The Jam AZ he railroad depeta
became lea thick. the cshle cars moved
along onty comfortably flied. the h.rass
rarrisd ID smaller lossis ~ passengers,
r.~,e~srsass t<cane fewer and fewer and
tv aeon the down fown streets we're. 10
ANYTHING. clearer thar On ordinary lays
vhen 30 wywids ssir " hs,ng op~ned.