The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1893-05-04


wheels anying, the innumernOle engines and
mechansms and the labyrinth OF betting
and gearing which make up the ma
chinery OF the Worlds Columbian exposi.
tion. At the same moment national
salute belched forth from the guns OF the An
drew Johnson. lying of the exposition grounds
In Lake Michigan; 100 flags, released from
their stops ut n concerted signal. swung loose
and strcamcd out under the sky in scarlet. vel.
low and blue: over in machinery hall great
arose, and the turrets OF the building
nodded as the wheels began TO turn. and
greater volume OF sound arose from the throats
Of the great concourse OF people, who thus
claimed the opening Of the grandcst achieve.
mcnt Of American pluck enterprise and gener'
osty.
There was no hitch in the programme as
finally arranged Sunday night. The distin.
Rulshed descendant Of the great admiral In
whose honor the days spectacle was innugu.
rated was escorted from the Auditorium hotel
to the Lexington, where President Cleveland
and his suite were In waiting. and the two par
ties combined were taken In procession through
miles OF streets, lined with cheering thousands
to the grounds Of the exposition. There the
formal exercises were gone through with
The blind chaplain Of the national congress
invoked the blessing OF God upon the under
taking about to be consummatcd poem cele
brating the voyage OF Columbus was read In n
manner hitting the time and place. Director
tPnerul DaNlS, upon whose snOuluerS tnc u.lhs
like load OF the enterprise had rested for
months presented the completed work to the
president OF the United States and that oflicer
representing the power and majesty OF 5O1O.-
90 citizens. after singularly happy speech
declared the Worlds Columbian exposition
fully opened. Then the cannon doomed the
flags futtcred in mid air, the fountains spouted,
and the people shouted.
The greeting to the president was hearty. II
came first when his genial face was seen above
the heads Of the diplomats and commissioners
on the grand stand. 1t was repeated when he
stepped forward to make his modest address,
and for the third time 1t rose when tho signal
was sent and the great achievement OF the cen
tury was inauRurated
But only part of this honor was Cevelands,
the rest was in acknowledgment OF the event
which that roar from machinery hall, that sud.
den outflow OF flags. as IL rainbow had been
splintered above the buildings, that braying OF
cannon and that triumphal chorus signalized
There was nothing inadequate about this The
head OF the nation received his duo need OF
honor but the completed Worlds fair, the
triumph OF new world industry and genius, was
the object upon which the multitude expended
It's heartiest cheers and upon which 1t lnvished
It's luudcSt acclaim.
II was unfortunate that this part OF the days
proceedings should have been marred by what
might have been a serious panic, but which
proved to be only a mOmcntary surge Of the
great sea of humanity which beat against she
platform In front OF the administration build
ing. Always anxious to see and hear. as all
crowds are. some Of those in the rear began to
press forward in hopes Of gaining advantageous
positions from which to witness the goingson
at the platform, The pressure was almost un'
noticed at first, but as thos" In front began to
feel it they In turn swaych back to resist it.
Then began one OF those peculiar pulse-liko
movements never seen except In great crowds,
There was pendulum motion which attracted