The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-02

out OF doors. Cnder the main afcu oi INC
building and having for its base the top
most row of seats oD the grand stand, was
the great sounding board under when the
bands and the orchestra should be placed
during the ceremonies.
Strange vagaries come 60 lonely watcn-
er at such hours In such weather, ana,
while the day was yet young, this great
white cavern seem TO be q titanic ear, list
ening to the muffled swash OF the waves
out yonder, beyond that beautiful colon
made. Meanwhile, what was being donef
A ponderous grinding roller. keeping slow
time to the snorting OF its little. impudent
engine, was ambllng TO and fro across the
sloppy plaza. where soon thousands OF feet
would be standing. The Columbian
guards moving to their places about the
grounds. and the watchmen. going here
and there. caused slow. slapping sounds
under foot, as boot-soles beat upon the
muddy tracks and passageways. Early
came the cohort of college students. who
have been employed for the season at SO
@ month. to wear blue uniforms and TO
push chairs about the grounds at 90 cents
per hour. At convenient places iron rooted
pagodas had been erected as headquarters
their light blue uniform. with fiocks of
willow chairs. they were lettering. and
waiting for the coming of their work.
There is no building of exhibit IN all the
White City where xhIbits are yet wholly
arranged. but this fact 6id u OF In teTfere with
the issuance to-day OF the official cata-
logues which told where each exhibit
should be when everyone had done what
is expected to be done. In order to not lose
moment of profit these catalogues should
be placed on sale the first day OF the fair,
and it was yet very early when a little
regiment of lads arrayed In scarlet uni
forms. with blue caps and brass lettering.
marched through the grounds TO their rem
devious In the Administration binding.
These little fellows were the to-be veDders
of the official catalogue.
ARRIVAL OF THE TROOPS.
Between and o'clock, from somewhere
away off on the edge of the grounds. the
notes of the bugle came softly through the
misty air. 1t was the first indication OF
the stirring scenes that should later occur
in the great plaza. The bURie notes
were almost instantly swallowed up in
a burst of melody. from the throats
of brass instruments carried by the
band of the Fifteenth Regiment Infantry,
ordered from Fort sheridan for duty dnring
the day. Nearer came the strains of music
until, turning the corner, near the Trans
pOrtation Building. the blue uniforms
came in sight. and behind the band four
hundred regulars. carrying each mnsket
on his shoulder. Lieutenant Colonel Over
shine was at their head and led them TO
position of rest alongside the north wall OF
the Administration Building. AS the butts
the soft mud the sounds of other bands OF
music dritted out upon the air, and soon
the Second Regiment. National Guards of
the State OF Illinois, marched to position
on the south front of the Administration
Building. Clearly the great city at the
northward had not. through the night and
In the lowering clouds. forgotten this
great white camp on the prairies seven
miles away. The coming of the troops at
tested the fact. and showed that already
DEMONSTRATION
were being moved into place.
Meanwhilea lettering breeZe had changed
the conditions somewhat. The heads of
the great supporting colums of the build
ing mad come to view; the mists had so
lifted that on the low dome above the Agri-
cultural Building the great figure of Di-
ana, brought from New Y YOrk city, could be
discerned pointing her arrow straight into
the northeast. Away up two hundred feet
on the roof of the Manufactures Building
the figures of o half-dozen men might be
seen creeping like ants upon an iceberg,
half concealed by mists and half revealed
against the dark iron work of the struct-
ure. Great white-winged gulls circled
about the blue basin of water. and out
through the colonnede the movement of
the waters of the lake could be discerned.
Eastward, in the sky, the softened light
was growing. Somewhere In space the sun
was gaining power as the day grew older.
Soon efter 9 O'Clock began the incoming
of the people, whose great enterprise was
to be contaminated at noon. Coaches rum
bled over the moist earth and gravel to
deposit their guests at favored places.
where they should witness the display.
Officials became in evidence. first in strug-
Cling groups. and then in squads and bat
taliOns. Farmer folk were there, too.
They came with wholesome baskets. In
which was carefully stored q luncheon for
the family. Momentariiy the light grew
stronger aloft and the clouds sailed higher
in the alr. In front of the grand stand,
where the President should be. there was a
lofty flagstaff. and at it's peak, in q balloon
like bunch, the flag of the United States
was ready to be broken out when the elec-
trio signal should be given. At each cor
of great height, and just above
the heads OF the people, at
their bases. the cross-bars of great
banners hung waiting for the signal TO
give them forth to the air. Having OBJ
served this. as the visitor gazed about ali
abe buildings and upon every flagstaff. at
every gable and at the point of every
tower. smaller bannerettes might be dis
cerned. each waiting the signal for the
same part in the great outbursts which
should attend the opening signal. Beneath
the colonnade the revenue cutter Andrew
johnson steamed through to place in the
basin.
Ten o'clock had come, and the dull roll of
carriages with prominent people was almost
constant. They were deposited ct the
northern entrance OF the Administration
Building. and found their way to seats. in.
dicated by their tickets, upon the grand
stand. Rapidly then the places there filled
up. Among the eerly ocners was
the Earl of Aberdeen, attended by
two OF the British fair commission
ers. A 1.-the man of nervous temperament
he viewed the gathering of the people
with quick and lively interest. He beheid
the representatives of the press of the
country huddied In pens upon the ground
level on either side of the lutting circle of
platform on which President Cleveland
would be seated. These quarters for the
press were protected against the crowds
that might come only by light wooden
rail. Meantime the skies had again thick
ened and. while not obscuring absolutely.
they dimmed again the outlines of all the
structures round about. At 10 o'clock sew
eral guards had placed upon the PEpsidents
platform q small, square table over which
was draped an American tag. Two cleo
trio wires were uncoiled from the floor ana
carried MP t. the table. Upon the table
was placed EQuere. pyramical stand.
which was covered with gold and blue
plush. Up through this little pyramid the
electric wires were run. and were then ad-
justed to a golden telegraph key. the but
ton of which should be pressed by Mr.
Cleveland as q signal for the machinery to
start.
THE GUESTS AND VISITORS.
The diplomatists of foreign powers had
not como to the opening in body. but
more in an individual capacity. Down the
broad aisle of the grand stand a tall, white-
haired man sought q place in front. It was