Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-01
esCORTING THE cITYS GUESTS.
The Procession to the Fair Grounds-After
the Opening.


the Opening.
About s. O'Clock this morning the presl-
dent and party and Duke de Neragua and
party entered carriages at the Lexington
hotel in the presence of a great and cheer
ing throng of people and took their places
in the procession that was TO escort them
to the Worlds fair grounds. The parade
was headed by platoon OF mounted police.
Then came the Seventh United States cav
airy, two companies, followed by the Chi
cago Hussars and troop A, |. \. 6. In
carriages were the following in order: First
five carriages, Worlds fair commissioners;
sixth, Director General Davis, and Director
of Works Burnham.
In thu seventh carriage was the presi-
dent; he was accompanied by Presidents
Palmer and Higinbotham. Then came
Vice President Stevenson, escorted by the
two ex-presidents of the Exposition com
pany-Lyman J. Gage and w. T. Baker.
The ninth to thirteenth carriages inclusive
carried the cabinet and their escorts; and
In the fourteenth was the Duke de Vera
qua with the vice presidents of the ma
tional commission and exposition company
as escorts. Duchess de Neragua followed
with Mrs. Potter Palmer, and the next
three carriages were occupied by the broth
ers and sons of the duke. Hon. Thomas
F. Bayard rode in the nineteenth car
rage Major General Miles in the next
Admiral Gherardi next, Governor Altgeld
next and Mayor Harrison last.
The Parade Enters the Grounds.
BY the shortest line of march the pro
cession reached the western entrance OF
Midway Plaisance and there was met by
Captain Rice, commanding the Columbian
guard, and he then took command of the
parade. East on the plaisance it moved
through a community that was composed
of nearly every kind of human being OF
the globe, living in their typical homes.
Entering the Worlds fair grounds il
passed through cavalry drawn up on each
side of the line of march, which wound
around the various buildings 70 the terroi'
nal railway station and thence to the point
at which the opening exercises were held
Here on the platform President Cleveland
sat in front, with Vice President Steven
son, the Duke of Neragua their parties,
and the higher national and local officer;
of the exposition On either side and be
hind them were the other invited guests,
the governors, members Of the city cOun-
Gil, members of the state legislature, mem
bers of the board of lady managers and
others. Back of all was the orchestra. -.
Comfort for the Inner Man.
As soon as the ceremonies were over and
the distinguished party could get out Of
the thrOng they repaired to the Adminlstra-
tion building, where Il luncheon was ready
y
vided and the interior circle filed with
choice plants from the horticultural build
ing. There were seventy guests in all and
the luncheon was elaborate enough to have
been called banquet. But the decorations
of the luncheon room were more elaborate
than the luncheon itself. In the great
square between the room and the hallway
silk portieres were hung and the windows
were draped in similar fashion. Over the
seat of the president at the western side OF
the table was canopy of flags, and in each
corner a stand of The national colors.
President Cleveland sat at a point of the
round table opposite the entrance, and the
other guests were ranged around the table
in the following order of precedence: Pres
idential party; vice presidents party; Gen
eraI Schofeld: Admiral Gherardi; General
Miles; Mayor Harrison; Governor and Mrs.
Altgeld; President Palmer, of the national
commission; President HiginbOtham, OF
the exposition; Mrs. Palmer. president of
the board of lady managers; Vice President
Waller, OF the national commission; Wee
President Peck. Of the exposition; Director
General Davis; Chief Of Construction Burn
ham; members of the council Of admins
tration.
This arrangement of guests brought
Mrs Potter Palmer directly opposite the
president who sat on the east side OF the
circle On the south side was President
Palmer of the national commission, and
on the north President Higinbotham, OF
the Exposition company. After the lun-
cheon the president was escorted to the
Manufactures building by Director Gen.
eral Davis He will be introduced to the
members of the foreign commission, who
will be grouped in the center of the build
ing and will then visit them in their sec
tions He will then pass out TO the Gov
erpmeut building and afterward Will be
driven around the grounds, after which he
will 90 to his private car and viii leave the
grounds at : O'Clock.
The only machinery that was set in mo-
ton by the aid of the electrical current
when Cleveland pressed the button was the
great AlIis engine, and the engineer ia
charge Of the machine was on hand to as
sist. BY a simple mechanical arrangement
sufficient steam was admitted to the piston
chambers to move slightly the ponderous
wheels, while the engineer assumed con
troll of the lever and saw that the start was
made without jarIing. President CleVe-
land had about as much to do with start
ing the machinery Of the Worlds Column
biaE exposition as President Grant had
with impartiug motion to the great Cor!'sS
engine at the Centennial On that occasion
the president Crasped the wheel that tufLSu
steam into the piston chambers whIie uls
GUU.9us were controlled by an engineer
hidden from view under the platform
a VIEW OF THE EXHIBITION.
.srA,. s.Ha y FF4r mr.