The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-10-31
CHICAGO FAIR CLOSED
Brought to an Official End
Last Night With the
Closing of the Gates.
MEETING OF DIRECTORS TODAY,
When They Will Decide on the Ad-
visibility of Keeping II
Open Still Longer.

CHICAGO. Oct. 81, 1893. - The
Columbian Exposition came to an end
last night. Six months ago it opened
with splendid pageantry and a thoussnt
bright new banners were unfurled, while
a hundred thousand spectators cheered.
Yesterday these weather stained banners
were pulled down almost In silence.
Those that represent foreign countries
will not be raised again None but the
American flag will float over the build.
ing today.
Fewof the large crowd in the park
knew wbea the time had come forthS
end. At half-past four o'clock mel
could be seen crawling MP to the flag
poles around the court of honor. Fffteeu
minutes later there was a little puff of
smok from the United States steamer
Michigan. which lay at auchor of the
grounds. Twenty more psals followed Z.
All day the flags had been at half mast,
but when the t~weDty>irsr gun was fred
they were pulled simultaneously
10 the f~agstaff's peak, and
after flutterinR there for a moment, as II
10 farewell. they went down for the last
time. aud the official announcement had
been made that the Columbian
Exposition a. an international aft air
was at an end. Taps were sounded by
Bugler Wiley. aud Iuues' Band played
1.-THE Star Spaugle1 BAnner,h This was
a spontaneous demonstration, and for
the first time the pc ,ple chssrsd.
There was no ceremony by Exposition
officials. some OF them did not even see
the flags go down. aud no more tbaH
$4,000 people We're in the Court Of Honor.
GATES NOT CLOSED.
But the gates of the Fair are
not closed. They were officially closed
last night at half past eleven O'Clock, but
they were opea aRaio this morning aud
there will be the usual band music dur
playing of the fountains bouight. This
afternoon the. Executive Committee
Of the Board of Directors
will meet at Jackson Park to
determine how much longer and under
what conditions the fair may be con-
tinued open. Their action will depend
largely upon the state of the weather
In attendance about the grounds. If both
are favorable the Exposition will doubt
less be prolonged for a short period.
Many of the directors favor such q course.
Thsre was an informal conference
among some of the Lending directors
yesterday in President Hiugiabothsm'
office when it was decided to call the
nesting for today. There were present
Director General Davis, President Hig-
inbotham, Ferd. W. Peck, P. NJ. Weller,
Andew McNailv, /. N. Camp, Adolph
Nathan. w. j. Chalmers and A. Al.
Revell.
Colonel Davis did not favor trying to
prolong any features as an exposition.
He told the members plainly that IL they
intended TO try to make a fair as such
after today he would decline to
act as Director General. When he left
the meeting those remaining were still
convinced that visitors should be en-
couraged to come as long as the weather
remains favorable. Last night some of
officials arranged TO continue the light
ing of the Grand Basin as long as may be
desired. aud it was given out that 1t was
the intention to keep things going In
JacKs son Park until the latter part Of the
week, when there could be a final night
show.
BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS.
The final closing exercises of the Board
of Lady Managers will be held this after
loon in the assembly room OF the
Woman's building. On that occasion
Mrs. Potter Palmer. President of the
Board, will deliver her farewell ad-
dress and a full length portrait of
her, painted by Zorn, the Swedish
artist, will be unveiled. This picture is
to be a gift from the lady managers to
Iu0 DeTudUGAt WOuldu . ulGLHOEI&t Uullu~
ing. An interesting feature of the ex-
ercises will be the awarding of medals to
the three women who decorated the
woman's building.
Little has been done regarding the
disposition of the State buildings, and
they will practically all be in the
market.
Most Of the commissioners will leave
for home ia a few DAYS. leaving the
work of dismantlin9 to subordinates.
MIDWAY PLAISANCE.
The Midway aires are all nc
sea regarding their plans for the flu
ture. They almost all y-ans to stay and
do business II the weather will permit
and the people continue TO come. For mai
notice has been served by the Exposition
people on eli the cor cessiopaires that the
privileges extended to them would end
on the 30th as far as the Exposition
was concerned. As q renuit the
maiu offices IF the Exposition aud all the
officers were besieGed all day long yester-
day by the Mid way psople. who were
anxious to know what they could do to
enable them to stay longer and do bust
ness. No definite answer was given in
any case. Some of them, however, have
been asked IL they cared TO retain the
cash register until the 10Th
November. This wo uld indicate that
the Exposition people are prepared co
the Midway shows some time
longer.