The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-05-17

and by mighty tnrOnS OF American cltlzenS,
has pressed the electric button at Chicago,
which set in motion the miles Of shsfttng,
tho innumerable engines and meehanisms
and the labyrinth OF betting and gearing
which make up the machinery OF the Worlds
Columbian Exposition. At the same moment
National salute pealed forth from the guns OF
the Andrew johnson, lying OIL the E1-
position grounds In Lake Michigan; 700
days, released from their ''stops" at 8 con-
eeeted signal swung loose and streamed out
. under the sky In scarlet, yellow and blue !;
and the turrets Of the building nodded as the
wheels began to turn, and great volume OF
+, sound arose from the throats OF the con-
course Of people, who, thus acclaimed the
/. opening Of the grandest achievement OF
American pluck, enterprise and generosity.
The weather at the opening was mild and
CLOUDY, but there was no rain. Before the
1lrst faint stresks Of light in the eastern sky
heralded the approach Of the dawn, the
downtown streets we're astir. Crowds were
Ghurrying from the railroad depots on the
north and west sides, and the cable lines
~ were discharging load after load OF Dassen-
gers.
As the morning wore on the throngs IN
creased Excursion trains from nearby
points. and the regular suburban trains on
the various roads. brought thousands who
added to the crowds from other sources, for
II was q State and civic holiday. AS 10
.>o'e'ock-the hour forthe opening exercises
drew near the rush reached its height, sub
siding as II o'clock was reached.
In their sleeping chambers on the second
floor of the Auditorium the Duke OF Veragua
and his party, even before they had arisen,
could hear the continuous rumble Of wheels,
the hoarse shouts Of the drivers and the In
cessant chatter OF the pedestrians. By the
time breakfast was concluded, the Commit
tee OF Escort had put In appearance, and
after greetings had been exchanged, the
members Of the ducal party were shown to
their carriages.
It was half-psst eight when the party LETT
the Auditorium, and ten minutes later they
were shaking hands with President Cleveland
in the back parlor Of the Lexington. The
Chief Executive himself had been up with the
lark and the last vestiges OF his coffee and
toast were disappearing as the Auditorium
contingent aighted from It's carriages.
While the handshaking was in progress
Vice President Stevenson and his party, which
had been hurried hom the Palmer House
under conditions similar to those experienced
by the guests OF the Auditorium, put In an
appearance. On their heels, literally taking
the hotel by storm, came the members OF the
National Commission and the Fair Directors,
who were to act as hosts and escorts to the
distinguished guests on this memorable day.
Promptly at o'clock, Major T. A. Baldwin,
of the Seventh United States Cavalry, who
was in command OF the escorting division,
was prepared to give the signal for the pro-
cession to move, and q magnificent process
sion it was.
At the head, to clear the way, and mounted
on handsome chargers, was platoon OF gray
coated South Park police. Behind them, In
their brand new blue Uniforms, came de-
tachment Of city police on horseback, ffty OF
them, and five abreast. Next IN line was
COMPANY B, OF the Seventh United States Cav
s,l-y. and Company Z, OF the Seventh United
states Cavalry. The fourth division was the
Chicago Hussars. headed by Captain E.
I. Brand and Adjutant Thomas 8. Quincy.
They appeared for the first time IN their
Americanized Russian uniforms. There were
six score Of them, mounted on magnificent
black chargers, and every man giant
Twenty trumpeters heralded the approach
of the Hussars, and bringing up the rear OF
the military division was mounted Troop A
OF the Illinois National Guards.
The procession OF carriages was led oy a
vehicle containing National Commissioners
P. A. B. Widener, Of Pennsylvania, ana
Bradley R. Smaliey, of Vermont, with
Directors Thomas B. Bryan and James W.
Ellsworth for company. In the second car
.riage were Commissioners Corton W. Allen
and George 81. Barbour, Directors
Charles Henrotln and William B.
Kerfoot. Next to them rode Commissioners
Groner and Hodges, Directors Ketcham
and Lawrence. The fourth and fifth
carriages were also jointly occupied by
commissioners and local directors while In
the sixth the Director General and Director
of Works, George p. Davis and D. H. Burn
ham, rode vis-a-vis. It was the seventh car
riage, however, that brought out the enthu,
siasm of the ,nlookers. IN it, his face toward
the south. It the President OF the United
states, and I'll the opposite seat Presidents
II. ". Pal".4r, ,f the Worlds Columbian
Commission. and 81. N. Higinbotham, OF the
worlds Columbian Exposition. Vice-Prest-
dent Stevenson rode with two Worlds Fail
ax-Preside,ts. Lyman ]. Gago and William
g. Parssr. secretary Gresham rode with Ma
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