The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-11-08
THE GATES CLOSED.
The Worlds Columbian Exposition
is Officially Ended.
A Cloud OF Gloom Hangs Like Funeral
Pail Over the Closing Ceremonies
Resolutions Adopted Showing
the Esteem In Which Mayor
Harrison was Held.


CHICAGO. Oct. S1.-From turret, dome
and spire OF the White City's palaces
hung the emblems of the nations at
mourning height yesterday, the dying
day of the Worlds Columbian Exposi-
tion. The people came and, looking to-
wards the sunlit sky Of blue, realized
that not only Chicago mourned, but
the whole world of humanity, us rep
resented at the exposition. They came
In much smaller numbers than was ex-
pected ut sunset Saturday, and they
found no evidences of rejoicing over
the crowning achievement of the age;
no sounds Of sweet music In the court
of honor; no merry throngs; no cele-
bration-only solemn stiffness, an
unparalleled tribute to the memory of
Chicago's mayor-one grand symphony
of sympathy for the loss of loving
father, an illustrious, faithful citizen
and the chosen chief Of million and
a half Of people.
The greatest exposition the world
has witnessed died in the same gloom
and silence which pervade the home Of
the afflicted family and the city which
loved and honored him who was slain
for no earthly cause. Even the noisy
midway plaisance was quieter than
usual. The voice OF the few criers who
stood outside the resorts in the chilly
air was more subdued and the patrons
of the street seemed to share in the
general sorrow. In the administration
offices the chief men of the fair re-
turned to their desks with saddened
hearts and gloom hung over all.
At II o'clock the committee of twelve
which was chosen to draft the resolu-
tions which were read to the people at
Festival hall, met in President Higgin-
botham's office. The resolutions eX-
pressed in the most sympathetic Ian.
guage at the committees commanl the
general sorrow and shock which the
tragic end of the worlds fair citys
chief magistrate created in the hearts
and minds of the national commission
ers foreign and state representatives,
board of lady managers, the exhibitors,
the directors and executive officers Of
the exposition.
Rev. John Henry Barrows delivered
the prayer with which the funeral
gathering, as 1t really was, began The
invocation contained a feeling refer
ence to the tragedy which had turned
the farewell ceremonies into memo
rial meeting and appealed to the throne
of grace on behalf Of the grief stricls-
en- family. Following this sad opening,
which brought tears from many thou
sands gathered in the great hall came
the formal announcement by President
Palmer of the mayors death and a
statement that all e7SrcisesSof !. ies-
tive character would be omitted. The
resolutions were then presented with
out any accompanying speech, al
though many eloquent orators were
present The resolutions expressed in
their sympathy and sentiments all that
the orators could say.
The foreign and American represent
atives as well as the governing bodies
of the exposition who were seated on
the platform and in the body Of the
hall, showed by their rising in response
TO the request from President Palmer
that the resolutions voiced the sorrow
and sympathy Of all the world because
the world was represented there.
President Palmer then formally an
nounced that in compliance with the
act of congress the exposition was ofii-
cially at an end as worlds exposition.
After the Rev. Br. Barrows had pro-
nounced the benediction and offered up
a short prayer the gathering OF mourn
ers quietly dispersed.
The worlds fair, like Carter Harri-
son, was no more.