The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-05-04
WORLDS FAIR OPENED.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND STARTS THE
GREATEST SHOW OF THE AGE,
An Electric Current Sets the Great Engine
in Motion and Starts Every Piece 81
Machinery on the 6rNssa -Tas
Inauguration Sa;egn


decade of the otasaesHI3 :@J'@rH
today when Pgssttsal Cleveland, oS
the pressing Of = o2lloR- s.srssd 1n'
mighty machinery Aaa e2sa,Hk "A'er'
and revolving was,, ia 'ns World s
Columbian exposition No exhibit OF
the fair tina: WILL attract thousands 10
shs ,ity for the ue,t SIX months eau
be more marvellous than the magic
effect which marked the solemn open
ing ri the iAir at l2:OS today. OF the
multitude OF visitors, some estimate
the number as high AS 100000. Prob,
ably not one fully realized the iull
import OF the effect that was 10 come
from the arrangement 50 cleverly de
vised in the opening of the exposition.
1t was known in "A vague way that
the president was to press a
gold key and that The electric
Communication with the machinery
was 10 start the fair, but no one real
lied how intricate was this machin-
cry. how finite the qualifications OF
the electric spark, until great foun-
taIns threw up geysers seventy feet
into the air and the rumble and hum
of wheels in manufacturers building
and the clatter of machinery in all
parts of that erea of a mile square or
more told the story of the final con
summation of scientific thought
Lifelessness started into being on
every hand, drapet statuary shed its
veil and revealed To the world the ar.
tistic labors of the past Is months,
and in moment all that had been
apathy aud inert aud inactive through
the long hours of morning sprung into
animated existence, thrilled multi
tude and crowned the triumph OF
the exposition.
In previous expositions, the posi-
bilities of electricity have been limited
to the mere starting of an engine in
machinery hall, but in this il made
thousand servants do its bidding and
from tho great cOrllss engine and
mammoth fountain, down 10 the
mnutest acts, wnere power and touch
were requisite, the magic OF electricity
did the duty of the hour.
Jupiter pluvinus held ar upllfted
fist over Chicago this morning. The
skies were sOdden and bleak, and
chilly mist filed the atmosphere,
Weather conditions scanned not to
have yielded to Cleveland's luck,
Bunting in the city throughout was
damp ana lstess and general tone
of gloom prevailed in the air and
streets, but to Chicago, whose day of
history this was, the condition. of the
weather went for naught and early
the people were astlr
TIE ASSEMBLY.
At S:45, the exact time scheduled,
the Duke Veragua and his party ell.
tered their carriages at tho auditori-
um to proceed to the Lexington hotel,
where tho parade to the Worlds
Fair grounds was tn be formed. They
reached the hotel in 10 minutes, and
during brief season of waiting for
the president the duke held some
what informal reception. Meantime
the city at large seemed bending to-
ward the "White City" by the lake.
Every means of trsnsit to Jackson
park was crowded,
Soon after o'clock President Clev6'
land aud his associates left their
rooms at the Lexington hotel and were
conducted to carriages. The Spa lish
guests were also adding to the nota'
BILE company embarking FOR the ride
to the great fair. Standing like
mounted figures In brOnze, q platoon
of mounted police waited between the
curbs to lead the procession Behind
them were Companies b and X,
Seventh United States Cavalry. Next
were the Chicago Huzzars with Troop
A, Illinois National Guard. Then
followed % carriages containing ma.
tional, state, city and Columbian fair
notables and dignitaries. Arriving at
the grounds the procession proceeded
to administration building where the
OPENING CEREMONIES
we're to take place and distanded.
Entering the building, the notables,
including President Cleveland, passed
out upon great platform erected for
the event, where ihrong of people
covering every atom Of space was
gathered. The p' esident was received
with tumult of cheers that shook
the air and made the buildings
tremble.
The opening ceremonies were begun
after 10 O'CLOCK with the performance
of John X. Paine's Columbian March,
followed by an invocation by Chap
lain Milburn OF the United States con.
gress.
After an orchestral overture, Di-
rector General Davis, as master of
ceremonies, faced the multitude and
made the opening speech, which
closed with the presentation of Presi.
dent Cleveland
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
Mr.. Cleveland having arisen was
kept several minutes waiting until
the applause should subside, after
which he with barred head began
speaking. He said:
Fellow Citizens:
90 am here TO join my fellow citizens
in congratulations which befit this
occasion. surrounded by the stu.
pendous results OF American enter
prise and activity and in view of the
magnificent evidences of mechanical
skill and Intelligence, We need not fear
that these congratulations will he
exaggerated We stand today in the
presence of tNe oldest nations Of the
world and poilt to the great achieve
ments wa ha 80 here to exhibit asking