Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-05-13
WONDERLAND OPEN
President Cleveland Presses the
Electric Button.
Monday the Wheels of the ta'r
Began to Go Round.
The Great Procession and Its
Unique Features.
Description OF tds Pri,cipal Exhlbts"All
Countries Representa- .-. The Dis.
play Not Yet complete-A
Tremendous; Crowd.

CHICAGO, May 2.-Grover Cleveland,
president of the United States, SUR
founded by the members Of his cab
met, by high officials of the various
ttates, by a numerous and distin'
ruished representation from lands
across the seas and by mighty throng
bt American citizens Monday pressed the
button which set in motion the miles
Of shafting, the innumerable engines
Ind mechanisms and the labyrinth OF
betting and gearing which make up
The machinery of the Worlds Column
bian exposition.
Saturday night there had been
continuous soaking drizzle that caused
the spirits of the worlds fair ofiicia
10 sink to the zero point The rain
continued until : o'clock, WREN the
clouds parted and through rift far
bver the lake there was gIeam OF sun
lhine. 1t lasted only minute, how
tver. and although the rain ceased, the
clouds still hung soddcn and lowering
bver the city. On the asphalt boule-
Yards the mud lay thick and deep. All
This. however, had no effect upon the
enthusiasm Of the energetic citizens
who had determined to witness the
opening of the fair.
! Before the fist faint streaks OF light
| In the eastern sky heralded the ap-
proach of the dawn the downtown
itr"ets were astir Crowds were hurry
lu9 from the railroad depots on the
North and West sides and the cable
lines were discharging load after load
pf passengers at the intersection of
Madison and Lasalle streets and along
Dearborn street from Monroe street to
ihe lake. Carriages and omnibuses be-
ran to hurry through the South Side
avenues and pedestrians innumerable
let their faces southwark in the direc-
lion OF Jackson park. Down
1t the Van Buren, street sta
lion Of the Illinois Central road
,he crowds began to gather early and
by day break the approaches TO the via
auct we,c black with people awaiting
The opening of the gate leading to the
lrain platforms. The Congress street
station Of the South Side elevated road
Eas early besieged also, and despite
The. fact that trains run every five
minutes TO the fair grounds there was
/ continual jam on the stairs. As TO
The Cottage Grove avenue cable cars,
they resembled Jumps of sugar COW
bred with tiies. Men hung on the out
tide of the platforms, on the steps
1t the sides and clambered on the
/ Tops where they sat in moment
Try danger OF slipping into
! The street. The steamboats,, too, car
tied off thousands of people who got
! lhe worth of thar money from
marine point of view, as the lake was
by no means smooth, and the motion
made the trip decidedly interesting for
persons with weak stomachs. AS the
morning wore on the throngs in
sreased Excursion trains from near
by points, and the regular suburban
trains on the various roads brought
thousands who added to the crowds
from other sources. 1t was a state and
sivic holiday, too, and all the employees
In the public buildings, freed from the
aeslss, joined the current which set to-
ward Jackson park. accompanied by
the thrClgs released from mercantile
ksta ablishments, many of which gave
their employees day off to join in the
exercises. Nine o'clock saw every
AyallaDle means OF trdnSpOrIdIloi
tested to its full capacity and In
tome cases beyond 1t. Those who
Jailed to secure transportation To
lheir liking and these were many, set
of on foot and the sidewalks were
6lled with marchers some times four
Abreast, all bound for the same desti-
hation. Owing to the small part taken
) BY the military in the days ceremonies
there was little marching and counter.
marching, and the streets were left
lrec for the great body Of civilians.