The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1893-05-02
BEFORE THE MULTITUDE.
THE GREAT COLUMBIAN EXPOSJ.
TION Is FORMALLY OPENED.
The Chief Magistrate of the Republic
Presses the Button Which Starts Off
the Miles of Shafting and Belting-A
Diapason of Cheering Goes Up From
the Assembled Multitude.
BY Southern Associated Press.


surrounded by the members of his
Cabinet, by high officials of vari.
Gus States, by numerous and distin.
gulshed representatives from lands
across the seas, and by a mighty
throng of American citizens, TODAY
pressed the electric button which
set In motion miles of shafting, in
Vulnerable engines and mechanism
and miles of betting and gearin Q
which make up the machinery of
the Worlds Columbian Exposition.
At the same moment the national
salute pealed forth from the guns of
the revenue cutter Andrew johnson,
lying off the exposition grounds in
Lake Michigan; seven hundred flags
were released from their "stops' at
concerted signal, swung loose and
streamed out under the sky in scar
let, yeiivw and blue; over in ma
chinery hall great roar arose and
the turrets Of buildings nodded as
the wheels began to turn, and the
greater volume of sound arose from
the throats of the concourse of peo-
pie who thus acclaimed the opening
OF the grandest achievement Of
American pluck, enterprise and gen
erosity.
Nearly all night there had been
continuous soaking drizzle that
caused the spirits of Worlds Fair
officials to sink to the zero point
The rain continued until 7 o'clock.
when the clouds parted and throu o b
rltt far over the lake there was q
CLEAN of cold sunshine. 1t lasted
only for moment, however, and
although the rain ceased, the clouds
still hung sodden and lowering @ over
the city, tie wind blew family from
the east, tapping the banners and
other decorations in dismal fash
ion, and, except on the asphalt
boulevards, the mud lay thick and
deep. All this, however, had no
effect upon the enthusiasm of the
energetic citizens who had deter.
mined to witness the opening OF the
Fair.
Before the first faint streaks of
hight IN the eastern sky heralded
the approach of dawn the down
town streets were es!ir. IS the
morning wore On the throngs in
creased. 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 civic holiday,
too, and all employees in the public
buildings, freed from their desks,
joined in the current which set to-
wards Jackson Park, accompanied
by throngs released from mercantile
establishments, many of which gave
their employees day off to Join in
the exercises. Nine o'clock saw
every available means Of transpor-
tation tested to its full capacity and
IL most cases beyond it.
AS 10 o'clock, the hour for the
opening exercises drew near, the
rush reached it's heigth, subsiding g
as Ii o'clock was reached. The jam
at the railroad depots became less
thick; cable cars moved along only
comfortably filed; boats carried off
smaller loads of passengers; pedes-
trians became fewer and fewer, and
by noon the down town streets were
if anything clearer than on ordi-
nary days when no Worlds Fair is
being opened. By half past s, the
distinguished people who were to
accompany the President in the
procession to Jackson Park had
gathered at the Presidents quar-
ters at the Lexington. The first to
arrive was the Duke of Veragua
and his attendants While hand
shaking was in progress Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson and his party put in
an appearance. On their heels, 1t
orally 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 8 o'clock the procession was
formed. At the head to clear the
way, and mounted on handsome
chargers was platoon Of gray
coated South Park police. Behind
them came squad of city police
on horseback fifty of them and five
abreast. Next in line was Company
B Of the Seventh u. S Cavalry, un-
der command of Capt. E A. Var
mum; Company K of the Seventh
U. S. Cavalry, under command of
Capt. L. r. Hare. Next followed
the Chicago Hussars, headed by
Capt. E. L. Brand, and Adjutant
Thomas S. Quincy. They appeared
for the first time in their American
lied Russian uniform. There were
Six score of them, mounted on mag
nificent black chargers, and every
man giant. Twenty trumpeters
heralded the approach of the Hus-
sars, and bringing up the rear OF
the military division was mounted
troop A of the Illinois National
Guards. The procession of carriages
was led by vehicle containing the
National Commissioners, P. A. B
Widender, of Pennsylvania, and
Bradley F. Smalley, of Vermont,
with Directors Thoa. r Rruan and