The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-02

WoRLB's FAIR GROUNDS, CHICAGO, MaJ
l.-Hali in cloudland was the white
Columbian city by the lake when, diff
fused and sourceless, the daylight crepl
upon tho earth this morning. The
eastern horizon had no more OF colol
than had the western horizon. East
ward, whore tho dawn was breaking
drifting scarfs Of mist hrooded close
down upon the waters OF Lake Michi
gan, 80 that cloud and waters mingled
into grey field that batiled vision and
perspective. Northward, southwark
everywhere, q palpable, leaden vel
trailed from aloft to the lowest reaches
Of the horizon. To one who early stood
In the midst OF the great plaza where
the crowds should later be, tho sur.
rOundlngs, stupendous in plan, ponder
ous in extent and white in tho morning
light, gave more than ever the impres,
sion that this was q ghostly city that
had been raised up in the night, or,
that 1t may have been deserted city
whence titans Of some strange race had
moved away to other shores.
Therois no building or exhibit in all
the white city where exhibits are yet
wholly arranged, but this fact did not
interfere with tho issuance to-day OF the
official catalogues which told where
each exhibit should be when every
one has done what Is expected to be
done. In order not to lose any moment
OF profit these catalogues should be put
on sale the first day OF the fair, and it
was yet very early when little regi.
ment OF lads arrayed In scarlet uni.
forms marched through the grounds TO
their rendezvous in the administration
building.
STIRRING SCENES.
Between s and 0 o'clock from some.
where away off on the edge Of the
grounds the notes OF the bugle camo,
softened through the misty air. It was
the first indication OF tho stirring scenes
that should later occur in tho great
plaza, The bugle notes were almost In.
stantly swallowed up in burst Of mol.
ody from the throatd OF brass instru.
mentsCarried byth band Of the fifteenth
regiment from Fort Sheridan. Nearer
came the strains Of music until, turn.
ing the corner near the transportation
building, the blue uniforms came in
sight, And behind the band 400 grim
faced regulars, carrying each u musket
on his shoulder. Lieutenant Colonel
OverShine was at their head, and led
them to u position OF rest alongside the
north wall Of the administration build.
ing. As the butts OF their muskets
dropped with thud into tho soft mud
at their feet, the sound OF other bands
ol music camo out upon the air, and
soon tho second regiment national
guards Of the state OF Illinois reached
their position on tho south front Of tho
administration building.
Clearly the great city at the north.
ward had not, through tho night and
the lowering clouds, forgotten this
great white camp on the prairi es seven
miles away. Tho coming OF the troops
attestcd the fact and showed that al.
ready the clements to the great demon.
stration were being moved into place.
Meanwhile q loitering breeze had
changed tho conditions somewhat. The
heads Of tho great supporting columns
Of the building had come TO view; tho
mtsts had 80 lifted that OH the low domO
above the agricultural building tho great
figure Of Diana, brought from New York
City, could be disccrnOd pointing hor
arrow straight into the northeast.
Away up 200 feot, on tho roof OF tho
manufactures building, tho figures Of
q half dozen men might be seen creep.
ing Ike ants upon an iceberg, half con.
ceatod by mists,N and half revealed
against tho dark iron work OF tho
structnre. Great white.winged gulls
clrclcd above the blue basin OF waters
and out through the colonado tho
movement Of tho waters OF the lake
could 90 discornOd, Eastward in tho
sSky'the soitonCd light waS growing
Somewhere, in space, tho sun was gain.
ing powor rs tho day grow older
GATHERING CROWDS.
Then, soon aitor o'clock, began tho
incoming Of tho people, whose great
enterprise wuS TO bo consummatCd at
noon. Coaches rumblod over tho
moist Carth and gravel to discharge
thoir guests at favored places whore
they should witness the display ON.
clals became In OvidenCo--iirst In
atr9gGling groups aud thon In squads
and baItallons. Farmer folk thoro
were, too. They camo with wholesome
baskets In which was carefully stored
lunch for themselves. Momcntarily
tho light grew stronger aloit, and the
shroudlng Clouds sailed higher In tho
hir. In front Of tho grand stand whore
ih9 presidents should be, there was a
lofty flagstaff and at its pualt In d bal.
ioon'lIkc bunch tho flag OF tho United
staIea was rOady 10 hO broken out
whom the electric signal should be
Ten o'clock had come and tho dull
roll Of carriages with prominent people
WhB nlmOHL COnnlnaA mhuv ,5NKa IA