Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-05-01
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS

Opening ofthe Columbian Exposition.
CHICAGO, May 1.-At II o'clock noon,
to-day, President Cleveland, SUI
rounded by the members of his cabinet,
by high officials of the various States,
by numerous and distinguished repre-
sentation from lands across the seas,
and by mighty throng of American
citizens, pressed the electric button
which set in motion the miles of shaft
ing, the innumerable engines and
mechanism, and the labyrinth of belt
ing and gearing which make up the
machinery of the Worlds Columbian
Exposition. At the same moment q
national salute pealed forth from the
guns of the Andrew Johnson, lying of
the exposition grounds; seven hundred
flags, at a concerted signal, swung
loose and streamed out; in Machinery
Hall great roar arose and the turrets
of the building nodded as the wheels
began to turn, and a great volume OF
sound arose from the Threats of the con-
course of people who thus acclaimed
the opening of the great exposition.
The procession preliminary to the
opening consisted of U. S. troops and
the local military companies escorting
a corps of carriages in which rode Pres
ident Cleveland, Vice President Steven
son, Secretaries Gresham, Carlisle,
and Morton, the Duke of Veragua, and
other distinguished visitors. Arriving
at the grounds Mr.. Cleveland was es-
corted to his seat before such throng
as he had never faced before. 1t had
been intended to preface the speech
making with a grand chorus of 900
voices, but this feature was eliminated
and in its place Theodore Thomas
welded the baton over six hundred in
struments. AS the music died away
the blind chaplain of the q. S. Senate,
Rev. DR.. w. II. hIilburne, delivered a
prayer. As he retired to his seat Miss
Jessie Couthoui, an elocutionist of ma
tional reputation, in clear, impressive
tones commenced to read the opening
stanzas of the poem of the day, 1.-The
Prophecy" the production of w.
A. Crofut, OF Washington. AS
the reader retired the orchestra
rendered the "Rienzi" overture, after
which Director General Davis intro
duced the President of the United
Stateswhen cheer went up that seemed
to shake tho massive dome of the build
ing behind him. He advanced to the
front Of the platform and made an ap-
propriate speech. AS the last words
fell from the Presidents lips, precisely
at the hour of noon, he pressed his fin
ger upon the electric button, and at the
same instant the audience burst into
laundering shout, the orchestra peal
ed forth the strains of the Hallelujaf
chorus, the wheels of the great engine
in machinery hall commenced to re
volve, the electric fountains began
to discharge their torrents, the thun
der of artillery came from the vessel:
in the lake, the chimes in Manufac
lures hall rang out merry peal and
overhead the flags at the tops of the
poles in front of the platform fell apart
and revealed two gilded models of the
ships in which Columbus first sailed tc
American shores. At the same in
slant hundreds Of flags of all nations
and all colors were unfurled. 1t was q
scene of wonderful transformation and
amid it all cannon continued to
thunder and the crowd to cheer,
Then the demonstration subsidized
and the band played America and
the exercises were att an end-the
Columbian Exposition was open to
the nations of the world.