Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-11-01
4 MEMORIAL MEETING HELD.
All Festivities Arranged for the Last Day
of the Exposition Declared Off.
5 FAIR GROUNDs, CHICAt


-, FAIR GROUNDS, CHICAGO, Ill,
Oct. 30.-The fair will close to-day in
mourning and with it's flags at half
mast Instead Of the festival of oratory
and song which was to have filled in the
afternoon, there will be services Of
memorial character. Instead of the
scene Of dazzling splcndor that was to
have crowned day of brilliancy in
speech and music, only necessary lights
will burn and the White City will
be shrouded in darkness at an
earlier hour than since it's open
ing. So, with the death OF Mayor
Harrison the life and gaiety of
the exposition went out forever. The
sombre appearance that the buildings
will wear and the solemnities that will
be observed here in memoriam Of the
departure of Chicago's chief magistrate,
who was also one Of the life sineWs of
the fair, will be singularly appropriate
way to close the greatest exposition of
history, whose distinctive beauty will in
few more days be changed into mass
OF conglomerate ruins. The following
was issued yesterday after a conference
between exposition officials:
OFFICE OF THE DIRECToR-GENERAL,
WORLDS COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, ADMINS
TRATIoN BUILDING, JACKSON PARK, Oct. %.
in view of the assassination of the chief
magistrate of the city of Chicago the cere-
monies which were announced to take
place to morrow, Monday, October 80 in
connection with the closing Of the
Worlds Columbian Exposition, will
be wholly dispensed with except that
all heretofore invited guests and
no tod
bic in festival hall at 1 o'clock P. NJ, as orig
inally intended. The Hon. Thomas w.
Palmer president of the Worlds Column
bian Commission, will preside. Prayer
will be offered by the Rev. John Henry Bar
rows: Appropriate resolutions formulated
by the following joint committee, which
has been appointed tor the purpose, will be
submitted by President H. n. Higinbotham:
National ommission-Thomas w. Palm
er, d. B. Penn, ?. A. B. Widener, Il. L.
Saunders, George V. Massey H. A. Mitchell
Board of Directors-H. n, Higinbotham,
Peck, Robert a. Waller, George r. Davis
All the festivities arranged for the closing
ceremonies will be omitted with the eXcep-
ton OF the firing Of an appropriate salute
and the lowering of the United States flag at
sunset. 1t is further ordered that the flags
upon all buildings within the grounds re-
main at half-mast until the closing Of the
exposition. GEORGE r. DAVIS,
Director General
n meeting was held at the place desig-
mated and in conformity with the above
communication at O clock to-day. The
attendance was very large, as the ma
jOrity of the officials and national, state
and foreign commissioners, signifed
their intention of paying tribute to the
memory of the dead mayor. The re-
ception to Mrs. Potter Palmer, presi-
dent of the Board of Lady Managers
which was to be given by the national
commissioners tonight at the New
York building has been declared off at
her request.
There is no wish to keep people away
from the exposition to-day nor from
now on, but it is ordered that there will
be nc kind Of demonstration. The
buildings will be kept open as usual.
There is fair number of people in at
tendance to-day but the numbers will
not be beyond the ordinary. 1t was
hoped that this day might even surpass
in attendance that of Chicago dav.
The scene in Festival Hall this after
noon was impressive. There was no
levity. The great audience, filling
every seat and occupying every foot OF
standing room were hushed Some had
come from distant states to take part
IN what was intended to be an hour
of rejoicing over the success of the
fair, and found that the festal plans had
been changed. There were no speeches
to emphasize the greatness of the expo
sltion now closing, no words of regret
that the work of demolishing the beau
tiful white buildings would soon be
commenced. The ceremonies, accord
ing to programme, were made com
memorarive of Chicago's departed
mayor. The speech which President
Higinbotham had prepared prior to
Mr.. Harrison's death was considered so
consonant with the spirit of the meet
ing that it was deemed fitting to have
it read by the Rev. DR.. Barrows, who
made the opening prayer. The COM
mittee of directors and national COM
missioners who were requested to
draught set of suitable resolutions re-
ported through President Higinbotham.
The national commissioners, the foreign
commissioners, the state commissioners
and all the executive officers of the ex-
position were seated on the platform.
President Palmer, of the national com
mission, presided, and after the pre-
hmlnarles and reading of the resolu-
tons, he declared the Worlds Column
bian Exposition officially closed after
the national salute was fired at sunset.