The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-28
OPENING OF THE FAIR
Pleasant Day and Large At
tendance at San Francisco.
WEATHER THE sesr EXHIBIT.
San franchises HasesrSe Car Overturned
sa steep Grade and Ysrty Of
sks Oeespasts InjsrsA.

afternoon Mrs. N. II. dc Young touched
an electric button and By that act the Cali
fornia Msdwinser International exposition
was given life. CAlifornia's dream had
became reality, and the great multitude
Of people assembled there sent mp joyous
shout that drowned even the booming OF
artillery and screeching Of steam whistles.
The day was one to make people glad they
lived In California There was not cloud
In the blue sky and the suns warm rays
steamed down, making the air as basmy n
day in June. Il WAS no January tnaw,
but common. ordinary winter weather.
such - California 10 accustomed to. Over
coats we're burden and wraps Of all kinds
were left ~ home. To Thousands Of East
ern visitors the weather was the choicest
exhibit at the fair. and not even the great
Columbian exhibition could IN their eyes
show anything to compare with this won
derful winters day.
From early morning until late at night
crowds of people rode to the fair grounds.
IL seemed ~ IL the current Of this stream
Of humanity would never turn the other
way. Once inside the grounds the crowd
did not seem 90 very large, Is the people
soon scattered over the large tract. They
listen to the speeches, and probably not
one-tenth OF those who visited the fair
today went near the recreation grounds
where the formal ceremonies were con-
Quoted. Notwithstanding this fact the
huge grand stand Was alive with people.
while thousands stood In the open space
In front and paid respectful attention to
the music. Thousands Of flags fluttered in
the breeze. and several hundred school
children. dressed in red. white and blue.
waved the national emblem and sang pa
triotic songs.
The order OF exercises followed at
the opening Of the fair Was - fol-
lows: Selections. Midwinter exposition
band: Introductory address, Presi-
dent Of the Day James D. Phelan; ;
prayer. Bishop Nichols: chorus. 300
voices; address, California and It's
Resources, Gov. H. H. Markham: sslec-
ton, Iowa State band; Grafton, Director
General NJ. H. do Young: followed by de-
ciaring the fair opened. Mrs M. II. de
Young pressing the electric button which
started the machinery; Grafton OF the day,
General Benefits and Permanent Results
of the Midwinter Exposition" w. II. l..
Barnes grand chorus. bands sndvoices, Co
lumbia, the Gem Of the Ocean," 1t was at
the close of Director General do Young's
speech that Mrs. dc Young rose to set the
machinery of the fair in motion by press
ing the electric button. She was greeted
with cheers when she stepped forward.
As she stood with her hand poised there
was q moment of dead silence. Then
the hand fell, and in an instant
the silence was turned into pan
dcmonium. Steam whistles were
blown. bands played "The Ssar-Spangled
Banner" salutes were fired from cannon,
and above all was heard the deep roar
from thousands Of human Threats. There
was to have been another Grafton and
more music. but the crowd did not wait
for them. II melted away like magic and
joined the other thousands in inspection
Of the marvellous sights to be seen in the
various buildings. There was not an acct
dent or hitch in the proceedings during
the entire day. A large force of city po-
lice assisted the Midwinter guards in pre-
serving order, but the crowd was an easy
one to handle and there was no trouble of
any kind. At night the grounds were
lighted mp by electricity, and the crowd
still fingered. An elaborate display OF
BftWoIAs was klVchs
when the fair gates closed and the people
started home. the largest and most sue
cessful celebration ever held on the Pacific
coast was over.
Figures furnished late tonight state that
the total admissions TO the Midwinter fair
today and this evening were ~. 24S
OF these about 90. 900 paid 50 cents each,
making the gate receipts for the day $780,
600. This vast assemblage of people was
handled without accident. and 30 extern
sive are the fair grounds that the only
indications Of the unusually large crowd
were the Jams At the gates and on the
street cars Every bit Of rolling stock on
the railways leading to the park was
pressed into service. and the crowd was
transported to and from the grounds with
little delay. Tomorrow there will proba-
bly, be another big crowd. As the weather
promises TO be fine.