Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1894-01-28
A DAY OF DAYS.
Fire, Flags and BIare of
Trumpets.
Burst of Music and Flight
of Oratory.
The Silent Pressure of a Wo-
mans Finger.
Scenes and Incidents Attending the
Grand Formal Opening of the
MIdWinter Fair.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SAN Francisco, Jan. N.-At twenty
minutes past two this afternoon Mrs.
M. H. DeYoung touched the electric
button and by that act the great Cali
fornia midwinter international expoai-
tion was given life. CaIifornia's dream
had become q reality and the great
multitude of people Assem- mbled there
sent up 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. Not cloud in the blue
sky and the suns warm raya streamed
down, making the air ss balmy as . day
In June. 1t was no January thaw, but
common, ordinary winter weather such
as California 10 accustomed to. Over
coats were burden and wraps of all
kinds were left at home.
From early morning until late at
night crowds of people rode to the fair
grounds. 1t seemed as if the current
of this stream of humanity would never
turn the other way. Once inside the
grounds the crowd did not seem go very
large az the people were soon scattered
over the large tract. They were there
to see the sights, not to listen to
speeches and probably not one-tenth of
those who visited the fair to-day went
near the reception grounds where the
formal ceremonies were conducted.
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 and speeches. The grand
stand was mass of brilliant color
Thousands of flags futtered in the
breeze and several hundred school chill
dren dressed in red, white and blue
waved the national emblem and sans
patriotic songs.
The order of exercises followed by the
opening of the fair was as follows: Sc
lectons by the Mld-wintsr exposition
band; Introductory address by tht
president OF the day, James K. Phelsn
prayer by Bishop Nichols; chorus o
800 voices; an address, 'California anC
it's resources" by Gov. II. H. Markham
selection by the Iowa state band
An Grafton by director general M. H
DeYoung was followed by declaring tht
fair opened.
It was at the close of Director Genera
DeYoung's speech that Mrs. DeYoun(
rose to set the machinery of the fair il
motion by pressing the electric button
She was greeted with cheer when sh,
stepped forward, as she stood with be-
hand poised, there was a monet dea(
| = hor fa1l
stant the silence turned into a pande
monium. Steam whistles shrieked
bands played "The Star Spangled Ban
ner," salutes were fred by cannon ant
above all was heard q deep roar from
thousands of human throats. Their
was to have been another oration ant
more music but the crowd did not wal
for them, it melted away like magi
and joined other thousands in the in
spection of the marvellous sights to b,
seen in the various buildings.
J There was not an accident or hitch il
the proceedings during the entire day
A large force of city police assisted tn,
midwinter guards in preserving order
but the crowd was an easy one tt
handle and there was no trouble of an,
kind. At night the grounds wer
lighted up by electricity and the crowt
still fingered. An elaborate display o
fire works was given and at midnight
when the fair gates were closed and tn
people started home, the largest ant
most successful celebration ever hell
on the Pacific coast was over.
Figures furnished late tonight stat
that the total admissions to the mid
winter fair today and this evening wer
72,24S.