The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-19
TOUCHED THE BUTTON
ATLANTA EXPOSITION OPENED
YESTERDAY BY PRESIDENT
CLEVELAND.
A:GREaT THRONG WAS PRESENT
AND THE GATE CITY WAS ONE
MASS OF BUNTING AND
GAY DECOR ATOMS.
A Brilliant Military Parade

A Brilliant Military FaFdue
ItWas One of the Most Notable Ever
Seen in the South and Began to Move
Toward the Grounds at One O'Clock
4Jnder Command of Col. Kellogg Of
the United States zrmy--Over Nine-
Tenths ofthe Exhibits Are Complete
And the Grounds and Buildings were
Ready for the Opening--The 0penii &
Grafton and Dedicatory Ode.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. 18.-The morn
ing of opening day Of the South's great
est show, the Cotton States and Inter
national Exposition, dawned auspiaiously
bright and clear, affor1irg to the thous
ands of Northern visitors in the eity
sample of typical Southern September
weather. As the day wore on the heat
began to pass the limit Of comfort, but
the buoyant crowds on the streets did
not seem to mind the temperature, and
good humor reigned supreme.
During the night the finishing touches
had been put on number of the build
ings, and every effort had been made to
get the grounds in good shape for the
opening, and those who left the park
Yesterday afternoon found this morning
that a great transformation had been
wrought. From the tops of the 347 flag
stats on the buildings around the
grounds there foated the pennaxs and
flags of the nations of the earth, and the
doors Of the buildings, which have been
closed for several days, were all thrown
open.
In the interior of the buildings great
deal Of work had been accomplished.
Over nine -tenths of the exhibits were
complete, and neatly aparelled attend
ants stood at each booth. The police
men had advanced and were patr0lling
the grounds, exposition guards We're
everywhere, and everything was ready
for the crowds. As the day grew older
the crowds who had not been admitted
to the grounds gathered about the gates,
and anxiously awaited the appearance
of the military and the directors.
The city is a mass of bunting and the
waving decorations the flying flags, the
bands of music and the general atmOs-
phere of gayety offer the strongest pos
Sible contrast to the diSmantled Atlanta
of "a, so familiar to many Of the veter
ans Of the Federal army who to-day par
ticipated in the celebration of the great
est victory Of peace the South has ever
won.
At high noon every steam whistle IN
the city broke forth into noisy chorus,
the crowds in the streets cheered long
and loud, and the festivities Of opening
day were fairly begun.
AT one o'clock the procession, under
command Of Col VI. L Kellogg, of the
United States Army began to move. In
the lire were the fifth regiment, IT, s.
A; the Washington artillery, New Or
leans crack company, commanded by
Col John B. Richardson's; the Fifth regi
meut Of Georgia and various visiting
State troops, making twenty five compa
nies in all. Five bands, including Gil
more's famous organization, headed by
Victor Herbert, furnished music for the
tramping column which swept its bril-
liant lerg b out toward the exposition
park between continuous lines OF admir-
ing and cheering spectators
As the head of the co, umn reached the
gate, the companies were halted and the
exposition directors and their guests in
carriages passed into the grounds, then
the military companies marched in,
stopped on the plaza, stocked arms, and
were taken to the barbecue stand, where
they were guests of the exposition for a
short while.
The guests and directors followed TO
6he auditorium, where the formal open
ing occurred. Speeches were delivered
on the small stage, which was profusely
decorated.
While the crowd was still gathering,
Victor Herbert band rendered his new
and original Salute to Atlanta amid
great applause. Ex-Goy r. B. Bullock,
as master Of ceremonies, presented
Bishop Cleveland Kinlock Nelson, who
offered the opening prayer.
Gov. Bullock presented Col. Albert
Howell who read the exposition ode,
written by Frank L. Stanton
Then Gov. Bullock introduced Presi-
dent Collier, Who delivered the opening
address President Collier was followed
by Mrs John Thompson, President Of
the Board of Women Managers, who
spoke in behalf of the women's depart
ment
Booker washington, the prlnclpal OF
the Tuskegee Normal Institute, then de-
livered an address in behalf of the negro
department.
Mayor King spoke for the city.
The parade on the grounds was one OF
the most notable ever seen in the South.
The new auditorium within the exposi-
ton grounds, was packed to its remotest
corners during the delivery of the ad
dresses, all of which were received with
enthusiasm
When Judge Speer concluded his ora
ton the ceremony of touching the button
took place. Wires had been stretched
from Gray Gables to Buzzard's Bay and
still another wire had been stretched