The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-06
PRESSED THE BUTTON.
President Mckinley opens tn,
Nashville Exposition.

Washington, May lin compliance
with the request of the executive commit
tee of the Nashville Centennial the pres.
ident opened the exposition by wire from
the White House at 1913 O'Clock today
The arrangements were very simple In
detail. The circuit was made by the
Western Union officials under the super.
vision Of Mr.. Montgomery, executive
clerk in charge of telegraph, and of Man
ager Marean of the Western Union. The
wires were made direct to Nashville by
n. c., repeaters being used at the former
place. The circuit was a little over 70C
miles in length. !H 'Jrsir
Immediately upon the completion OF
the circuit in the exposition grounds the
president was notified by Secretary
Porter, and at once walked across the
hall to the telegraph room, where, under
the guidance of Mr.. Montgomery, he
stepped up to the desk. placed his finger
on the Morse key and slightly depressed
it, which action instantly gave the sig
nal to the Nashville end, and put in mo-
ton the wheels of the exposition. The
members of the Tennessee delegates in
congress, Pension Commissioner III, Clay
Evans, and several other prominent
Iennesseans, witnessed the ceremonies
The following telegram in relation to
the ceremony passed between secretary
Porter and j. w. Thomas, president of
the exposition:
Nashville, Tenn, April 29.-To His
Excellency, William. Mckinley, Wash
ington: The executive committee of the
Tennessee exposition, following the invi-
tation extended you through our special
committee sent to Washington, now
formally request you to touch, at l p. m,
Washington time, Saturday, May 1, the
electric signal which shall open the Ten
j. W. THOMAS.
To ]. W. Thomas, Nashville, Tenn:
The president is in receipt of your tele-
gram of the 29th and directs me to say
that he will be pleased to comply with
your request and give the electric signal
which will open the Tennessee EXPOSE
ton at p. M, May /. N lNliI- s.
,Ehe arrangements contemplated a
prompt opening of the exposition at noon.
central time, but there was a delay in
making the final preparations. Presi-
dent Mckinley stood at the key, chatting
about the exposition, awaiting the sig
nal from Nashville. In the course of
his conversation he said he probably
would visit the exposition in June. At
Ill the following message was licked off
the instrument and handed to Mr.. Nc
Kinley:
1.-THE people of Tennessee send greet
ings, and request that you now put in
motion the machinery of the Tennessee
Centennial exposition"
Ibis was signed by President Thomas.
Mr.. Mckinley then gently pressed the
instrument, and the exposition was open
ed AS he left the key the following
message was received.
People wild. The gun went off all
right! Bands playing and whistles 60
ing; everybody shakes hands"
Mr.. Mckinley smiled and expressed his
qualification at the success Of the under
taking. After receiving the thanks of
the Tennesseans and shaking hands with
them he retired to the cabinet room.
message:
u congratulate the people of Tennessee
upon the successful opening of their Cen
tennlal exposition. / wish them the
greatest possible success"