New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02
TENNESSEE'S CENTENNIAL.
THE GREAT EXPOSITION AUsPICIOUsLY
OPENED
FORMAL EXERCISES PRECEDED BY PARADE
THROUGH THE STREETS OF NASHVILLE
PRESIDENT MKINLEY STARTS
THD MACHINERY
FORMAL EXERCI


Nashville, Tenn. May 1.-The Tennessee Cen
tennial Exposition was opened at noon to-day
with appropriate ceremonies In the presence Of
many thousands Of people The weather was
bright and cool. and at an early hour the streets
were thronged with people assembled to witness
the parade of the Essenic Orders and other socie-
ties. The procession was formed on the public
square. and 1t marched through Coege-st. to
Summer to Church. Church to Spruce, Spruce TO
Broad and the Exposition grounds.
The procession was headed by a detachment
Of mounted police, followed by local divisions Of
the Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, officers
Of the Tennessee Essenic Order, the Legion
Band of the 1st Tennessee Battalion, Company
A, Of the 1st Tennessee Regiment Of Knoxville.
Company A. Of the Ohio National Guard. of
Norman Ohio: the Sponsor of the Ancient Es-
senic Order. and maids Of honor arrayed In cos
tunes Of white in a taly-ho: Ser ators and
knights Of the local Senates and supreme OFF,
GERS and visiting knights. Governor Taylor and
his staff in open carriages. went to the grounds
later.
The public buildings and hundreds of business
and private houses along the line of march, ana
in every other part Of the city are Handsomely
adorned with the National colors and other
decorations.
The opening ceremonies were simple and plain,
but they were at the same time Impressive anu
made fitting prelude to one of the most memoir
able events in Tennessee history. The opening
of the Exposition marks the one hundredth year
Of the admission Of the State into the sisterhood
OF commemorative.
The members of both houses Of the Legislature
and their wives assembled at the Union-st. sta
ton OF the Nashville, Chattanooga and st. Louis
Railway 1T o o'clock. and were conveyed In spe-
cial trains to the handsome terminal station al
the west side of the Exposition park. The place
Of rendezvous was the Administration Bulldihs'
whence the officials. the legislators ana speciai
guests. including the Governor Of the STATE, Rop-
ert L. Taylor, General Ignacio Garha, PostHas-
ter General of the Republic of Mexico, ana SUITE
escorted by vast concourse OF citizens, proceeu-
ed to the Auditorium. This building In rev
moments was filled with above seven u, tnou,anu ~.
people while perfect multitude was unaoie 10
obtain admission, and contented Itself WIN llSt-
enin. to the inspiring strains OF superb ii'''i-
tary band from Cincinnati go -,
The ceremonies opened with prayer d!
the Right Rev. Thomas +. Gailor, CoadJutor
Bishop of Tennessee. After America had Deeh
PLAYED. Major j. w. Thomas. president OF tne
Tennessee Exposition Company, arose ana mao
an address which was received with cheers ana
applause The band struck up The star
Spangled Banner" amid tumuituous @ cheerils anu s
waving of hats and handkerchiefs. Inc heA1 Ia du-
dress was by Robert l.. Taylor. Governor or len
,, A. hord
At tho conclusion Of the address the pailh
struck up Dixie" and then the very earth ltsel
seamed to shake with the thunderS or applause
When quiet once more regned, MAJOR r. -
Lewis. the director general OF the EXposltoh'
PRESENTED the keys to President Thomas
Then at n given signal, the wires flashed. the
magic word 70 the White House at Washington
PRESIDENT Mckinley touched the button, and as
the band played Hail, COLUMBIA, rnao tne ma
cbinery was set in motion and the Tennessee
Centennial Exposition was opened to the world.
The exercises in the Auditorium ended the peo-
pie gathered around the immense iouhtaln li. To-
rasontinp Electricity built by Moretti, to witness
the ceremony OF its presentation to and accept
ance by Mrs. V. l.. Kirkman. president OF tne
Woman's Board. Governor Tayior introduces
Mrs Kirkman In brief speech. Mrs klrkmah'
briefly accepting the honor, touched the button
and the waters gushed forth.