Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-02
TENNESSEE'S SHOW.
CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION OPENED
UNDER FINE AUSPICES.
W4INLRY PRESSES THE BUTTON
The Enterprising NashvilIians Do
the Rest According to Hoy1e-Dis-
Grounds and buildings.

NASHVILLE, TENN, May L-ihe
Tennessee Centennial Exposition was
thrown open to the world to-day, under
suspicious skies and amid impressive
ceremonies The day dawned cloudess
and cooG. after a rainy night which
threatened at one time to interfere with
the festivities OF the inaugural day.
At o'clock the gates of the exposition
were opened, and the people began to ar
rive. BY IL o'clock, the hour fixed for
he exercises In the auditorium, thai
building, holding 5000 people, was filed
The brief and simple but impressive pro-
gramme was carried out before one OF
the most brilliant gatherings ever assem-
bled in Tennessee. On the platform were
the exposition officers and committees,
Governor Taylor and his staff, the Chief
Justice and Associate Justices Of the Su-
preme Court, members Of the Woman's
Board, the Mayor OF Nashville. United
States-Senator w. y. Bates, Hon. J. w.
Games, and hundreds of prominent citi-
zens.
President John W. Thomas at II o'clock,
with a historic gavel. raped for order,
and Right Rev. Thomas +. Gaylor, CO.
adjutor Bishop Of Tennessee. offered
prayer. Chief Justice snodgrass, William
Mccarthy, John Thompson. Speaker Of
the State Senate. and Morgan c. Fitz-
patrick, Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, delivered brief addresses, and
after the addresses President Thomas
dictated from the stage the following mes
sage to President Mckinley:
ITO the President OF the United states
Of America, Washington, u. c.;
"'The people of Tennessee send greeting
and request that you now put in motion
the machinery of the Tennessee Centen-
NAL Exposition"
MKINLEY PRESSES THE BUTTON.
In n few minutes the roar of artillery
was heard echoing and re-echoing through
the buildings. and over the grounds. Presi-
dent Mckinley had pressed the button.
The exposition was opened. The ma
chinery had started at 124 O'Clock.
The exercises in the auditorium ended
and the people gathered around the I'M
mense fountain representing electricity
built by Moretti, TO witness the ceremony
Of its presentation to and acceptanc by
Mrs. V. L. Kirkman, president OF the
Wor,an's BOARD. Governor Taylor intro
duced Mrs. Kirkman in a brief but happy
speech. and Mrs. Kirkman, briefly ac-
ceptng the honor. touched the button
and the waters gushed forth. luncheon
was then served 10 the members OF the
Woman's Board and guests, and recep-
ton followed.
Duu.ng the afternoon one OF the most
h. oh VI
formally opened with the kindergarten
exercises. and this building was one of the
chief centres Of attraction during the
afternoon.
Among the distinguished visitors upon
the auditorium stage were e>-Vice-Presi-
dent Adlai +. Stevenson. of Illinois, and
Governor Stephens. OF Missouri.
Open-air concerts and music in the audi
forum attracted the growing crowds. and
as the afternoon heightened the attend
ance increased. until after 4 o'clock, when
the tide set cityward.
THE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS.
The agricultural building had caught
the fancy OF visitors. Its decorations.
artistic. vet peculiarly urldIe. drew well.
and the building was filed all day. The
mineral and forestry building with ex-
hibits nearly complete. was much fire.
quented. The government building was
not in good shape for viewing, but the
commerce, transportation, and machinery
buildings were thronged. The railway
terminal station. containing the exhibits
of several roads, was n centre Of attrac-
ton. Only a portion OF the Pantheon
the art gallery. was open. the pictures
not being hung in two thirds Of the build
ing But the pictures on the wall were
viewed by thousands.
1t was not an exhibit-examining crowd
The people had not come to go from build
lng TO building as a duty to be performed.
They had come TO view the exposition
as an entirety.
Tonight concerts by the band. extern
sive fireworks, and a complete ilumi-
nation of the grounds and buildings by
electric lights drew thousands in addi-
ton TO those who waited on the grounds
for the night-programme.
Conservative estimates place the das
and night attendance at 5000. Perfect
order prevailed.