The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-02
And Tennessee Centennial
Answered the Button.
AN ATTENDANCE OF 10000
THE BRILLIANT GATHERING UN.
SURPASSED IN THE STATE.
GREETINGS TO PRES. M'KlNLEY
And at 1914 at the Presidents Respon.
sive Touch, There Was the Start
of Machinery and the Roar
of Artillery.

Nashville. Tenn, May 1.-The Ten
nessee Centennial Exposition was thrown
open to the world to-day under auspicious
skies and amid impressive ceremonies
The day dawned cloudless and cool, af-
ter a rainy night, which threatened al
one time to interfere with the festivities
of the inaugural day.
At eight O'Clock the gates of the EX-
position were thrown open, and the peo-
pie began to arrive. By IL O'Clock, the
hour fixed for the exercises in the audi
torium, that building, holding 5000 peo-
pie, was filled.
The brief, simple, but impressive pro-
gramme was carried out before one Of
the most brilliant gatherings ever as
Sembled in Tennessee. On the platform
were the Exposition officers and commit
tees, Governor Taylor and his staff, the
Chief Justices and Associate Justices Of
the Supreme Court, members of the Wo-
mans Board, the Mayor of Nashville,
United States Senator w. B. Bate, Hon.
]. w. Gaines and hundreds of prominent
citizens.
President John w. Thomas at II
o'clock, with a historical gavel, raped
for order, and Right Rev. Thomas F.
GaylOr, co-Adjutor Bishop Of Tennessee,
offered prayer.
Chief Justice Snodgrass. w. NJ. Nc
Carthy John Thompson, Speaker of the
Senate, and Morgan G. Fitzpatrick,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
delivered brief addresses. After the ad-
dresses, President Thomas dictated from
81 ~ 90 70
dent Mckinley:
ITO the President of the United States
Of America, Washington, D. c.:
The people of Tennessee send greet
ings and request that you now put in
motion the machinery of the Tennessee
Centennial Exposition"
In a few minutes the roar of artillery
was heard echoing and re-echoing
through the buildings and over the
grounds. President Mckinley had
pressed the button; the exposition was
opened, the machinery had started at
12:14 O'clock.
The exercises in the Auditorium ended
and the people gathered around the inn
mense fountain representing electricity,
built by Moretti, to witness the ceremo-
ny of its presentation to and acceptance
by Mrs V. l.. Kirkman, President of the
Woman's Board.
Governor Taylor introduced Mrs.
Kirkman in a brief but happy speech.
Mrs Kirkman briefly accepting the hon
or, touched the button and the waters
gushed forth.
A luncheon was then served to the
members of the Woman's Board and
o,,I fnI nrrt ~
the afternoon one of the most charming
buildings, the Children's, was formally
opened with 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 eX-Nice-
President Adlai II. Stevenson, of Illinois,
and Governor Stephens, of Missouri.
Open air concerts and music in the
Auditorium attracted the growing
crowds. and as the afternoon heightened,
the attendance increased until after four
o'clock when the tide. set cityward.
The Agricultural building had caught
the fancy of visitors. It's decorations, ar
tistc yet peculiarly unique, drew well
and the building was filled all day. The
Mineral and Forestry building, with the
exhibits nearly complete, was much fire.
quented. The Government building was
not in good shape for viewing, and the
Commerce, Transportation and Machin-
cry buildings were thronged. The Rail
way Terminal Station. containing the eX-
hibits of several roads, was the center Of
attraction.
Only n portion of the Parthenon, the Art
Gallery, was open, the pictures not be-
ing hung in two-thirds of the building.
But the pictures on the walls were viewed
by thousands.
1t was not an exhibit examining
crowd; the people had not come to 60
from building TO building as a duty
to be performed. They had come to
view the Exposition as an entirety.
Tonight concerts by the band, eXten-
s;ve fireworks and complete illumination
of grounds and buildings by electric
lights drew thousands in addition tn
those who waited on the grounds for the
night programme. Conservative esti-
mates place the day and night attendance
at 10000. Perfect order prevailed.