Evening star., 1897-05-01
LATE NEWS BY WIRE
Opening of the Tennessee Expo
sition.
SIMPLE CEREMONIES At NASHVILLE
Addresses by Gov. Taylor and the
Chief Officials.
MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT

NASHVILLE Tenn. May 1.-The Ten
nessee centennial exposition was opened
at noon today with appropriate ceremonies.
in the presence of many thousands Of peo-
pie. The weather was bright and cool. and
ct an early hour the streets were thronsed
with people assembled to witness the pa
rade of the Essenic order and other So
cieties
The procession formed OF the public
square and marched through College street
to Market. Market to Union, Union to Sum-
mer. Summer to Church, Church to Spruce.
Spruce to Broad and the exposition grounds.
The inclement weather which prevailed
yesterday and until early this morning in
terfered with the arrangements for the
parade in honor OF the visiting supreme
officers of the Ancient Essenic Order. yet
1t was a most creditable affair and mani
Tested their appreciation of The opening
OF the exposition.
The procession was headed by de-
tachment of mounted police. followed by
local divisions of the Uniform Rank
Knights of Pythias; officers Of the Ten
nessee Essenic Order. the Legion Band of
the 1st Tennessee Battalion; Company A
of the LIST Tennessee Regiment of Knox
VILE; Company A of the Ohio National
Guard of Norman. Ohio: the sponsor Of the
Ancient Essenic Order and maids of honor
arrayed in costumes Of white. in tally
no. senators and knights os the local sem
ates and supreme officers and visiting
knights
Governor Taylor and mis- staff in opcn
carriages went to the grounds later. The
public buildings and hundreds of business
houses and private residences along the
line of march and every other portion of
the city are handsomely adorned with the
national colors and other decorations and
present a very beautiful appearance.
Arriving at the exposition grounds those
in the procession joined with the thou
sands of other visitors in inspecting the
splendid buildings and the very attractive
grounds.
The members of both houses of the leg
}slature and their wives assembled at the
Union street depot of the Nashville, Chat
tanooga and st. Louis railway at 0 O'Clock.
and were conveyed In special trains to the
handsome terminal station at the west side
of the exposition park. The place of rem
dezvous was the administration building
whence the officials. the legislators and dis
tinguished guests, inclu ling the governor of
the state. Robt. L. Taylor Cen Ignacio
Garna, postmaster general Of the republic
OF Mexico. and suite. escorted by a vast
concourse of citizens, proceeded to the au-
ditorfum. which. in few moments was
FILED with above seven thousand people.
while a multitude was unable 10 obtain ad-
mission. and contented itself with listening
TO the strains of Bels.edt & Bellenberp's
Military Concert Band OF Cincinnati The
ceremonies were opened with prayer by
RI Rev. Thomas F. Gailor, coadjutor
DlShOp OF Tennessee.
After America had been pIayed in a
most impressive manner Mai j. W.
Ihomas. president of the Tennessee Expo
sltIon Company. arose and was received
nd ~,l~,,
Loud and continuous cheering followed
tie conclusion of President Thomas re-
marks and the band struck up The Star
Spangied Banner" amid tumuituous cheer
ing and waving Of hats and handkerchiefs.
The next address was by Robert L. Tay-
ior- governor of Tennessee.
Al the conclusion of The address the band
struck DIP Dixie" and then the very earth
Itself seemed TO shake with the thunders Of
applause IL was sight never to be for
gotten.
When order was restored. or rather when
quiet once more re;gned Mai. r = Lewis
the director general of the association nm
Ger whose skillful guidance the marvellous
PROJECT materialized and came into beirp
stepped forward His address was brief
and characteristic.
Mai Lewis. turning to President Thomas
said: o"''
IT Is with very great pleasure, sir. tha,
L present to you the KEYS o'
President Thomas said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: I will nou die
tate a telegram to the President Of tine
United States.' "
Inen the wires flashed the word to the
mite House at Washington President Nc
NlnIey touched the button and as tho han.
piayei Hail Columbia" the machfner,
was SET In motion, and the Tennessee cen
'eHhiai exposition was opened to the world.
He Pressed the Button.
lr compliance with the request of the
executive committee of the Nasby;,Ia
CIenn-) centennial. the President opened
the exposition by wire from the White
house at i o'clock today. The arrange
mehts were very simple in detail. The
circuit was made up by the Western Union
oficiak. under the supervision of Mr.
Montgomery. executive clerk in charge of
1Weiegraph. and Manager Mareau Of the
direct to Nashville, by way of Richmond
Va. and Asheville. N c.. repeaters being
used at the former place Tae circuit was
httie over 700 miles in length. Imme-
ulateiy upon the completion Of the circuit
INTO the exposition grounds the Presiden,
was notined by Secretary Porter ard at
once walked across the hall 70 the tele-
graph room. where. under the guidance
OF MI Montgomery. he stepped up to the
desk. placed his finger on the Morse kew
and slightly depressed it, which action in
stanly gave the signal to the Nashville
exposition.
The members of the Tennessee delegation
In Congress. Pension Commissioner H. Clay
Evans and several other prominent Ten
nesseeans. witnessed the ceremony The
Following kilograms in relation to the ce-e-
mony passed between Secretary Porter ard
j. w. Thomas. president of the exposition:
NASHVILLE. Tenn, April %
His Excellency. William Mckinley, Wash
ington. d. c.
The executive committee OF the Tennessee
centennial. following the invitation EXTEND
ed you through our special committee sent
10 Washington. now formally request you
10 touch at 1 pm. Washington time Sat
urday. May ]. the electric signal which
shall open the Tennessee centennial exposi-
ton. j. w. THOMAS
j. W. Thomas. Nashville.
The President is In receipt of your tele-
gram OF the 10Th. 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 exposition at 1
pm. May l.. j. A. PORTER,
Secretary to the President.
FEATURES OF THE EXPOSITION.
Principal buildings and the Chief
Attractions.
The exposition park. situated within a
quarter of an hours ride from the business
center OF the city of Nashville. covers an