The record-union., 1897-05-02
CENTENNIAL OF THE
STATE OF TENNESSEE.
The Exposition at Nashville Formally
Opened to the Public.
Thousands of People Witness the In
augural Ceremonies.
President rlcKinley Touches the Elec-
trio Key in the White House Which
Sets in Motion the Machinery of
the Exposition, and Sends a Mess
age of Congratulation to the People
of Tennessee.


of Tennessee.
NASHVILLE (Tenn.), May Fol
lowing a night cold and dreary, night
casting gloom over an entire city where
all the people were anxiously hoping for
typical May morning, bright warm
and beautiful, upon which to celebrate
the actual opening of the Tennessee
Centennial Exposition, came a day sur
prising and delighting, but cold, with
a chilling north wind blowing The eff
feet of the rain during the night van
ished, the wind dried the earth, and
when the childrens parade, including
Knights of Pythias, the Tennessee
Guard, Company A of the National
Guard of Norman, Ohio the sponsors
and maids of honor of the essence or
der, with brass bands and flying colors,
marched along the decorated streets
the throngs forgot the cold and wind
and dismissed their forebodings
At : o'clock the gates of the Ten
nessee Exposition We're opened, and
people began to arrive. By l o'clock
the hour fixed for the exercises in the
Auditorium, the buildings, holding
5000 people, We're filled. The brief and
simple programme was carried out be-
fore one of the most brilliant gather
ings ever assembled in Tennessee. On
the platform were the exposition Off
GERS and committees, Governor Taylor
and staff, the Chief Justice and Asso-
ciate Justices of the Supreme Court
members Of the Woman's Board and
the Mayor of Nashville, United States
| Senator Bate and hundreds of promi-
nent citizens.
President John w. Thomas, at II
| O'Clock, with a historical gavel, raped
for order, and Right Rev. Thomas F.
Gaylor. coadjutor Bishop of Tennessee
offered prayer. president Thomas
Governor Taylor, Chief Justice Snod-
grass. William Mcs,sl sis. John Thomp-
son, Speaker of the State Senate, and
Morgan c. Fitzpatrick Speaker of the
House of Representatives, delivered
brief addresses.
After the addresses President Thomas
dictated on the stage the following
| message to President Mckinley:
ITO the President of the United
States of America, Washington: The
people of Tennessee send greeting 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 building and over the
grounds President Mckinley had
pressed the button, the exposition was
opened. The machinery had started al
| 12:14 o'clock.
The exercises in the Auditorium end
! ed, and the people gathered around the
immense fountain, representing cleo
tricity, built by Moretti, to witness the
ceremony Of its presentation and ac-
ceptance by Mrs. V. L. Kirkham, Pres
ident of the Woman's Board.
Governor Taylor introduced Mrs
Kirkham, and Mrs. Kirkham briefly
accepting the honor, touched the but
ton. and the water gushed forth.
A luncheon was served to the mem
bers of the Woman's Board and guests
and a reception followed.
During the afternoon one of the most
charming buildings, the chidrens, was
formally opened with kindergarten ex-
ercises. The building was one Of the
| chief centers of attraction during the
afternoon.
! Among the distinguished visitors upOr
the auditorium stage We're ex-Vice-
President Stevenson and Governor Ste
phens of Missouri.
Open-air concerts and music in the
auditorium attracted the growine
crowds, and as the afternoon heightened
the attendance increased until after :
o'clock, when the tide set cityward.
The agricultural building had caught
the fancy of visitors. It's decorations
drew well, and the building was filled al
day. The mineral and forestry building
| with exhibits nearly complete, were
much freouented. The Government
building was not in good shape fol
viewing. but the commerce, transporta
ton and machinery buildings were
| thronged The railway terminal sta
ton, containing the exhibits of severa
roads, was center of attraction
only portion of the Pethenon, the
art gallery, was opened. the pictures no
being hung in two-thirds of the build
ing. but the pictures on the wall were
viewed by thousands.
Tonight concerts by band, extensive
fireworks anu CO11plcIc lliuiHI1dtlOn u
the grounds and buildings by electricity
drew thousands, in addition to those
who waited on the grounds for the nigh
programme
Conservative estimates place the day
and night attendance at 10000.
PRESIDENT MKINLEY TOUCHES
THE ELECTRIC KEY.
WASHINGTON, May lin compli
ance with the request of the Executive
Committee of the Nashville Centennial
the President opened the exposition by
wire from the White House at IL;
o'clock to-day.
The circuit was made by the Western
Union officials by way of Richmond
Va. and Asheville y. c.. repeaters be
ing used at the former place. The cir
cult was little over 100 miles long
Immediately upon the completion o
the circuit the President was notified
by Secretary Porter and at once walked
across the hall to the telegraph room
where he placed his finger on a Mors,
KEY. which action instantly put in mo
tion the wheels of the exposition TIL,
members of the Tennessee delegation
in Congress, Pension COMMISSIONS
Evans and several other prominen
| Tennesseeans witnessed the ceremony
The Arrangement contemplated