The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-02
NOW IT'S ON TO NASHVILLE
GATES or THE GREAT EXPOSITION
THROWN OPEN.

Grounds on the Opening Day.
President of the Big show Flashes
Word to the President of the Ma
ton, and the Latter Presses a
Button That starts the Machinery.
4 BIrd's-Eye view of the Principal
buildings.
Nashville, Tenn, May THE Tennessee
centennial exhibition was thrown open to
the world to-day under suspicious skies
and amid impressive ceremonies. The day
dawned cloudless and cool, after a rainy
night. which threatened at one time to
interfere with the festivities of the in-
augural 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 the
! exercises in the auditorium, that building
! holding 5000 people, was flied. The brief
simple, but impressive programme was
| carried out before one of the most bril-
liant gatherings ever assembled in Ten
nessee. On the platform were the expo
| sition officers and committees, Gov. Tay-
Tor and his staff. the chief justice and as
sociate justices of the supreme court,
members Of the woman's board, the mayor
of Nashville. United States Senator w. b.
| Bate, Hon. J. w. Gaines and hundreds
| of prominent citizens. President John w
| Thomas, at IL o'clock, with a historical
gavel, raped for order. and Right Rev
Thomas Gailor, coadjutator bishop of Ten
nessee, offered prayer
After America" had been played in a
most impressive manner, Mai j. w.
Thomas, president of the Tennessee Elk
position Company, arose and was received
with cheers and applause. He then deliv-
cred the opening address
Loud and continuous cheering followed
the conclusion of President Thomas re-
marks and the band struck up THE Star
Spangled Banner" amid tumultuous
cheering and waving of hats and handker-
chiefs.
ue next address was by Hon. Robert L.
Taylor, governor Of Tennessee. AS he adj
Vahced towards the front Of the platform
the crowd rose as one man. and If was
several minutes before His Excellencv
could proceed with his address. At the
conclusion of the address the band struck
up Dixie" and then the very earth itself
seemed to shake with the thunders Of an
plause 1t was sight never to be for
gotten. '
Chief Justice Snoderass. w. NJ
McCarthy John Thompson. sneaker
Oh the state senate, and Nor
gan G. Fitzpatrick speaker Of
me House of Representatives delivered
brief addresses.
Wheh order was restored. or rather when
qulet once more reigned, Mai. e. C. Lewis
the director general of the association nm,
ueF whose ski4ful guidance the tnarve1ous
project materialized and came into heinz
stepped Forward. and as he did so the vol.
ulil9 u applause shook the very armament
/ =
hdu rocked upon the work of her gifted
son and saw that it was good HIS ad-
uIess was brief and very characteristic
OF the man, who is described as being ae
MODEST as he is able Whatever credit
may belong to others for work done in
connection with the Tennessee Centennial
Exposition, no one will contest the direc-
tor generals claim to the chief mart ara
as some OF the features of the exposition
are 10 be permanent. ii is safe TO saw tbo+
TINS great work which he has achieved will
be MS most enduring monument
In conclusion, Maj Lewis, turned n
PRESIDENT Thomas. and presented him win
the keys of the exposition.
linen President Thomas dictated from
lhe stage the following message to Presi-
dent Mckinley: es'-
TO the President of the United States
OF America, Washington, D. G.: The nao-
pc Oh tennessee send greeting and request
- SSN INV put IN movement the ma
cilhery OF the Tennessee Centennial expo-
sition."
In few minutes, the roar of artillery
was heard echOlng and re-echoing throiob
the buildings and over the grounds. Presi-
dent Mckinley had pressed the button
Sue eApositlon was opened; the machinery
mad started at 1914 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 ceremonv
OF its presentation to and acceptance by
Mrs. V. L. kirkman, president of the
woman's board.
Gov. Taylor introduced Mrs. Kirkman
in brief, but happy speech Mrs. Kirk
| man briefly accepting the honor. touched
the button and the waters gushed forth.
luncheon was then served to the mem
pers OF the woman's board, and guests,
and a reception followed
During the afternoon one of the most
| charming buildings, the chiIdren's. was
| formally opened with kindergarten exer-
cises, and this building was one of the
| chief centers of attraction during the az
ternoon.
Among the distinguished visitors upon
the auditorium stage were ex-Vice Presi-
dent Adlai +. Stevenson Of Illinois. and
| Gov. Stephens of Missouri.
| An open air concert and music in the an
| ditorium attracted the growing crowds and
as the afternoon heightened the attend
ance increased until after O'Clock. when
| the tide set cityward.
The agricultural building had caught the
| fancy OF visitors. Its decorations, artistic.
| Yet peculiarly unique. drew well and the
] building was filled all day
The mineral and forestry building with
exhibits nearly complete. was much fire.
| quented.
The government building was not IN
good shape for viewing and the com.
| merce, transportation and machinery
| buildings were thronged
The railway terminal station. containing
! the exhibit Of several railroads, was a
! center Of attraction.
only portion of the Pantheon, the art
! gallery, was open, the pictures not being
! hung in two-thirds Of the building. nm
the pictures on the wall were viewed bv
| thousands.
| IL was not an exhibit examining crowd
the people had not come to 20 from build
! ing 60 building as a duty to be performed
/ They had come to view the exposition
/ as an entirety
/ Tonight concerts bv tho hand ovto.