The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-05-08
TOUCHES THE BUTTON.
President Mckinley Starts Wheels
of Tennessee Exposition
Formal Opening OF the .swhite Cityr
at Nashvilie-Appropria Cere-
monies Preceded by N Big
Parade.

Nashville, Tenn, May 3. - The Ten
nessee centennial expositionwas opened
Saturday with appropriate ceremonies
In the presence of many thousands of
people. The procession was headed by
detachment OF mounted police, fol-
lowed by local division in uniform rank
Knights of Pythias; officers of the Ten
nessee Essenic order: the Legion band
OF the First Tennessee battalion; COM
pany A of the First Tennessee regi-
ment, OF Knoxville; company A, of the
Ohio national guard of Norman, o.; the
sponsor of the Ancient Essenic order
and maids Of honor, arrayed In cos
tunes of white, in a tally-ho; senator's
and knights of the local senate. and SUI
preme officers and visiting knights.
Gov. Taylor and his staff. in open car
riages, went to the ground later.
The place OF rendezvous was the
Administration building. whence the
officials. the legislature and distin-
guished guests, including the governor
of the state. Hon. Robert l.. Taylor, Gen.
lgnacio Garha, postmaster general OF
the republic of Mexico, and suite, es-
corted by vast concourse OF citizens,
proceeded to the Auditorium, which, in
q few minutes, was filed with above
1000 people. while perfect multitude
was unable to obtain admission. and
contented itself with listening 70 the
inspiring strains OF Bellstedt a Bellcn-
berg's superb military concert band Of
Cincinnati. The ceremonies were opened
with prayer by Rt. Rev. Thomas r..
Gailor, coadjutor bishop Of Tennessee.
Addresses were made by Mai. j. w.
Thomas, president of the Tennessee
Exposition company, and Hon. Robert
L. Taylor, governor OF Tennessee.
At the conclusion Of the address the
band struck up "Dixie," and then The
very earth seemed to shake with the
thunders of applause. 1t was a sight
never TO be forgotten.
Then, at a given signal, the wires
flashed the magic word TO the white
house at Washington. President Nc
Kinley touched the button, and, as the
band played "ITail Columbia" the ma
chinery was set in motion and the Ten.
nessee centennial expositionwas opened
to the world.
The exercises in the Auditorium
ended and the people gathered around
the immense fountain representing
electricity, built by Moretti, TO witness
the ceremony Of its presentation TO and
acceptance by Mrs. v. L. Kirkman, pres
ident Of the woman's board. Gov Tay-
Tor introduced Mrs. KirlSman in a brief
but happy speech. Mrs. Kirkman, brief
" accepting the honor, touched the but
ton, and the waters gushed forth.
ExceIlIng Features OF the Exposition.
In many particulars the Tennessee
centennial eclipses all other eNpositions
ever held in America. The art gallery
at Nashville, in the value Of the work
presented, is far ahead Of Chicago, and
cqualed only by the Paris salon and
Royal academy. The electrical features
OF the exposition are the grandcst that
the world has ever seen, and they are
so marvclously beautiful that IL APP
pears as though up 10 the present time
the world has lost half its light, and
has CROPPED its way along in tho dark
ness now penetrated for the first time.