El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-06-01
OMAHA
WELCOMES ALL.

WELCOMES ALL.
The Great Exposition Formally
Opened Today.
OMAHA, Neb., June L-With pomp
and parade Omaha's big fair was form
ally opened today. BY proclamation
of Mayor Moores the day WAS observed
40 q general holiday ard the citizaus
and visitors are mailing the best of IL.
Day had :ecarcely dawned whom for
nearly an hour there was con tipuous
screeching o: whistles and the firing
Of guns. and the people soon after
breakfast began to assemble on the
streets to witness the big parade,
which did not start until nesrly noon.
The city was freely decorated with
bunting and flags, especially along the
route covered by the procession. The
people were dressed in holiday attire,
and business was generally suspended
in order to permit clerks and work
men to enjoy the days festivities. The
arrivals of the visiting dignita ries
who were to take part in the de-
dicatory ceremonies wss the principal
incident of the early morning. hours.
At ten o'clock the parade COM
menced to form on Douglssistreet be-
tween Fourteenth and Sixteenth
streets. Owing to the absenoe<o the
state militia, the procession Wa nec-
esssrily OF civic character entirely,
the escort duty being performed By the
cadets Of the Omaha high school and
of the University Of Nebraska. Msjor
T. 8. Clsrkson was the Grand MarshS1>
and the Marine band headed the pro-
cession. The crowds in the streets to
watch the parade we're enormous. All
Omaba and Council Bluffs turned out
and many visitors were present from
neighborin9 cities. The attendance At
the grounds was equally large and It 10
estimated that fully 10000 people oc-
cupied points of vantage in and about
the grand court whom tho procession
arrived shortly afer moon. The cere-
monies were held 1t the east end Of
the grand court. At 1890. the hour
appointed for the commencing exer-
cises, the court was black with human
ity, the only clear spaces being tho
covered platforms erected for the 90
comodstion of tho speakers, special
visitors and authorities Of the exposi-
ton and city. Special provision IVES
also made for the members of the Wo-
mans board, the governor and his star
aud the representative Of the press.
President G.: w. Wattles Of the ex-
position called the assemblage 70 order
and announced music by the Marine
band. It wss the "Jubilee Overture"
composed for the occssion by she lead
er of the band and dedicated 70 the
leaders Of the Trans-M -Mississippi expo
sition. At the conclusion there was
wild cheering from the great audience
which brought forth IN encore. Pres
ident Wattles then introduced Rev.
Samuel j. Nichols of 81.
Louis, who invoked divine
blessing. Addresses by Pres
ident Wattles and Senator William v.
Allen followed. There was more
music and then the address of tho day
vas delivered by Hon. John @. Bald
win of Council Bluffs. ''The Voice Of
Our Nation was rendered By the
Marine baud and at the conclusion
Governor Holoomb stepped to the CEN
Ter of the platform. A hush fell over
the vast assem- blage, the governor
placed q telephone receiver to his ear
t. ehAk ~ "A
by hundreds his excellency read . mes
sage of congrstulasion received from
President McKinley over the long dis
6auce telephone wires connecting
the white house and the exposition
grounds.
booming of cannon in front Of the sdmi-
nistrstion building was heard. The pres
ident had touched the electric button
aud tho impulse flashing over the wires
from the national capital had set In
motion the big engines in maohinery
hall As If by magic tho hundred Of
flags and banners decorating the build
lngs. which had up to now been furled,
nuttered to the breeze, and the great
show, preparations for which have
been making for two years. was IN 90:
complished fact. In tho grand court
tbs ceremonies concluded with the
playing of the national hymn, "Amer-
ica' by the Marine band, and In which
the whole vast emblsge Joined.
CContinued on 4th psgo.I