Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-11
GIVE THEM The GLAD HAND
0mahans Extenda Cordial Welcome to Their
Neighbors from Hastings.
GATES TO THE CITY THROWN WIDE OPEN
Visitors spend the Day Mt the ENposi-
tion Grounds Listening to Adj
dresses and Music and See
ing the sights.

Notwithstanding the threatening condition
of the weather more than 500 Of the people
of Hastings and vicinity turned out. bravcd
the cold north wind, and came to Omaha to
visit the exposition and enjoy the hospitality
of the city.
A few days ago some 900 Omahans went
down to Hastings and attended the street
fair then being held in that city. At that
time little did they think that they were
casting bread upon the waters that would
soon be returned more than twofold. How
ever, they were doing that very thing and
they fully realized it when three trains
rolled in from Hastings.
The first train was scheduled to arrive at
II O'Clock over the Elkhorn. but it was
nearly an hour later when the double-header
steamed around the curve and deposited it's
load or human freight opposite the north
gate OF the exposition grounds. At the point
of disembarking the eXcursonsts were met
by the mayor and members of the city
council, officers Of the exposition and COM
mittees from the Commercial club and the
knights of Ak-Sar Ben, and escorted to the
gates OF the grounds. At this point the
visitors were turned over to another COM
mittee. made UP of Omaha women and rep
resentatives of civic organizations, while the
| general reception committee returned to the
Elkhorn's suburban station to wait for the
second train, which came along an hour
| later. This time band went along and as
! soon as the engine puffed into the station
it struck up "A Hot Time" and played it
until the last passenger left the train. This
| delegation was escorted down to the gates,
and again the committee returned to re-
ceive the delegation that occupied the last
| train. When these were escorted to the
gates the line of march was taken up, the
entire column passing between two columns
| of mounted Indians, who were out to show
| themselves.
/ Headed by a band. behind which followed
| the officials OF the city and the exposition,
escorting the city officials of Hastings, the
procession marched down Twentieth street,
under the Administration arch and over
the bridge that spans the lagoon. From this
point the column moved to the auditorium,
where the seats were quickly filled, Ade
| mann's band rendering several selections
| while the seating was going on.
| The platform was occupied by large
number Of the visitors in addition to the
| officers OF the city and the exposition.
| When quiet was restored, President Miller
| in behalf of the exposition, extended :,
| hearty welcome to the visitors. He spoke
at some length of the early history of Ne
| braska. He referred to Hastings in eulo-
| CYSTIC terms, designating it as one OF
Omaha's big sisters, of which not only
Omaha, but the entire state felt proud
Mayor Moores, for the city Of Omaha.
| bade the visitors welcome, telling them
| that upon this occasion the gates to the city
had been removed and transferred to the
| bottom of the river He informed them
that the city was theirs and that they were
at liberty to take anything that they could
find. He assured them that Omaha bears
the frendliest feeling toward Hastings and
| is proud of its success.
! In closing the mayor presented Mayor
| Fisher of Hastings with an enormous golden
key, which he assured him will always un-
lock every gate that may by accident happen
to be closed.
To the addresses of President Miller and
Mayor MooreS Mayor Fisher responded,
thanking the citizens for the hospitality and
good feeling shown, He assured them that
Hastings feels proud of its big sister and
that the people of the western portion of the
state only hope that the time may come
when it will have to be recognized as the
metropolis of the United States
| City Attorney Kepps of Hastings remarked
that he voiced the sentiments of Mayor
Fisher and that bond of friendship exists
between Omaha and Hastings and that it is
growing in strength each year
Allel lHe eAeIClSeS at the Auditorium the
visitors made an onslaught upon the eating
houses and restaurants, after which they
scattered over the grounds, viewing the at
fractions inside and outside the buildings
The women in the Hastings party were the
guests of the Omaha women, who took them
in charge and entertained and lunched them
at the Public Comfort building during the
entire afternoon.
The eXcursionists spent very pleasant
evening at the grounds listening to the
music and watching the fine display of
fireworks arranged especially for their ben
eft Tho day passed without accident and
everybody seemed much pleased with the
treatment received at the hands of Omaha.
The party left in three sections. the first
one pulling out from the Burlington sta
tion about 10 o'clock, and the others about
an hour apart.