The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-03
CEREMONIES OF FAIR
They Were Inaugurated by a Grand
Mi itary Parade.
CORBIN IN COMMAND.
The Soldiers in the Line of March
Were Composed of Members of
the National Guard, Also
Regular Troops.

| presented the Louisiana Purchase ex
position to the world were performed
in Liberal Arts building Thursday Will
all the dignity and splendor befittin&
such an occasion, the parade oil II ,00t
soldiers down Lindell boulevard to thu
Worlds fair grounds forming a bril-
liant prelude to the ceremony OF dedi
cation.
Sixty thousand people crowded into
the big auditorium. where, in the pres.
ence of official representatives of al
civilized nations of the word. thu
words of dedication were spoken by the
president of the United States. AS the
last syllable fell from the soeaker::
lips. and the dedication of one OF th<
worlds greatest fairs was completed
10000 voices rose in a prodigious note
of applause.
President Roosevelt. Ex-President
Cleveland and an imposing company OF
diplomatists, governors, senators, con.
gressional representatives, government
officials and representatives of the ex-
position came to the Liberal Arts
building from functions which were
served in tents On the grounds.
President Roosevelt, former Presi-
dent Cleveland, Presluent Francis OF
the Exposition company, President
Carter of the Worlds fair commission
members of the cabinet and supreme
court, took seats in the center of the
platform. At the presidents right sat
the visiting diplomatists, a distinguish
ed looking contingent. In this section
also were other distinguished foreign.
ers and representatives of the state de-
partment at Washington. To the left
of the president sat joint delegations OF
senators and representatives represent
ing congress, foreign commissioners tC
the fair and General Miles, General
Corbin and General John c. Bates
with many others scarcely less distin.
guished.
Two front sections of the audito-
ors of states and their stats, National
Worlds fair representatives, United
States senators and congressman who
were not members of the congressional
joint delegation, and other notable
guests. Across the aisles was a bril-.
liantly gowned assemblage of women
including wives of guests of men con.
nected with the ceremonies and the
boaru of lady managers. Back of these
rose tier on tier of thousands common.
ly spoken of as the general public.
Those In the rear of this contingent
had difficulty in hearing the speeches
for the hall is a long one and miles OF
bunting and flags, e-.-----.ing the min.
gled colors of Spain, France and thu
United States, impaired the acoustic
properties of the building.
Although many could not hear, all
could see, and the rear guard eheered
the appearance of the speakers as
heartily as the more fortunate ones
did their words.
Besides President Roosevelt, other
participants in the ceremony were Car
dinal Gibbons. Bishops E. b. Hendrix
and Henry G. Potter, former President
Cleveland. Thomas H. Carter. president
of the day. and David r. Francis,
At the conclusion of the speeches,
and it being the one hundredln ami
yersary of the signing of the treaty
which transferred the Louisiana pur-
chase from France to the United States,
a centennial salute OF 1UU aerial guns
was fired.
The great military parade, which
was designed to be distinctiVely a
show spectacle of the dedication Ger.
emonies, was held in the morning, and
1t proved to be all that dts promoters
could wish and all that the regular ar
my officers who controlled it could
hope for There has been many mil
itary parades that revealed more men
in line: there may have been some
that were as gorgeous to look upon.
but it is doubtful If there has ever
been any that were more carefully
handled or. more superbly managed
than this one.
A heavy rain, which fell at 8 O'clock
In the morning. disposed of the heavy
dust, and. save the one feature of
high wind, all things were favorable to
the success of the parade
The sight of marching thousands
from the point occupied by President
Rooseveit's reviewing stand was in
spring For half a mile to the left
and for an equal distance to the right
the winding column was in complete
view. The president watched the
march pass him with eager attention.
Although Adjutant General Henry G.
Corbin was grand marshal, the active
work of organizing the columns and
managing parade was done by Briga
der General John A. Johnston. of the
United States army. and Lieutenant
Colonel E. A. Goodwin, Ninth United
States cavalry There were II 900 men
in line-31o0 regular and 1900 of the
National Guard.
Dynamite Bomb ExpIodes.
saIonica. Turkey. May IA bomb