Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-05-04
rELEoRAPHic NEWS.

Vi lHt
Purchase exposition was formally ded
icated today by President Roosevelt
an-President Cleveland. in the pres
ence of the diplomatic corps, score
of United States senators. governors
of many states, and altogether the
largest assembly of famous men ever
gathered in the west.
The quaint old city was early astir
Regiments Of infantry, headed by
bands marched through long lines OF
spectators to he point of rendezvous.
Every road running into St Louis
has been pouring special after special
train loads of people into the city, and
at 10 o'clock it is estimated that 200
600 strangers are the guests of St
Louis.
The day is threatening heavy clouds
are banked up in the west. and the
morning is cold and disagreeable, far
from the summer-like temperature OF
Wednesday.
President Roosevelt and eX-Pres-
dent Cleveland left the house of Pres
ident Francis of the exposition at $3.50,
and were driven to the St Louis club,
with the White Horse troop of cavalry
as an escort. There they met the for
eign ambassadors, all being present
but the Austrian minister AS soon as
the president arrived he was Introduc-
ed to the exposition officials by Mayor
Wells, who rendered him the freedom
of the city, saying that eight hundred
thousand citizens of the Middle Wesi
were in St Louis today to welcome
their president. President Roosevelt
responded informally, and then the
big parade started for the Exposition
grounds. 1t was a magnificent specta
Gle. The dedication services were
held shortly after noon.
For the masses the military parade
was the feature of the day, as it was
also the curtain raiser for the dedica-
tory ceremonies And such a parade
Never in the history of St. Louis, and
only rarely in the history of the en-
tire country can an account be found
OF more splendidly military specta
Gle. Led by the famous Marine band
OF Washington. followed by the expo
sition officials. the president and form
er president OIL the United States,
members OF the presidents cabinet,
foreign ambassadors and ministers,
the governors OF a score of states and
innumerable other guests of distinc
tion, the pageant certainly was "A stir
ring sight, one calculated to move
even the most sluggish blood to wit
ness. and to quicken the iiame of pat
riotism in every breast
The ceremonies attending the pre-
sentation of the freedom of the city to
the president occupied little more
time than had been calculated on and
as consequence it was nearly eleven
O'Clock when the booming of cannon
announced that the parade had start
ed. The starting point was the juno
tion OF Grand avenue and Lindell bou-
levard and the route lay through For
est park to the exposition grounds.
All along the line of march buildings
and residences were ablaze with flags
and bunting, gathered in festoons or
stretched in long folds from roof to
ground, while from numberless flag
poles and windows the national colors
luttered in the fresh breeze. with here
and there the flag of a foreign nation.
The military made a brave and in
spring show. Every branch of the ma
tons military service was shown,
even battery of mighty siege guns,
and military and cadet organizations
We're present from all parts of the
country 10 add to the magnitude OF the
parade and the richness of the pa
geant. Then, to contribute fitting
crown TO the glitter and pomp of the
spectacle, the adjutant general of the
army, with one of the largest and most
imposing staffs that could be gather
ed, was in command of the entire lot.
First, OF course, came the usual
large detachment of mounted police,
and Immediately behind them rode
General Corbin and his staff After
these came the engineers of the regu-
lar army, who always enjoy the priyi-
lege of marching at the head of a pa
rade. Back of the engineers marched
the regiments of regular infantry, and
in size this was by far the largest sec
tion of the parade. The regulars did
not comprise the whole infantry sec
ton. however, for back of them came
the militia regiments of Missouri, Ne
braska New York, Ohio. Indiana, Ken
lucky and numerous other states. Fol
lowing the infantry came the light ar.
tillery batteries OF the regular and mi
litia forces to fill the spectators with
awe at the grim-looking rifles busi-
ness-like Gltllng guns and deadly ma
chine guns.
Then came the most spirited and
fascinating portion of the parade to
the layman, The cavalry division with
its prancing horses, forest of fluttering
yellow guidons and rows of cleaning
unshcathed sabres. Not only was the
regular cavalry in line, but militia
troops from various large cities of the
country were included in the division
their elaborate ard full dress uniforms
adding much to the glitter of the spec
tacle. The end of the line was brought
up by the sailors and naval reserves,
followed by battery of tremendous
siege and coast defense guns, the first
ever exhiAted in an inland city.
President Francis led Cardinal Glib
bons to the rostrum. The cardinal,
clad in his robes of office, made an
imposing picture. He said, in giving