The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-03


a larger expenditure than any similar
enterprise heretofore attempted on
this continent. greater in it's ambition
and larger in is scope than any pre-
vious effort of it's kind, the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition was formally
opened this afternoon
The inaugural exercises could hard
ly have been improved upon. They
were simple and were carried through
without delay of any description.
The weather, Notwithstanding the
pessimistic predictions of the weather
bureau, which promised a gloomy
morning, a threatening noon and
rainy evening, was without a flaw. The
handling Of the crowds, the guarding
of the enclosures set apart for the
participants in the exercises and the
police work generally could not have
been bettered. This was in the hands
of the officers of the regular army.
who directed the exposition guards
in all their duties and was done as
the regular army man does Things
In generaI-promptly. thoroughly and
without fuss.
extreme care had been taken in the
arrangement of the days programme.
It's length had been calculated TO
nicely, that all things might be I'M
ished at noon exactly, but as is usual
ly the case, the programme dragged
out beyond the limit. 1t was ar
ranged that President Roosevelt
should press the button at exactly IL
o'clock, but when that hour arrived
several addresses had not been COM
pleted At approximately 1915, ST.
Louis time, in order that his time may
not be encroached upon, the signal
was given to President Roosevelt that
all things were ready. His response
was quick, and in few seconds came
the answering touch over the wire
from the White House. This officially
opened the exposition, but IL was de-
termined to conclude the programme,
and the signal for the actual opening
for the unfurling of the flags, the
ringing Of bells and the operation OF
the great cascades was not given by
Director of Works Taylor until 1:14.
1t was several minutes later then
when President Francis, Of the expo
sition, formally announced that the
fair was open to the world. He made
the declaration with a laugh, for the
bands were playing, the crowds were
cheering and the people were rushing
she curtain~upon the drama with
whose prologue of FIVE long years
they were all familiar.
Although no special effort was
made by the management OF the ex-
position to secure a large attendance
for the opening day, the crowd was
fully as large as that which filled the
grounds enc year ago, when the ex-
position buildings were dedicated
with so much pomp and ceremony.
Promptly at 8 o'clock the officers
and directors of the exposition, the
members of the national committee
and of the board of lady managers
were gathered at the administration
building. where, as rapidly as possi
bic. they were formed into a process
sisn and marched to the plaza of St.
Louis. in the center of the grounds.
where the formal exercises of the
opening were conducted. At the
head of the column was q detach-
ment of the Jefferson guards. Then
came the Philippine scouts. At the
plaza the officials were met by the
representatives of foreign govern
mentS in brilliant uniforms. The as
semblage was called 10 order by
President D. r. Francis. of the expo
sition, who requested the audience 10
rise while the Rev. Frank NJ Gum
saulaus, of Chicago, delivered the in
vocation.
At the conclusion of the prayer.
President Francis recognized William
n. Thompson. of the committee on
grounds and buildings, who presented
to President Francis. Isaac S. Tay-
Ior. the director of works. Mr. Tay-
Ter delivered TO DR.. Francis the keys
of the exposition and presented diplo-
mas Gt merit to his staff.
After the march louisiana" had
been played by Sousa's band. Presi-
dent Francis transferred the exposi-
ton buildings to Frederick J. W
Skiff. the director OF exhibits. the per
formanCe beng emblematic of the
fact that the buildings had been
erected by the men in charge of that
portion OF the work and were now