The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-01
WORLDS FAIR IS OPENED
WITH ORATORY, PRAYER,
MUSIC AND BOOM OF GUNS
President Touches a Key in White
House, but the Wheels Do Not
Turn for an Hour Later.
CEREMONY IS PROLONGED
All the Speakers Are Given an OPP
portunity to Deliver Their
Addresses.
GREAT CROWD PRESENT
Cheers Greet Unfurling of Flags
and Starting of the Cascades
"The Pike" Popular.
IS PROLONGED
GREAT CROWD PRESENT

chase Exposition was formally opened to-
day There was oratory and prayer. music
and cheers. unfurling OF flags and booming
Of cannon. the noise OF falling waters and
the indescribable sounds Of the Pike. and
over and around all this there was sunshine
and balmy air.
The inaugural exercises could hardly
have been improved upon. They were sim
pie and were carried through without delay.
The weather. Notwithstanding the pessim-
istic predictions OF the weather bureau.
which promised a gloomy morning, a
threatening noon and a rainy evening. was
without flaw. No fairer day from dawn to
sunset could have been hoped for. The
warm but tempered by a pleasant
breeze whose tempera ture was sufficient
to cool. and too mild to chill.
The handling of the crowds the guarding
of Enclosures sacred TO the participants
in the exercises and the police work gener-
ally could not have been bettered. This
work was in the hands of officers of the
regular army, who directed the exposition
guards in all their duties
Extreme care had been taken in the ar
rangement of the days programme. It's
length had been calculated to nicely. that
all things might be finished at noon ex-
actly, but, is usual in such cases, the
programme dragged out beyond its expect
ed time. IL was arranged that President
Roosevelt should press the button at ex-
actly u o'clock, but when that hour ar
rived several of the addresses had not been
completed.
NEARLY AN HOURS DELAY.
At approximately 12:l5 o'clock. ct. Louis
time, in order that his time might not be
encroached on. the signal was given TO
President Roosevelt that all things were
ready His response was quick. and in q
few seconds came the answering touch over
the wire from the White House. This Of
ficially opened the exposition. but IL
determined 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 cas-
cades was not given by Director OF Works
| Taylor until l:4 liz was several minutes
later than that when President Francis. OF
/ the exposition. formally announced that
/ the fair was open TO the world. lie made
the declaration with laugh, for the bands
were playing, the crowds were cheering.
and the people were scrambling from their
seats 10 watch the rise OF the curtain on
! the drama with whose prologue OF five
1 years they were all familiar. From the
] time that Director of Works Taylor waved
| his baton with the huttering ribbon or
white "A signal for the actual opening
| the exposition, as the epitome OF human
achievement, was the thing with the peo-
pie and speeches OF men were in the back
| ground. President Francis the first 10
realize this and his hearty laugh as he
unqualified joy in the fact.
The official hour Tor the commencement
OF tne exercises was CLOCK, AT Mnlch
/ time the officials OF the exposition, members
| of the national commission and of the board
of lady managers were scheduled TO meet
at the administration building Long be-
fore this time the grounds were filed with
nearly half the population Of the city OF
| St. Louis, and the remainder apparently
was thronging TO the exposition. To the
many thousands Of the local population
/ were added many more who came IN on eN-
cursion trains last night and this morning
| Although special effort was made by the
management of the exposition 10 secure a
| large attendance for the opening day, the
crowd was fully as large az that which
! filed the grounds one year ago. when the
| exposition buildings were dedicated with SO
much pomp and ceremony.
THE PARADE.
Promptly at the hour set the officers and
| directors of the exposition. the members OF
the national commission and the board oc
lady managers were gathered at the ad-
ministration building. where rapidly as
possible they were formed into a process
sion and marched to the plaza Of ST Louis.
in the center of the grounds. where the for
NAL exercises OF the opening were conduct
! ed At the head of the column was de-
! tachment OF Jefferson Guards. who are 10 do
| police duty within the exposition while ~
| continues Then came the Philippine scouts.
| an imposing body Of men. who marched
!
| and directors OF the exposition came Sousa
| Band. Following the officers ana directors
| were the members of the national cominls-
sion and last OF all the board or lady man
| ayers some OF whom went on foot, while
! Others preferred the more Luxurious method
of riding in carriages
| building entered the plaza. long line
formed of represent tatives OF foreign gov
1 ernments which had assembled In the nan
| of commerce. came pouring into the plaza
from another avenue. This column was
also headed by a detacnment Q, the ssl-
ferson Guards. followed by band lmne-
diately behind the music were the members
or the exposition committee on foreign re-
lations: then came commissioners and rep
have ambassadors credited 10 the United
States, marching in the order OF presents-
ton OF credentials TO the exposition Fol
louing these came representatives OF CIV
ernments having ministers ACCREDITED 70
the United States government and then
a great number Of other representatives OF
foreign governments and colonies also IN
the order OF presentation OF tner creoen-
tials TO the exposition This column pre-
| sented by far the gayest appearance OF
| the day for the foreigners made a prod
igal display of gold lace and or,gn, eoloFs
| and dark frock coats which we're so prom
iner1t among the officials and. dignitaries OF
. The exposition A third column came short
Iv afterward formed Of representatives, OF
the state and territorial governments in
| the Union.
OPENING OF EXERCISES.
/ The participants IN the exercises TOOK
their places at the base OF the Louisiana
monument. where small stand had been
erected for the speakers and seats provided
for the listeners. The assemblase was
! called 10 order without delay by President
d r. Francis. of the exposition. who re-
ouested the audience 10 rise while the Rev.
Frank NJ Gunsaulus. of Chicago. delivered
an invocation: DR.. Gunsauius concluded
| ~sh h. n
} nraver I'm which the audience joined
President Francis. the chief executfve
| of the exposition. then delivered an address,
| AT ns conclusion President Francis recog-
| nized William H. Thompson. OF the com
e ! mittee on grounds and buildings, who pre-
= ! sented TO President Francis Isaac s. Tay-
2 Ior. the director OF works. Mr.. TAYLOR de-
: iiyered 10 President Francis the keys OF
s the exposition and presentsa diplomas os
a After the march. louisiana. had oecn
4 | nlayed by Sousa's Band. President Francis
|1I<mr