The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-01
ST. LOUIS HAS OPENED
THE GREAT EXPOSITION
With a Touch of an Electric Button
President Roosevelt Set 1t Astir
By Ceremony and FormaIity, at Washington and
ST. Louis, the Opening Was Marked-Scene
in the East Room at the White House.
How Exercises at st. Louis
We're Conducted.

larger in it's scope than any previous
effort of it's kind, the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition was formally opened
this afternoon.
The inaugural exercises could hardly
have been improved upon. They were
simple and were carried through with
out 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 regu-
lar army, who directed the EXPOSE
tion guards in all their duties, and was
done as the regular army man does
things in general-promptly. thorough
ly and without fuss.
Extreme care had been taken In the
arrangement of the days programme.
It's length had been calculated to a
nicely. that all things might be fin-
ished exactly at noon, but as is usu-
ally the case, the programme dragged
out beyond the limit 1t was arranged
that President Roosevelt should press
the button at exactly II O'Clock, but
when that hour arrived several OF the
addresses had not been completed. At
approximately IL: Is O'Clock, st. Louis
time, in order that his time might not
be eneroched upon, the signal was Civ
en- to President Roosevelt that all
things were ready. His response was
quick, and in a few seconds came the
answering touch over the wire from
the White House.
This officially opened the exposition,
but 1t was determined to conclude the
programme, and the signal for the
actual opening,s for the unfurlng of
the flags, the ringing of bells and op-
GRAFTON of the great cascades was not
given by Director of Works Taylor
until 1:04 o'clock 1t was several min
utes later than that when President
Francis Of the exposition formally an
nounced that the fair was open to
the world. He made the declaration
with a laugh, for the bands were play
ing, the crowds cheering and the peo-
pie were rushing from their seats to
watch the rise Of the curtain upon the
drama with whose prologue of five
Crowd Was Large.
Although no special effort was made
by the management of the exposition
to secure a large attendance for the
opening day. the crowd was fully as
large as that which filed the grounds
one year ago, when the exposition
buildings were dedicated with SO much
pomp and ceremony.
Promptly at o'clock the officers and
directors of the exposition, the mem
bers of the National Commission and
of the board OF lady managers were
gathered at the administration build
ing, where as rapidly as possible, they
were formed into procession and
marched to the plaza of st. Louis III
the center of the grounds. wherefrom
all exercises of the opening were con-
Quoted.
At the head Of the column was a
detachment of the Jeffersona Guards.
then came the Philippine Scouts. At
the plaza the officials we're met by the
representatives. Of Foreign governments
in brilliant uniforms. The assen1blage
was called to order by President Fran
els, who requested the audience to rise
while the Rev. Frank M, Gunsaulus of
Chicago delivered the invocation. DIR.
Gunsaulus concluded with the Lords
Prayer. in which the audience joined.
President Francis. as the chief ex-
ecutive of the exposition. then deliver
ed an address At the conclusion OF
his address. President francis recog-
nized William H. Thompson OF the
Committee on Grounds and Buildings,
who presented. to President Francis
Isaac S. Taylor, the director of works.
Mr.. Taylor delivered to President
Francis the keys Of the exposition and
presented diplomas of merit to the
chiefs OF his staff
After the march Louisiana" had
been played by Sousa's Band, President
Francis transferred the exposition
buildings to Frederick ]. ". Skin, the
director Of exhibits, the performance
being emblematic OF the fact that the
buildings had been erected by the men
In charge OF that portion Of the work.
and were now ready and waiting for
the installation OF the exhibits through
Mr.. Shdff's department.
The sszymn OF the west"
The grand chorus Hymn OF the
West" was then sung by a choir led
by Aldred Ernst. The music Of the
Continued on Sixth Page