Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1905-06-02
Am DIST Scenes of Festivity and
Splendor at Portland.
GREAT THRoNcs cRowp CIT
President Roosevelt Touches the But.
ton that Started in Operation the
Centennia Celebration of the Dis.
covery and Opening of the Far West.


took place under conditions presag
ing complete access to this historical
eommemoration of the blazing trail tC
"Old Oregon" by Captain Merriwethel
Lewis and William Clark, who com.
missioned by President Jefferson, ex
plored the great Oregon country one
hundred years ago.
Today's celebration vas participated
in by the president OF the United
States and his personal representative
Charles w. Fairbanks, representatives
of the state and of the house Of repre-
sentatiyes of the national congress, OF
the army and the navy, together witn
the governors and staffs of the states
of California, Idaho, Washington and
Oregon, and multitudes of people from
far and near
The prelude to the actual opening
ceremonies st the exposition consisted
of the parade, grand pageant of mill
tarism led by Vice President Fair
banks, the congressional party, visit
ing governors, and other dignitaries
and the exposition officials. With mar
tial music constantly playing, this inn
mediate forerunner of the actuality
was greeted with continued cheering
along the entire line. AS the troops
passed the mass of sightseers flank,
ing the column fell in behind and
when the exposition grounds were
reached there was a stream of human
ity miles long following in it's wake.
Thousands in the meantime, antici-
pating the onward rush, had packed
themselves around the speakers stand
and occupied every point of vantage,
and late-comers had to be content with
being within seeing distance. AS the
parade swung into the grounds the
vice presidential, congressional and
fair parties were detached from the
column and were escorted by the cav
airy between long lines of cheering
thousands to the New York state
building Almost simultaneously bod
les of troops took their position on
the esplanade, extending from the rear
of the speakers stand down to the
lake front. Grand Marshal of the Day
Colonel e. c. Steever, Fourth cavalry,
u. S. A, had distributed the soldiery
about the grounds, to hold the crowds
in check and preserve order generally.
Everything being in readiness, at
o'oIoa11 Uioo ich nj
and party emerged from the New
York building, receiving the vice pres
idential salute of 18 guns. Thanked
on either side by line of troops, the
AS the word was passed that the par
ty was coming, an air of expectancy
settled over the crowd, which gave
way to a tremendous outburst of
cial party ascended to the speakers
cheering and nd-clapping as the off
platford-
Promptly at IL o'clock noon, Presi-
dent H. W. Goode, of the exposition
arose, and gavel in hand, announced
the beginning of the ceremonies which
meant the realization of Portlads S
dream. The announcement was received
with tremendous cheering, that echoed
back and forth.
The presidential salute of 81 guns
was the signal to the impatient throng
that the moment of the opening of
the exposition was at hand.
All eyes were riveted upon tele-
graph operator seated at an fnstru-
ment on the speakers stand, and
while the guns were still booming, the
movement Of his hand at the key was
a sufficient indication to the watchers
that the president was being advised
that all was in readiness to receive
the signal from the White House that
would formally open the exposition.
Then followed a wait for several
minutes, marked by an impressive
stiffness, during which eye and ear
was strained to catch the first move
of the operators hand or a sound from
the telegraph instrument. Suddenly
out of the quiet came faint click
President RooSeVelt'S signal, and ore
CONS greatest hour had come.
Almost simultaneously with the
clicking of the telegraph instrument
President Goodies gavel fell and he
proclaimed the exposition open.
The throng seemed hardly to realize
it, but as the clear, sweet tones of the
cathedral chimes in the government
building floated out and hundreds OF
flags broke to the breeze, and cannon
roared their thunderousi accompani-
ment to the "Star Spangled Banner
played by the massed bands, pande-
monium Tossed itself. One wild, ex-
ultant shout and then cheer after
cheer resounded through the grounds,
hats were thrown into the air and the
noise was swelled by thousand horns
and the shrieking of whistles.