, 1907-04-26
EVENT TO COMMEMORATE THREE
HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
OF FIRST ENGLISH SET
ELEMENT THERE.
President Roosevelt Witnessed Naval
Display Like of Which Was Never
Before Seen in This Country, Lat
err Delivering Address Welcoming
Representatives of Nations Of Old
WorId-Great Gathering.


Norfolk, Va, April 26.-The James
town Ter-Centennial exposition lane
and water display, such as was never
attempted in this country or On for
eign shores, opened today with that
pomp and ceremony which always at
tend an event where the president OF
the United States is the central figure
and diplomatic representatives of for
eign nations, governors of states and
like dignitaries are honored guests and
participants
President Aboard Mayflower.
Incident to the opening, President
Roosevelt reviewed from the deck OF
the Mayfiower the war vessels anch'
ored in Hampton Roads.
Greeted With Applause.
The president reached the discovery
landing, having been transferred in a
naval launch from his yacht, shortly
before noon, and amid applause from
the thousands gathered to voice their
welcome, he was received by the ex
position management.
Formal Program Follows.
Then followed the program for the
opening to the public of the enterprise
concentrating the 300th anniversary
Of the first English settlement in
America, which program included an
address by Harry St. George Tucker.
president of the exposition, and one
by President Roosevelt, singing by the
exposition chorus of 700 trained voices,
the pressing of a gold button by Pres
ident Roosevelt which marked the for
NAL opening, and the review by the
preAident Of the assembled military
forces.
Great Crowds Present at Opening.
The great crowd which sought the
exposition grounds today vas hamp-
cred by the transportation facilities.
The trolley roads from Norfolk to
Sewell Point, the site of the exposi-
ton, were congested early n the
docking facilities for scores of excur-
sion steamer were also insufficient,
and many boats laden with passengers
were held up off shore for hours.
People Crowded Up Front.
While the president was speaking
the widest confusion prevailed direct
ly in front of the grand stand, caused
by the pushing and surging Of the
great crowd. There was danger of
women and children being crushed
and guards forced their way into the
throng to stop the pushing.
Program Was Interrupted.
Even then the program was inter.
rupted many times. Troops in close
order formed a guard between the
lines and the grand stand.
The Presidents Address.
"At the outset 1 wish to say a word
Of special greeting to the representa-
tives Of the foreign governments here
present. They have come to assist US
in celebrating what was in very truth
the birthday Of this nation, for it was
here that the colonists first settled,
whose incoming, whose growth from
their W loins and by the addition Of
newcomers from abroad, was to make
the people which one hundred and six
ty-nine years later assumed the solemn
responsibilities and weighty duties Of
complete independence.
Nation Founded by Enslishmen.
I'm welcoming all of you I must say
a special word, first to the representa-
tive Of the people Of Great Britain and
Ireland. The fact that SO many of our
people, of whom as it happens 1 myself
am one, have but a very small portion
of English blood in our veins, in no
way alters the other fact that this ma.
ton was founded by Englishmen, by
the Cavalier and the Puritan. Their
tongue, law, literature, the fund of
their common thought, made an inner.
1tance which all OF US share, n mark
ed deep lines along which we have
developed. It was the men of English
stock who did most in casting the
mold into which our national character
was run.
Blood Of Many Nations.
Let me furthermore greet all Of you,
the representatives Of the people Of
cry nation of Europe We have draw
some part Of our blood, some part OF
our traits. This mixture of blood has
some on from the beginning, and with
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