The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-05-22
JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION
OPENED BY PRESIDENT
Presses Golden Button at Norfolk
That Inaugurates Fair.
HAMPTON ROADS NAVAL REVIEW

Booming Guns and Waving Flags OF
Warships a Spectacle For Thou
sands - Thirty-eight American
Ships in Line.
Norfolk, Va.-The jamestown Ter
Centennial Exposition-a land and
water display such as never was at
tempted in this country or on foreign
shores-was opened with that pomp
and ceremony which always attends
an event where the President of the
United States is g. central figure and
diplomatic representatives of foreign
nations. Governors of States and like
dignitaries are honored guests and
participants.
Incident to the opening President
Roosevelt reviewed from the deck OF
the Mayfower the war vessels
anchored in Hampton Roads. He
reached Discovery Landing early,
having been transferred n a naval
launch from his yacht, and amid ap-
plause from the thousands gathered
to voice their welcome he was re-
ceived by the Exposition manage
ment.
Then followed the program for
opening to the public the enterprise
commemorating the three hundredth
anniversary of the first English set
Element in America, which included
an address by Harry St. George
Tucker, president of the Exposition,
and one by President Roosevelt, sing
ing by the Exposition chorus of 700
trained voices, the pressing of the
gold button by President Roosevelt
which marked the formal opening
and a review by the President OF the
assembled military forces.
The day was begun officially with
a salute of 800 guns. This banging
of heavy ordnance was kept up for
the greater part of the forenoon.
Such a booming and crashing and
cracking Norfolk had not heard since
the, Merrimac, which they call the
Virginia in these parts, ran amuck
among the Union ships in nearby
waters. This was a signal for the
trend of humanity to railroad trains,
street cars and boat lines, which from
that moment poured people into the
grounds. ,
The Mayfower with the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt and a party OF
guests aboard drew lee to Hampton
Roads just about breakfast time. Be
hind her came the dispatch boat Dol
phin, with Secretary of the Navy
Metcalf. The steamboat Newport
News arrived at the Fortress Monroe
dock with Secretaries Cortelyou, Gar
field and Straus, the Diplomatic
Corps and others of official proml-
n An army transport brought
high. ranking officers of the army
from Washington: The Congressional
representation, headed by Speaker
Cannon, bad arrived at Fortress Mon
roe the night before. All these varl-
Gus contingents were accompanied
by many wLmen, the wives INT other
members of the families of those VINO
attended the opening exercises IN an
official capacity.
It was $50 o'clock when the re-
view of the assembled feet was be-
ing begun. The Mayfower steamed
between lines OF grim warships, for
eign and domestic, and. when she
came to anchor the flag officers of the
several divisions were received by the
President on board his yacht.
From the time the Mayfower
started on her cruise around the fleet
until the President left her to go
ashore to the Exposition grounds
there was an almost unending series
of salutes. Every ship in that i'm
posing gathering fired twenty-one
guns in honor of the Nations Chief
Of State, and every Admiral who
came aboard the Mayhower to pay his
respects got proper honors from the
yachts saluting battery.
There were thirty-eight vessels OF
the American Navy and ten foreign
warships in the great fleet assembled
in Hampton Roads to do honor to the
occasion. Rear-Admiral Robley D.
Evans, commander-in-chief of the At
lantic naval station, was in charge.
The assemblage of craft that las
under his immediate command was
great enough and imposing enough
to make any nation proud. Sixteen
floating fortresses and more than that
number of smaller ships composed
the American contingent.
According to the program, Presi-
dent Roosevelt left the yacht May
flower for the landing at the EXPOSE
ton grounds at 1880 o'clock. He
was met by a military escort, who &C.
companied him to the receiving stand
in the grounds. Here the principal
exercises of the day began shortly
after the Presidents arrival.
A distinguished gathering received
the President ard his party at Dis
covery Landing. 1t included Harry
St. George Tucker, president of the
Exposition, and all the general off,
GERS of the Exposition, Rear-Admiral
P. F. Harrington, in charge of the
naval program, and Major-General
Fred. D. Grant, who arranged the
military attractions. When Mr..
Roosevelt stepped ashore from the
Mayhower's launch, he received his
first formal welcome from Mr.. Tuck
er. "Old Virginia salutes you, sir"
he exclaimed, as he grasped the Pres
ident's hand. After an exchange OF
greetings during which the bands
played patriotic selections, the party
proceeded in carriages to the grand
4,,d Tho cboarino crowd nreSsed