The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-13
VIRGINIA DAY
MET EVERY Wish. OF
PATRIOTIC TH.RON6G
Sunshine Drives Aw ay
Clouds and Day Al
most Ideal.
GOVERNOR SPEAKS;5
SPLENDID PARADE
These, With Brilliant Reception
at Virginia Building and Spec
tacular illumination OF Fleet
at Night, Were Features
Of DayAddress
and Poem.

Especial From q Staff Correspondents
IA NJ MES,rOWN EXP POSITION
GROUNDS, VA. June 12.-Vlrginia Day
at the Jamestown Exposition was
success in every sense of the word, for
in honor Of the occasion, the seashore
giving Swanson weather, great
crowds nocked to the grounds from
every section of the State. His Excel
.lency made notable speech, DR.!
Thomas Nlson Page rtad an excellent
poem, and the 10000 people present wit.
messed a military parade which exceed :
ed In brilliancy the one which passed 4
before the President Monday.
Rain had fallen steadily for two days,
and carly this morning black clouds
shovered over the Exposition Grounds,
giving evil promise OF dismal weather
Up to 10 o'clock the weather held to
Its wet" t"appearance and then when
every one was in despair the sun came
out brightly and the weather could not
have been better had 1t been arranged
by Captain Baker. of the Virginia Conn
mission. The fact that the morning was
cloudy, however. kept thousands away.
and instead Of 10000 there would have
been not less than 100000 had the
morning been less threatening. t#
fN'ORLD, HIS WIFE AND
HIS CHILDREN ON HAND
Despite the unpromtsing weather
and a Scotch mist which saddened I
the early hours, people began to pour
into the Exposition Grounds by q
O'clock, coming in hundreds and tllou-si
sands, and literally blocking the sea
side drive, which runs between the !
State buildings and Hampton Roads.
The world and sis wife and his chill
$dren were In evidence, and the Vir-5
ginia Building semed to be q the es-
peclal mecca for which they We're
Bound. q. I'll sss.,.s n, W
So dense became the throng Of peo-s
Ing that Governor Swanson was forced
to sendSto General Vaughan, command
ing the brigade. asking that twenty
men be ordered to report for duty ut
the Virginia State Building in order
that the crowd might bc directed IN
the three regiments. the Blues and the
artillery. and all day long the crowd
5surged through the building.
The early hours OF the day passed
without incident, the crowd finding
abundant amusement in visiting the
on thei Warpath. At midday the un--#
expected and unforetold happened. for
the Richmond Howitzers, the crack
artillery command under Captain My.
ers, reached camp and We're given
royal welcome. "a
Perhaps never before In the regular
or volunteer artillery has such march
Keen made under such unfavorable cir
:cumstnnces.
The Howitzers marched 128 miles In
five days, or nearly 90 miles day,
over rough roads. in horrible weather
and with horses untricd., Tho feat was
remarkable, and in honcl Of tho
achievement General Grant allowed the
command to appear In the great parade
mi frp, f1,oi
time to change. Tho Howitzers were
the only command in khaki, all the
other troops being In full dress
ES rms concession from General Grant
given through General Vaughan, was In
itself q high compliment, and the How
5itzers cheered heartily when Captain
Myers announced the order.
The boom Of seventeen guns from
the artillery camp announced that Gov
Arenor Swanson had entered Cana
John Smith with General Grant, witt,
whom he lunched officially at o'clock.
This was the official opening Of Vir-
Elnia Day, and from that time on the
Governor was the head and front OF
the OCCASION.
everywhere men, women and children
carried Virginia flags and wore rib
bons Of gold and blue. supposed to be
the colors OF tho State.
"FIGIITING non" HELPS
TO MAKE DAY a SUCCESS
Admiral Evans was early on hand
to assist the Governor, and the success
OF the day Is In part due to "Fightlng
Bob" who kept his word. and landed
5000 sailors and marines from the war
ships, because he said he wanted to see
his natice State make the best show
ing of the exposition.
Following the reception at Camp
Captain John Smith, the Governor and
-nnnAIn w .AKLI1I VI.