The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1907-05-21
FARGO BOY TELLS
OF CELEBRATION
ROBERT EvERHART GIVES THE
FoRUM READERS HIS IMPREs.
SION OF THE cELEsRATioN IN
HONOR or CAPTAIN SMITH
OCCASION WAS A BIG EVENT.


Jamestown Exposition, Norfolk, Va,
May Ito The Forum: The second
great celebration in the exposition oc-
Cured May 1S. 1t was the commem-
oration of the landing of Capt John
Smith In 1907. Three hundred years
ago the valiant band OF snglishmen
landed on the shore of Virginia and
established this great nation OF AM
erica. During the lapse of. all these
years there has occurred the leading
events of the worlds history-the
founding of this great nation America
May 13 dawned bright and clear and
the sun shone with equal splendor
upon the battleships belonging to
Austria, Italy, Japan, Germany, Ar
gentine Republic, Brazil and upon the
greatest fleet of American warships
ever gathered together. At the rise
of the sun these combined ships of
terror belched forth such an avalanche
of fire that even the great buildings
of the exposition fairly shook their
foundations. This was a signal for all
hands to get ready for dress pararde.
From each monster of war, FIVE long
boats crowded from bow to stern
with marines, their weapons glisten-
ing in the air, came over to the expo
sition grounds where they were formed
into long lines. General Kuro1f, the
far famed Japanese hero, grim from
the smoke of many battles, mounted
the platform in front of the grand
stand and facing the largest parade
ground in the world At a signal, far
down the field moving speck was
seen; nearer and nearer it came until
the speck resolved itself into long
lines of moving men. AS they grew
nearer the enormous crowds Of spec
tators burst into a hoarse cheer which
echoed around and around the field.
The Japanese came first, little brown
men that seemed like children, then in
contrast came the large Germans,
marching heavily. Then the Brazil
ians and Argentine Republic veterans,
marching with the short, jerky step
that is characteristic Of those nations.
Next came the long line of Italians,
also very much understood, and then
the Austrians. Each detachment had
80 oNA OoAAd anu oS AhG4
played martial music. AS they all
passed the stand General Kuroxi and
staff and General Macarthur that war
SCARED soldier of America, repeatedly
bowed and waved their hands. AS
the Japanese marines passed the
crowds they were cheered with a vim
|equalling those of the Americans, who
were last, but not least. The twenty
Tor more companies, one from each
ship, fairly took the crowd by storm,
and from the jaunty step and grace
Zone could easily pick them from any
Eother nation. After the parade Gem
eral Kuroki was sumptuously enter
tanned by Harry st. George Tucker,
the president of the exposition The
crowds dispersed through the various
exhibit and state buildings and through
the Wafpath. which is now in full
blast. The day wore on and soon 1t
was night and the great crowds
surged to the beach to watch the great
naval carnival, the greatest ever seen
lin the world The warships were all
decorated with millions of electric
lights, and each warship had a float
designed after some particular thing.
1ney all pdrdueu IN 1rOnt or the
grounds and then judged for the prize.
lit was won by the battleship Ohio.
Its float was in the form of gigantic
snake and it wriggled through the
water as realistic as possible. Each
|battleship had six powerful search
lights, and as there were forty ships
there was a toai of 240 such lights
making 10000, candle power OF cleo
tricity These continually. played all
over the grounds, through the waters
Of Hampton Roads and upon the
hundreds of brilliantly lighted launches
and pleasure boats The beautiful
might Illumination was an especial
feature, and with the beautiful music
of the Phinney United States Marine
band 1t seemed like a page of Arabian
Nights torn out and the contents
planted on this old historic spot where
300 years ago the city OF Jamestown
was the largest in the United States
land its ruler Capt. John Smith, the
founder OF America, and his beautiful
Indian wife, Pocahontas.
Rob't ID. Everhart.
ts
NpEM Ale MAenMc