The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-27
MAGNIFICENT NAVAL
AND MILITARY PAGEANT
Representatives Of Thirty-seven
Countries In Attendance.
Roosevelt Pushes the ProverbiaI Gold
Button, starting Wheels of Great
Fair, While Bands Play the
"Star spangIed Ban
ner.1

-
Norfolk. virginia, April 18th,
Jamestown Ter-Centennialr Exposi-
lion. accompanied by a land ant
water display such as never was at
tempted in this country or On foreign
shores, was opened today with that
pomp and ceremony which always at
tends an event where the President OF
the United States is central figure
and diplomatic representatives of for
eign nations, Governors of States and
like dignataries are honored guests and
participants.
The day Of the inauguraf ceremonies
opened cloudy, but by O'Clock the sun
shone forth and a strong breeze from
the southeast soon drove the cloud
banks beyond the horizon, leaving a
clear sky. The breezes sweeping
across Hampton Roads also tempered
the heat, which had a .tinge of mid
summer in 1t by the time the President
landed on the Exposition grounds. The
unfinished streets were deep in dust
which made the grass-covered parade
from which the inaugural function was
viewed by the populace a welcome
refuge.
Incident to the opening, President
Roosevelt reviewed from the deck of
the Mayflower the war vessels anchored
In Hampton Roads. He reached Dis
covery Landing. having been transfer
red 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
Exposition management. Then fol-
lowed the program for opening to the
public the enterprise concentrating
the 300th anniversary of the first Eng
lish settlement in America which pro-
gram included an address by Harry st.
George Tucker, President of the Expo
sition, and one by President Roosevelt;
singing by the Exposition chorus of
1900 trained voices, the pressing of
the gold button by President Roosevelt,
which marked the formal opening and
q review by the President of the as
sembled military forces.
Exercises Began mt SUNRISE.
At sunrise, the ceremonies were be-
gun by the United States artillery firing
q salute of 800 guns to usher In the
day. 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
A distinguished gathering received
the President and his party at Discov-
cry Landing. 1t included President
Tucker and all of the general officers
of the exposition, and Rear-Admiral
+. III Clidi &c VI tiiC NO
val program, and Major General Fred
D. Grant, who arranged the military
attractions. After an exchange of
greetings, during which the bands
played patriotic selections, the party
proceeded in carriages to the grant
stand. The cheering crowd pressed the
outriders and surged after the line OF
carriages which took the most direct
route around the main auditorium
~ Af ha ft,a Y-,.1
The procession was a triumphal one
for the President, but 1t, was equalled
later by the welcome accorded as he
entered the reviewing stand. Bowin g
to the right and left his acknowledge
ments of the great public acclaim
spurred the crowd to renewed efforts.
The gathering in front of the grand
stand had started as soon as the choice
vantage points had become occupied
at the waterfront. and when ceremo-
MES opened the audience extended over
the parade ground far beyond the reach
of the speakers voices.
President Chats With Tucker.
when President Roosevelt stepped
ashore from the Mayf1ower's launch he
received his first formal welcome from
H. St. George Tucker president OF
the exposition.
''Old Virginia salutes you SIR" ex-
ClalTneQ MT. uChOI do AO al ,
grasped the presidents hand.
II am very glad, indeed, to be here,
responded the president cordially.
TT Is a Roosevelt and Roosevelt
weather" remarked the gentlemen on
the exposition pier.
81 hope 1t will prove good omen
for the exposition" the president re-
sponded laughingly.
The great crowd which sought tht
w
ed by insufficient transportation facil-
tiles The trolley roads leading from
Norfolk to Sewells Point. the site OF
the exposition, were contested early In
the morning and moved their cars
with the greatest difficulty. The dock
ing facilities for the scores of excur-
sion steamers also were insufficient
and many boats laden down with pas
sengers were held up off the shore for
hours One of the boats Carried near
" all of the visiting newspaper cor
respondents who had not succeeded In
making a landing up to the time the
president began the inaugural address
of the exposition. None OF the expo
sition piers is completed and the deer
draught steamers were compelled tc
use the small dock at nearby aInuse-
ment resort. The exposition landing
used by the president is so far avail
able only for light launches. Many
persons in the city. unable TO board
the crowded trolleys, abandoned theil
intention of attending the opening
exercises.
While President Tucker was speak
ing, the widest confusion prevailed
directly 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 tbs
throng to stop the pushing.
Even then the program was inter
rupted many times, Troops In close
order formed a guard between the
lines and grandstand.
Opened With Music
The formal procedure opened will
an overture by the bands jamestown
Dixie" which was composed especially
for the occasion followed by selec
ton by the exposition chorus ant
prayer by the Right Rev. Alfred Ma
gill Randolph, bishop of the diocese Of
Southern Virginia.
After the chorus had sung the Off
.-aai oeeninG hymn--a beautiful and ap