Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-27
ROOSEVELT PRESSES
BUTTON OPENING SHOW
Executive is Accorded Ova.
tion as He Lands From
Mayflower to Make Ded-
icatory Address

ter-centennial exposition-a land and
water display such as never was at-
D tempted in this country OF on foreign
shores opened today with that pornp
and ceremony which always attends
an event where the President Of the
United States is the central figure and
The diplomatic representatives Of the
foreign nations. governors Of states and
! like dignitaries, are guests and partic-
aipants.
Incident to the opening. President
Roosevelt reviewed from the deck Of
the Mayfower the war vessels anchor
ed In Hampton Roads. He reached the
discovery landing having been trans
& sferred In q naval launch from his yacht
I shortly before noon, amid the applause
from thousands gathered to voice their
welcome, and he was received by the
!, exposition management.
/ Elaborate Early Program,
Then followed the program Tor the
opening to the public Of an enterprise
commemorahng the three hundredth
anniversary Of the first English settle
ment in America, which program In
cludes an address by Harry st. George
Tucker, president of the exposition.
one by President Roosevelt, singing By
the exposition chorus of TOO trained
voices and pressing Of gold button
by President Roosevelt. which marked
the formal opening. and the review by
the President OF the assembled mill
tary forces.
At sunrise the ceremonies were be-
gun by the United States artillery FIR
ing a salute Of 300 guns to usher In the
day.
President Received.
distinguished gathering received
the President and party at Discovery
landing. 1t included President Tucker,
ind all the general officers of the ex-
position, Rear Admiral P. f. Harring-
ton. in charge of the naval program,
hand Major General Fred D. Grant. who
arranged the military attractions.
After the exchange of greetings, the
Earty proceeded in carriages to the
grand stand cheering crowd press
ed the outsiders and surged after the
line of carriages, which took the most
direct route around the main auditor
ium building to the scene of the in
augural.
Roosevelt Given Ovation.
The procession was triumphal one
for the President, but 1t was equalled
later by the welcome given him as he
entered the reviewing stand. Bowing
/. to right and left, his acknowledge
ments of the great public acclaim
cray tN ,ffo
The gathering In front of the grand
stand had started as soon as choice
vantage points had become occupied
at the water front, and when the ceie-
monies were opened the audience ex-
tended over the parade ground far he
yond the reach of the speakers voices.
Brilliant Naval Pageant.
In the naval pageant the United
States had thirty-eight ships, repre-
senting almost every type of vessel
known to the navy. while the foreign
|. fighting craft numbered twelve. All
s&the vessels combined in the fleet were
Gdressed" in 1uttering flags of the ma
tsons and brilliant hued pennants and
bits Of bunting. The foreign vessels
were given positions of honor In the
line stretching nearest and parallel to
the shores of the exposition grounds.
Il The drab colored squadrons sent by
Y Great Britain, Austria, Germany and
Argentine Republic loorned in deep
shaded relief against the dazzling back
ground Of the American vessels In
their glistening white sides and lert
ar harmonious setting to the many
hued flags floating from the mastleads
and fighting tops.
After passing UP and down the lines
cf the warships. the yacht Mayflower,
bearing the President. Mrs. Roosevelt.
Secretary Leob and few invited
guests, came to anchor and the Pres
fdent received on board the flag OH.
GERS of the Atlantic feet and the for
eign flag and commanding officers.