Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-04-26
JAMESTOWN 'SiDAY OF DAYS
GREAT EXPOSITION GATES ARE
TROWN OPEN.
Opening Ceremonies Performed at Noon
With Al The Dignity And SplendOr
BETTING The Occasion.
MUSIC WAS A FEATURE OF
THE EXERCISES.


Jamestown, Va, April 26.-The
ceremonies which present the James
town Ter-Centennial Exposition to the
world were performed at noon today
with all the dignity and splendor
befitting the occasion. Thousands of
men. women and children crowded
about the speakers stand on Lees pa
rade where, in the presence of n most
distinguished assemblage, President
Roosevelt spoke the words of dedica-
tion and at the same time pressed a
gold button that started the machin-
cry OF the Exposition i'm motion.
simultaneously the thousands OF
flags and banners on the beautiful
buildings were thrown TO the wind
and a deafening salute doomed forth
from the scores of warships of the
United States and foreign powers that
dotted the historic waters of IIamp-
ton Roads. The salute was applaud
ed by thousands of people, who had
been waiting for that glad moment
for many months, and they were
happy. In truth, the three cities that
are within stones throw OF the Expo
sition, and i'm fact all Virginia was
never SO happy in all its eventful his
tory as il is, today.
The great State that has given the
nation seven presidents, whose men
and women have been famous in days
of peace and renowned i'm war, whose
citizens are as patriotic as are those of
any of the galaxy of states in the
Union, whose history is book of
great achievements, of romance and OF
industry, whose products are among
the best that the country can offer, is
today the happiest among the many
over which the old flag floats in
grace and in pride.
Today's celebration was participated
in by the President of the United
States, the foreign diplomats from
Washington, members of Congress,
of the Army and Navy, together with
the governors and staffs of score of
states. The patriotic and historical
societies were well represented, among
them the Sons of the American Rev
oution, Daughters of the American
Revolution, the Society of the Cincin-
natl. Society of Colonial Wars, United
Confederate Veterans and Grand
Army of the Republic. The cities of
Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport
clared the day a public holiday, sent
thousands of visitors to the openiug.
Everything being in readiness, Mt
III. 30 O'Clock the President and lis
party landed from the yacht May
aower at the government pier and
were received with an artillery sa-
lutte. Thanked ON either side by u
line of troops, the party were escort
4 cfa
cheers of large crowd. Promptly at
noon President Harry st. George
Tucker, of the Exposition Company,
arose and announced the beginning Of
the ceremonies, and the Right Rev.
Alfred Magil Randolph, bishop Of the
diocese of Southern Virginia, invoked
the divine blessing.
Bishop Randolph concluded his in
vocation with the Lords prayer, in
which the audience joined. The Off
cial Exposition hymn was then sung
by grand chorus of 800 voices, assist
ed by the Washington Choral Society.
The music of the hymn was written
by Wilbur Force Owst, of Boston, and
the words were by w. A. Pegram,
of Baltimore. Governor Swanson
spoke briefly, extending to the people
of the United States and TO the resi-
dents OF countries abroad cordial
welcome to Virginia. President Tuck
CIR, as the chief executive Of the Ex
position, then. delivered an address,
at the conclusion of which he intro
duced President Roosevelt. There
was tremendous cheering for the Pres
ident when he rose to speak. The
Presidents address, which was of an
historical character and one of his most
successful efforts along that line, was
listened to with close attention by the
vast multitude.
The conclusion of the President S
speech was the signal for the opening
OF the Exposition. All eyes were
fixed on the President as he touched
the golden key that set in motion the
machinery of the Exposition. Stimuli
taneously hundreds of flags broke TO
the breeze, and cannon roared their
accompaniment TO the strains OF
America, played by the massed
bands. So loud was the uproar that
the benediction closing the exercises
were unheard.
The great military parade which
was designed to be distinctively the
show spectacle of the opening ceremo-
nies was held Immediately after the
conclusion of the literary exercises,
and it proved to be all that its pro-
moters could wish, and all that the
regular Army officers who controlled
il could hope for. The sight of the
marching troops from the point occu-
pied 0y President Roosevelt's review
ing stand was one long to be remem-
bered. on the reviewing stand, be-
sides the President of the United
States and his cabinet, were the dip
lomatic corps, officers, and directors
of the jamestown Exposition Com
pany, members of Congress, the Gen
eral Assembly OF Virginia, United
states and state commissioners to the
Exposition, officials and representa-
tives from the different states of the
Union, officers of the various histori-
cal societies and the mayors and
municipal Off sers of the cities sur