Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-04-27

Eighty.five thousand people, inclua
ing President Roosevelt, the diploma.
tic, navy or military representatives
and the governors of score or
States of the Union, attended the
opening of the jamestown EXPOSE
ton yesterday and participated in the
celebration of the three hundredtn
anniversary OF the landing or the
band which founded the first per-
manent English speaking settlement
on the American continent.
A cloudless sky, warm sunshine ana
gentle southerly breeze made the
weather conditions ideal. ana the
streets of the Exposition were as dry
and hard as paving will make them
later. On the whole, the opening day
was n splendid success. success tar
mistic of the officials and employees
OF the company, who have been
working night and day fof weeks TO
make ready for the event. OF course
it was source of regret that com.
pleted exposition could not be otrer-
cd to the distinguished gathering
from far and wide, but this fact N
no way married the day. The offi.
cials are pleased and gratified, ana
VIII go ahead with the completion or
the fair with the assurance tnat they
have the support of the country.
Brilliant Address.
President Roosevelt's address,, the
feature OF the program, was n brl,.
: liant effort. delivered in his char
acteristic style from the top OF
table In the canvas covered box IN
front of the reviewing stand. the
stand \yo litarn llv M olyod ,,l;I. -,
Parade was .thrOnged with surg
ing, crowding multitude numbering
not less than 10000 souls. or these
people, probably not over 5000 cou;,1
near what the President said.
A detachment of artillery Officers
and, men from Fort Monroe and a
number of the Powhatan guardsmen
formed half circle and kept the
crowd from gathering too close to
the stand Within this half.circle
were the seats provided for newspa-
per men, magazine writer's anu ar.
fists.
Program Carried Out.
Wonderful as 1t may seem, the of.
ficial program was carried out with
out a hitch; every event occurred
promptly OH schedule time. The
Presidential party landed shortly be-
lore IL o'clock and was escorted d.
rectly to the reviewing stand. where
the Rt. Rev. A. NJ. Randolph, bishop
of the Episcopal diocese of Southern
Virginia, opened the exercises with
prayer, beginning at 1870 O'Clock.
President Tucker, of the Exposition
Company, spoke briefly and it was
Just minute or two after noon when
President Roosevelt began his adj.
dress. 1t was few minutes before
o'clock when he concluded and
pressed the button, formally opening
the Tercentennial.
signal for the unfurllng of flags on all
the, buildings, and the firing of a So.
lutte to the Union by the ships in the
Roads and the garrison at Fort Mon
roe
Immediately after leaving the stand
the President held reception in the
auditorium, greeting first the many
distinguished guests present, and
then the public. Luncheon was then
served, and the President returned to
Lees Parade in time for the review
OF troops to begin at $3.50 o'clock
sharp.
General Grant In comand.
Riding at the head Of the parade
was Major General Frederick Dent
Grant, u. S. A.. commander of the
Departments of the East. and in charge
of all military affairs at the Expos!-
fion. The troops marched past the
stand, saluting the President and for.
eign representatives. Following the
general were the officers of his staff,
then came the Twenty-third regular
infantry. headed by its band. In the
parade were four. companies of coast
artillery from Fort Monroe. troop
of the Twelfth cavalry. the Seventy
first Virginia Regiment, the Norfolk
Light Artillery Blues. brigade of
United States marines. including
companies from varIons ships In the
Roads and from the navy yard at