Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-03
CENTENNIAL OF ST. LOUIS
City to Observe Hundredth Anniver-
sary of It's Incorporation.
GHURCH BELLS TO RING SUNDAY
the Week There VIII BE
pIoOn and AerOp1ans Races,
he Yelled Prophet and
Other Attractions.

us, oct. "A weeks celebration
P%ntennial anniversary Of the In
bn of St Louis will begin tomor-
sunrise, when the bells Of IA
within the city limits will be
announcement Of the Inauguration
program. Aeroplane flights, distance
between spherical balloons. speed
Is by dirigible air craft, a water
ut with four vessels Of the United
: navy participating, parades, festi-
anquets, the annual appearance of the
terious Yelled Prophet and several pub
appearances by DR.. Frederick Cook, Arc
explorer will I'll out the week. Prepare
Yns for the big events have been going
for months. An elaborate system of
Street lighting has been Installed, a great
Z court Of honor erected and practically the
entire city has been decorated with flags
and bunting.
Two men-Gien H. Curtiss, aviator, and
DR.. Cook, explorer-will divide the honors
TO be accorded to individuals. Mr.. Curtiss,
beginning Wednesday, will make daily
flights, weather permitting, from Art Hill,
Forest park, where a great natural am
phitheater is capable Of accommodating
scores Of thousands Of spectators. Dr.. Cook
will take a prominent part In the festivi-
ties, presided over by the Yelled Prophet,
and VIII be rendered a public reception.
The Sunday observances will be Of a re-
hgious and historical nature. Special ser
vices will be held In the churchoA ana
songs of praise and THANKSGIVING will be
sung by thousands of Sunday school child
rem. In the afternoon. tablets marking the
places Of historical interest will be un-
yelled. These latter will commemorate all
important events from the landing of
Pierre Laclede Liguest in 1764, to the build
ing OF the new municipal structures, the
laying OF whose cornerstones will be an
important feature OF the week.
Balloon Races Monday.
The balloon races will be started Mon
day. Two events are on the program. the
first limited to spherical air craft of 49, 0
cubic feet capacity or less, and the second
by larger balloons OF up to $4,000 cubic feet.
Seven distance and two endurance prizes
are offered for these contests.
In the evening the streets will be ulumln-
ated for the first time. and the opening
band concerts will be given.
Tuesday will be a period of pageantry.
The United State torpedo boat flotnla, con-
sisting of the MacDonough, wilkes TinRe
and Thornton, will lead a parade on the
mississippi river, in which scores of motor
boats, river packets and other vessels will
take part.
The evening will see the Yelled Prophet
arrive In greater pomp than has been his
wont for years. The floats Of his parade
will be unusually elaborate, and the ball
with which the celebration ends will be
one OF the most brilliant functions at
which he has ever presided.
Glen H. Curtiss is scheduled TO lnaugu-
rate his flights Wednesday, following the
review of a municipal pageant by the
mayors of 1000 American cities. who have
been invited to witness the dolngs Nof the
week as the guests of the city.
Thursday 200 floats, representing the in
dustrial progress Of a century, will wind
through the streets.
Friday will witness a series Of aeroplane
contests in which some startling results are
anticipated. Half a dozen inventors Of the
United States, many OF them as yet OBJ
scure, have ~signified their intention to par
ticipate. The prizes of $1,000 and a gold
medal, and $500 and a silver medal, for the
best flights, will be given to the operators
OF tho machines which make the longest
flights out from and back to a starting
square 200 feet in dimensions.
The street pageant this day will be a
combined educational. historical and mill
tary parade in which students, floats and
stsSe and national soldiery will appear.
Saturdays program Includes a race for
dirigible balloons, with Baldwin, Beachey
and Knabenshue as the chief contestants;
the release of the two score unguided
spherical balloons OF 5000 cubic feet capac-
lily, a parade of 500 automobiles and the
dedication OF Playground" a new public
park.
AS many as possible OF the centennial
decorations and Nominations are to be
. preserved until after President Taft's visit
= later in the month.