The Colorado statesman., 1909-06-05
GREAT EXPOSITION AT SEATTLE
STARTS OUT WITH REMARK
ABLE EMoNSTRATIoN.
TAFT PUSHES GOLD KEY
w H EELS START, FOUNTAINS
PLAY, BANNERS UNFURL AND
cANNoNS ROAR SALUTE.

Seattle, Wash.-The Alaska-Yukon-
Pacific Exposition, that cost s10,000,-
600, and the first sod of which was
turned exactly two years ago, was Of
ficially opened at noon, Tuesday, June
LIST, with fitting splendor and cere-
mony with a great multitude in atten-
dance.
The military parade, the speeches,
President Taft's signal, the magic re-
sponse-all were carried out exactly
as planned.
When James ]. Hill was introduced
in the opening exercises tumult en-
sued that recalled the demonstrations
for favorites at national political con-
ventions, except that here 10000 peo-
pie were cheering spontaneously for
only one man, who waited several min
utes before he could begin his address.
The management of the nicely calcu-
lated program had omitted to count on
this ovation, and when President Taft
pressed the gold key at noon and
touched off the big signal gong. he cut
short Bishop Keator's benediction.
A striking feature of the parade was
the popular applause for the Japanese
visitors of the cruisers Aso and Soya.
The arrival at the reviewing stand of
Rear Admiral Ijichi and his staff gave
the first opportunity to the waiting
thousands to cheer.
A few minutes later Admiral Uriel
Sebree, commanding the Pacific squa-
dron, appeared with his staff. A great
shout went up as the Americans
walked down the platform to greet the
Japanese.
Admiral Sebree advanced toward Ad-
miral Ijichi and held out his hand,
which was grasped by the SCARED vet
eran from the Orient.
This expression of amity by repre-
sentatives of the two great nations was
the signal for another long outburst of
cheering. The American and Japan
ese officers were then introduced all
around and engaged in conversation.
The committee in charge of the pa
rade reversed at the last moment the
order of the Japanese and American
sailors and put the Americans in front.
that everywhere is given to the navy,
but the cheering was greatest when
the brown men came before the stand.
The American officers enthusiastic
ally applauded them. as the Japanese,
in milder, but equally sincere way,
had done when the Americans passed
moment before. After disbandment
luncheon was served to the Japanese
and American sailors in the Formosa
tea house, one of the Japanese govern
ment buildings.
The closing event of the day was a
banquet to distinguished guests given
in the New York building. When
President Taft at o'clock in the af-
ternoon pressed a telegraph key of
Alaska gold, he sent spark across the
continent that put in motion the wheels
of the exposition, loosed the waters of
its fountains, unfurled it's banners,
started it's bands playing, released
showers of daylight fireworks, called
upon the saluting guns of the Ameri-
can and Japanese fleets, set all the
steamers in the harbor and all the To-
comotives in the railroad yards bel
lowing and shrieking.
The exercises at the worlds fair
grounds preceding the Presidents sig
nal were carried out with military pre-
cision. The exposition gates were
opened at $3.50 o'clock. At $3.50 de-
tachments from the United States
army and navy, the Japanese cruisers
Aso and Soya and the state militia
paraded through the grounds under the
command of Col. T. c. Woodbury., U.
S. A., and the column was reviewed
from a stand at the head of the court
of honor by exposition officials, visit
ing governors, and Admirals Ijichi and
Sebree.
Then word was flashed to the White
House that all was ready, and Presi-
dent Taft's response set loose the
flags, bells, machinery, curious Japan
ese fireworks and noise. When the
message was announced huge gong
struck five strokes and an enormous
American flag was unfurled and thou
sands Of small flags were scattered
in the breeze.
The fair as thrown open was fin
ished and carpenters and painters
were nowhere to be seen. The few de
layed exhibits will be installed at
night. The only serious deficit is in
the Hawaiian and Philippine displays.
Ovation Deliphts Japanese.