Arizona republican., 1909-10-04
A VARIED ENTERTAINMENT
In Which Aeronautics Will
Predominant - DR.. Cook
Will Be a Feature-Tor-
pedo Boats Will Partic-
ipate in Festivities

st. Louis, Oct. "a weeks cele-
bration of the centennial anniversary
! of the incorporation of St Louis be-
gan today at sunrise. when the bells
Of 444 churches within the city limits
were rung in announcement of the
Inauguration of the program. Aero
plane flights, distance races between
spherical balloons, speed contests by
dirigible craft. a water pageant with
four vessels of the United States navy
participating, parades, festival ban
quets, the annual appearance of the
mysterious veiled prophet and several
public appearances by DIR. Frederick A.
Cook. the Arctic explorer, will fill out
the week. Preparations for the big
event have been going on for months.
An elaborate system of street lighting
has been installed. a great court of
honor erected and practically the en-
tire city has been decorated with
flags and bunting
Two men-Glen H. Curtiss, the avia-
tor. and DIR. Cook, the explorer, will
divide the honors to be accorded to
individuals. Mr.. Curtiss, beginning
Wednesday, will make daily flights
from Art Hill, Forest Park. where a
great natural amphitheater is capa-
Bile OF accommodating scores of thou
sands of spectators. DIR. Cook will
take a prominent part in the festivi-
ties, presided over by the yelled pro-
phet. and will be rendered a public
reception.
The Sunday observances were of a
religious and historical nature. Spe-
cial services were held in the churches
and songs of praise and thanksgiving
were sung by thousands of Sunday
school children. In the afternoon tab
lets marking the places of historical
interest were unveiled. THESE latter
will commemorate all important events
from the landing of Pierre Laclede IL
guest in 1854 to the building of the
new municipal structure. the laying
of whose corner stones win be an i'm
portant feature of the week.
The balloon races will be started to-
morrow. Two events are on the pro-
gram, the first limited to spherical
air craft of 10000 cubic feet capacity
or less, and the second to larger bal
looms 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
illuminated for the first time and the
Tuesday will be a period of pa
geant The United States torpedo boat
flotilla, consisting of the MacDonough.
Wilkes, Tinge and Thorntnn, 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 veiled pro-
phet arrive in greater pomp than has
been his wont for years. The floats
of hfs parade will be unusually eiab-
crate and the ball with which the cele-
bration ends will be one of the most
brilliant functions at which he has
ever presided.
Glen H. Curtiss is scheduled to in
augurate his flights Wednesday, fol-
lowing the review of a municipal pa
geant'' by the mayors of 1000 Amefi-
can cities, who have been invited to
witness the doings of the week as the
guests Of the city.
Thursday two hundred floats, rep
resenting the industrial progress OF a
century. will wind through the streets.
Friday will witness series of aero
plane contests in which some startling
results are anticipated. Half a dozen
inventors of the United States, many
of them as yet obscure. have signified
their intention to participate. The
prizes of $1,000 and a gold medal and
$500 and silver medal for the best
flights will be given to the operators
of the machines which make the long
est flights out from and back to a
starting square 200 feet in dimensions,
The street pageant this day will be