Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-02-26
GREAT FAIR OPENS
PANAMA-PACIFlc INTERNATIONAL
EXPOSITION AT SAN FRAN
CISCO GETS THE CROWD.
NEARLY 100000 FIRST DAY
Fhrones Spectacle in ItseIf-Dedica.
tory Ceremonies Simple and Short
as Possibie-Prominent Peo-
pie of All Nations There.

San Francisco.-All records for e
position attendance were broken Sat
urday at the opening of the Panama
Pacific International exposition. BY A
O'Clock in the afternoon the turnstiles
had clicked off 225, 900 admissions. The
previous tecord was at the opening day
of the st. Louis worlds fair, 1877, 793, in
1904.
The crowd was a spectacle in itself.
1t filled the grandstands, it packed
the great courts and ~concourses, it
poured through the aisles, it over
flowed the sidewalks into the
from the hills to the bay as far as the
eye could reach, in amending rivers of
bobbing heads.
To-day is the triumph of San Fran
cisco that a decade ago lay PROSTATE
in ruins" declared Governor Johnson
looking out over the sea Of humanity
before him.
San Francisco today" said Secre-
tary Lane, lis the gayest city of the
globe To prove it the crowd gave
him a titanic cheer.
AS the presidents personal envoy,
Secretary Lane was heard with the
closest attention. The great throng
gave him the sincere compliment of
absolute silence. In the more solemn
passages of his grafton the vibrations
of his voice stirred the audience in
sympathy.
The day broke threatening and rainy.
The enthusiasm of the crowd seemed
to burn away the clouds and by sun
set there was scarcely a cloud in the
sky. One shower fell during the ded,
icatory exercises. AS the first drops
began to patter 1000 umbrellas went
up. 1t was like the magic growth of
a field of fairy mushrooms.
By the time President Wilson opened
the exposition by the touch of a but
ton in the White House the sun was
shining through the broken clouds in
long, slanting rays. They glinted in
a miniature rainbow through the squirt.
ing streams of the Fountain of Energy
that moment released. Flags of all the
nations rose on manifold poles and pin.
%nacles. Signal bombs were de.
tonated from towers An aeroplane
circled about the Tower of Jewels,
scattering doves of peace. The doors
of the Palace of Machinery swung open
and the exhibits within we're seer in
motion.
1t was a scene electric with ANNA
ton, movement, color and beauty.
Thrilled to it's toes the crowd danced,
waved and cheered.
Dedication Simple.
The ~dedicatory ceremonies were
made al simple and short as possible.
The citizens, headed by Governor John
son and Mayor Rolph, representing the
state and the city, were welcomed to
the grounds by the officers and direc-
tors of the exposition and officers of
the federal government. Addresses
were delivered by President Moore of
the exposition, DR.. Frederick j.. V.
Skiff, director in chief; Governor John
son, Secretary Lane and a few others.
Invocations and benedictions were pro
ounced by clergymen representing the
Roman Catholic, the Protestant and
the Jewish faiths.
William H.. Croker presented to
President Moore a gold scroll com
memorating the completion and open.
ing of the exposition, and containing
the names of those prominent in ac-
complishing it.