Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-02
The Cattle Show.

Yesterday was decidedly gala day on the
grounds OF the Agricultural Fair, las We learn
from the Baltimore American,) exceeding any,
thing before witnessed at any Of the preceding
fairs Of the society. At an early hour in the
morning Charles street was thronped with
omnibuses, vehicles, and pedestrians, and
throughout the day there was no Abatement
in the throng to and fro, which was at times so
great that care had to be exercised by the
drivers to prevent collisions. At Monument
Square there was a continual rush for the ON
nibuses, and many were compelled to walk
from inability to obtain conveyances.
The weather was cloudy early in the morn
ing, which somewhat checked the thronp of
visitors. II cleared of, however, about III
O'Clock, and from that hour up to l O'Clock
there seemed to be an -outpouring of q large
portion Of our population. We did not ascer-
tain the number Of visitors during the day,
but there could not have been less than TWEEN
ty.fve thousand persons From II to 3o'clock
the lowest estimate we heard of the number
present was fifteen thousand persons ut any
one time, .+--.
The great feature of the day was the parade
Of two companies of Flying Artillery, under
the command of Major French, from Fort
McHenry. They reached the ground at 2
O'Clock, and Immediately entered the enclo-
ten acres afforded quite a fine parade ground
The fence around the enclosure, which was
more than half mile in circumference, was
lined with spectators twenty feet deep, and all
the buildings and prominent points were
crowded to their utmost capacity, whilst thou
sands were unable to catch more than an &C.
casional glimpse of the troops as they dashed
through their maneuvres. Their eyolutions
were undoubtedly very fine, and the rapidity
with which they loaded and fired their guns,
and again limbered up and moved off in good
order was greatly admired.
There was large attendance of ladies also
on the ground during the day, whilst the Sec
| retsries OF War, Treasury, and Interior De-
partments, at Washington, and Mayor Towers,
Of Washington, and the officers and a number
Of the members of the Metropolitan Mechan-
les Institute were present as guests of the
Society, and the troops were reviewed by the
Secretary of war, Col. Jefferson Davis.
The enjoyment of the day was, however,
greatly marred by an accident which occurred
when about half through the drill, which we
fear will, if it has not already, terminated in
the death Of the unfortunate victim. Whilst
| in the act of loading one Of the guns il prema-
turely exploded, aud the nan who was ram
| ing the load was blown some distance, and
| most seriously manned. His left hand, which
was nearest the gun, was blown off above the
wrist, and his right hand and arm torn and
lacerated to the shoulder His left check was
also blown partly off, and his whole face and
| body greatly mutilated, the impression being
| that the sight Of both eyes had been de-
stroyed. He was German and a new re-
| cruit, but We could not ascertain his name
After his wounds were temporarily dressed he
! was taken to the infrmary in a furniture car
| riage, but it was tho impression of the surgeon
in attendance that his recovery was scarcely
possible.
The sports in the ring throughout the day
| were ve-y fine, and the display of horses and
the tests of speed and bottom afforded great
amusement to the spectators. Indeed, we
| have never seen On a Fair ground more graft
fication than seemed to be experienced by all
present the attention being divided between
the cattle, the running machinery, the horse
the household department was also thronged.