The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-23
A BIT OF HISTORY.
ALMOST A DUEL AND ITS PICK
WICKIAN ADJUSTMENT.

WICkIAN ADJUSTMENT.
THE FIRST STATE FAIR IN INDIANA AND
WHAT GREW OUT OF IT.
The annual return of our State Fair brings
up the recollection of the first one held in
Indiana. It came off in the fall OF 1852, and
the grounds now known as the
Military Park. 1t was opened on Tuesday,
the 18Th of October, and lasted the remain
der of the week. At that time state fairs in
the West were unusual gatherings, and
much interest was taken in the exhibition
of The agricultural, mechanical and manu-.
featuring products of Indiana made by the
people on the occasion OF their first
effort in the way of state fair.
Governor Wright, by public addresses,
and in other effective ways, had
awakened such an interest among the peo
pie that a State Board of Agriculture had
been organized; and to him, more than to
any other man. are the people indebted for
State Fairs and the interest that has been
awakened by them in favor of improved
machinery, better cultivation Of ths soil, and
blooded stock.
Caleb B. Smith, at the time resident OF
Cincinnati, had been selected to deliver the
first annual address before the Indiana State
Fair, but for some reason he did not appear
on the grounds, and his place was admirably
filled by John b Dillon, the Secretary OF
the State Board of Agriculture, and well
known throughout the country as
the historian of Indiana. The fair
was well attended, and many
things were to be seen that
would attract attention were they on exhi-
bition at the State Fair and Exposition now
being held in this city. The article that at
tracted the most attention was
A SEWING MACHINE
entered by Samuel G. Daily, then citizen
of Madison, and afterwards a member of
Congress from Nebraska. The sewing ma
chine, at that time, was great curiosity,
and, in the West, could only be seen on rare
occasions. Few persons then had any con-
ception of the revolution this machine was
destined to make in the manufacturing of
every article bound together with cords OF
cotton or thread. There was good display
of horses, cattle and sheep, and, taken as a
whole, the first State Fair held in Indiana
was not inferior to some of its successors,
though not equal to those held in the last
few years.
There were many side-shows at this fair,
aud among them was Barnum's Chinese
Family. The world-renowned Snowman of
the present day was not unknown in 1862,
and his family from the far East attracted
much attention. In those days the Celestials,
with their pig-tails, did not wash our dirty
linen and polish our shirt-fronts as they do
at the present time, and the petite foot of the
Chinese lady was the wonder of many q
man and woman who saw followers of
Confucius for the first time. Diehl gave a
very ereditable exhibition of fireworks on
the grounds near tbs State House; there was
big ball at Masonic Hall, and many other
things were done to please the big crowd
that came to the capital to attend the first
State Fair held in Indiana.
Among other things that transpired
At indianapolis during this fair
not laid down in the show
bills, was grand torch-light procession OF
the democracy that took place on the even
ing of the 10th day OF October. at the
state election held few weeks before, the
democrats had carried everything before
them with a rush. They had reelected
Governor Wright by a majority of 20,03l (;
they had
CARRIED THE LEGISLATURE
by majority of Is in the senate and 3S in
the house, and they had e'ected 10 out OF the
IL congressman, Samuel w. Parker, from
the fifth district being the only WING chosen
in the state. After such a victory it was
natural that they should want to "enthuse,' >
and they selected an evening during the fair
tor working off the superabundsnt hilarity.
They determined 10 make this demonstrs-
ton such one as would effect
ually kill of and annihilste any hopes the
wings might have for carrying Indiana. for
the hero of Lundy's Lane. They formed
their procession in the western part of the
CITY. and marched east on Washington street
to a point opposite the Wright House, which
stood where Glenn's Block now is. This
hosiery, although kept by Gen. William L.
ELLIOTT then a democrat in excellent stand
ing, was the headquarters of the wings. At
1t were stopping many of the prominent
men of this party, and among them the feel
ing was general that the democrats had not
chosen a proper time nor place for their
demonstration. This sentiment of the lead
ers spread among their followers, and there
soon gathered at and about the Wright
House turbulent set OF men,
determined that the democratic speak
ers should not be heard. The Hon. Joseph
e. Mcdonald first addressed the crowd, and
although, as is well known, his voice is
strong and penetrating, yet the "noise and
confusion" were such that he could not be
heard. He was followed by A. P. Willard,
then Just elected lieutenant governor, and
one OF the most effective stump speakers
Indiana ever contained. Governor willard
was plucky and resolute, and tried hard to
silence the rowdies that interrupted him,
but his voice was drowned by the hootiDgs
and yelling of a crowd that nearly equalled
the one that Andrew Johnson met in this
city when he was on his journey "around
the circle" While Willard was speaking,
George G.. Dunn, of Lawrence county, and
General Milton Stepp. OF Jefferson, APP
peared at the balcony OF the hotel, and sew
orally appealed to the rioters to desist
from these disturbances, and allow the
speakers to be heard. Many people in the