Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-09-16
THE FAIR.
The First Day.sProceedings

The First Day'sPrOceedings
From Daily Of Thursday and Friday.
Contrary to general expectation,
our Fair this year promises TO be full
ly equal to any we have ever held
The list of entries in nearly all the
classes are large, and the display
very good. Floral Hall is not so full
as we have had it at some of the pre-
ceiing exhibitions, but the character
of the exhibits are better than they
have ever been. The display of NEE
dle-work and other articles, the pro-
ducS of the ladies' taste and ingenu-
ity, is the best we have ever seen,
here or elsewhere. Both in extent,
variety and quality it is superb. Tbs
floral decorations are also very good,
and the whole hall is neatly and
tastefnlly trimmed from end to end.
The floral pyramid i'm the center adds
much to the beauty of the room, and
the cages of attractive birds enliven
the scene with their music, and TAX
ing it all in all, the Fair, in point of
attractions, is grand success.
| The rain prevented the carrying
out OF the first days programme on
Tuesday, consequently yesterday was
the first day of this years exhibit
! ton. There was good attendance,
| which would have been largely aug
mented, had there not been indica-
tions of rain all day. In the after
noon, however it cleared away some,
and was quite pleasant. The sport
was very good, consisting of run
ming race for county horses four
years old and over, half mile heats,
best in 5. Three horses faced the
starter in this race, :. NJ. Peters b.
m. "West Va" Mr.. Reily's b. m.
ssBelle of Virginia. and Owners
"Jeff Davis.n There was considera-
BILE interest manifested in the race,
Peters mare generally being favor
lite. For the first heat they got off
the first trial to good start, the
brown mare taking the lead and
keeping it throughout the trial,
"West Virginia. second and Jeff.
Davis" beaten off. All the other
heats were a repetition of the first,
the brown mare of Mr.. Reiley's
winning easily. A mule race and
foot race were then called, and both
excited considerable amusement.
Second Days Proceedings.
The weather yesterday, while not
all that could have been desired for
the purposes of our exhibition, was
quite pleasant. The sun shone out
brightly most of the day, and good,
stiff breeze tended to the double pur-.
pose of tempering the atmosphere to
comfortable degree and drying up
the mud. At an early hour the PEG.
pie began coming in from the cOun-
try, and by noon the town was full
OF people, and the prospects for a
good attendance were excellent. By
one O'Clock there were thousand or
more people upon the ground, and
before two O'Clock nearly three thou
sand spectators were filling Floral
Hall, or walking over the grounds
admiring the display of stock and
other articles of use which were on
exhibition. A little after 2 O'Clock
the bell rung for the races, and four
horses came to the post for the free
to-all trot, mile heats, best 3 in 81
Lady Patterson, Bay Billy, Billy
Fredericks and Turner started, get
ting away on the 4th trial to a good
start. The race was a walk over for
Lady Patterson, but the first heat
between Bay Billy and Billy Fred
ericks was very exciting, and had
ii not been An accident that prevent
et Bay Billy from starting after the
first heat, there would have been an
exciting race for second place be-
tween the two.
Lady Patterson won the race, with
Billy Frederick second and Turner
third. Time, 2:45, 2.46, SOL, 2:42.
The race for colts, half mile heats,
2 in 8, was won byS. M. Peters, s. c.,
West Va. The race after the creased
pig created much interest as did the
race between the mules of Bob Burk-
hart, N. Paine e. Emmert and War
field. After an exciting race War
field won by a neck. The sack race
also an interesting part of the pro-
gramme. Taking it all in all the
days proceedings were very success
full. The only disappointment exper-
fenced was the failure of the balloon
ascension. The wind was so high
that the netting was torn while the
imitation was going on. 1t will how
ever be sent off tomorrow and again |
on Saturday. If the weather should
permit the next two days OF the Fair