The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-07
SUNDAY AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.
The May Festival Of Mechanics FIRE 70.
kO- Il.


Yesterday opened sultry and close, making act
i've exertion unpleasant, but towards afternoon
slight breez, was stiirlng, and those who had
been at home during the day strolled out for
fresh air and recreation. Most OF these wended
The ir way to the Fair Grounds. Mechanics Fire
Go. No 6 was entertaining it's friends with one Of
its May festivals. By O'Clock there were proba-
bly, 4560 people on the track, and each arriving
oar brought additions TO the crowd. The merry
| music OF the Thirteenth Infantry band served
to enliysn the spirits OF the guests and numerous
| refreshment saloons to cheer the thirsty.
| The programme Of the day. which was one OF
varied attractions, WAS opened with hurdle race
Of two miles, in which Tom oNell. Capt. AZ Feeder
got off well together, but from the start it was
evident that O'Neil had the race to himself, and
he led home, winning In 4:05
The next race was q mile dasn 1or ponies.
Emma, Wild Cat. Frank M. and Little Neil were
entered. and after quite spirited contest Frank RAM
| M, won. closely followed by Emma. Time--2:0sA.
The mule race Of mile heats came next be-
tween Fanny Washington, Maggie B. and sacha-
straight heats in 1881 and 1881. AZ sacharine
10 entered In the grand mule race of to-day con-
siderable interest was manifested over bis VIC
| tory, and his chances were enhanced by his
speed shown yesterday.
TIE trotting match between the horses Of vigi-
LIANT No. and Pelican Hook and Ladder Conn
| pany No. i, the former with steam engine and
the latter with thsir truck, followed, and the con-
tsst was watched with much interest; Pelican
gradually drew away from its rival and led. con-
siderably. under the string. winning in the fast
| time OF 4:53L. After the raeingIhad ended, tho
principal feature Of the days sport was In order.
and vast gathering OF people went out into the
field for the purpose Of securing q near view Of
the sham battle between the Jasper Greens,
otherwise known as the Mitchell Rifles, under
Captain Cooney, and the British East India Regi-
ment under Capt. Roche. The contest intended
| to be represented was the desperate one which
| hnS ita urpnnifnnt plncG In hiatOry. and
occurred on the left flank OF General Jackson's
line at the battle of New Orleans, January g. 1916.
After some little delay the British East India
regiment took up ts position In the field, over to-
comprising the regiment, with determined air,
awaited with remarkable GOODNESS the approach
ing fight. The fifteen were formed in line, rifle
IN hand, and one was deployed as skirmisher.
twelve-pound Napoleon, fully manned, stood
| on the race track near the stables, on the back
stretch, with an accurate range on an old cypress
tree below the city in the swamp.
| After some maneuveripg, the Mitchell Hifies In
quick time, marched down the course behind the
Exposition buildings and formed in line near the
Clubhouse entrance, throwing out some seven
or eight as skirmishes. just ut this time red
coat, who evidently wanted 70 e compromise n the
a long conversation with the commander, and,
true TO his colnrs, no propositions we're enter
tained The cavalry to take part in the engage
ment were ably represented by three gallant
sdbresws, who stuck to the race track with all
the pertinicity Of old soldiers during the spirited
contest in the field.
As the gallant seven Of the Mitchell r fIes,
who were deployed as skirmishers, advanced, the
one red coat fell back and the British line oil
fifteen opened the ball with 9 rapid fire, which
was promptly responded to. just then the piece
of al ltillery, which was pointed in the opposite
direction from the scene OF action was loaded and
the artillerymen tried to fire shot to starle the
hv fha md hIrt fhn frir rfin piv,np
snapped and the gun didn't 60 off.
In the meantime The firing between the COM
batants was quite spirited, and the four sick
mules who pasture on the Fair Grounds took il
charged desperately on the crowd of bystanders
and ut one time threatened to take entire charge
Of the battle of New Orleans themselves. The
whole body OF the Mitchell Rifles, on the retreat
Of their skirmishers, boldly advanced in line de-
hvering their Fl % by rank.
II was evident the British fifteen could not
Withstand the rain of lead, and they fell back
supported in the rear by crowd OF women and
children. BY this time the Napoleon was moved
down to point on the flank Of the Irish Rifes
and this time the friction primer did it's work
and the loud report announced to the throng
that the fight was not, as was generally thought
entirely ended. 1t was evident that the noise ol
this gun took the Mitchell Rifles by surprise, fol-
they were unsteady for few minutes, wnen they
quietly deployed past the red coats, who gener
ously refused to fire on them, and then charged
the piece OF artillery, capturing 1t at once. They
did not however, as announced In the programme
turn sits death-dealing contents on the retreat.
, ing red coats" but with rare GOODNESS 1ounged
about satisfied that the day had been won.
The three sick mules in the field went to
cropping grass, and the women and children ad.
journed to the booths to partake of refresh
ments.
In q spirit which was oommendable the ffteer
red coats, the three cavalry and the Mitchell
Rifles fraternizsd and took up a line of March
for the judges stand. Arriving there Mr.. d. O
Moise, In q neat and appropriate address, pre-
tied to the Rifles handsome American fisp
During the afternoon tight-rope walkers snd
athletes served to amuse the crowd With ex
hibtlons OF their daring. and it was quite late be
fore the performances closed and the dancpe
commenced.
The following are the successful number.
drawn for the valuable prizes offered: 3102 the
first prize, 1897 the second prize, and $3.50 thu
third prize.
Some of HancOmb's Peculfarities i'm re.
pairing vessels.
[Philadelphia Times.l
Orders have been issued from the Navy Yart
Department relieving Mr. Isaiah Hanscomb from
duty as Chief OF Construction in the Navy Dc
partment. and Naval Constructor John w Eashv