The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-03
THE BIG DAY OF THE FAIR.
An Attendance Of Nearly Thirty Thou
sand, Largely from Out Of Town.
The Visit of Gov. st. John, and His Address
Races and Scenes and Incidents
About the Grounds.

Yesterday was the 'big day." so called of the
State Fair and the attendance was about 80, 900,
and was composed very largely of people from
the country. All the incoming trains yesterday
morning carried extra cars, and several special
trains were run, and all crowded. The announce
ment that General Butler and Governor St.
John would be here doubtless had much to do
"a increasing the attendance. The fact that
Massachusetts politician did not arrive in
le city until last night and, of course, could
not attend the fair, caused considerable disap
pointment The crowd was disposed to be quiet
and orderly and no fights or disturbances were
reported. During the day the police arrested
eleven suspicious characters-seven of whom
we're known to be pickpockets-and they were
81 locked up at the Central Station. Numerous
small losses by theft were reported but none
that amounted to much There was but one
accident on the grounds of any consequence.
During the running race, Miss Bessie Davis, a
young woman who lives near Barkersville John
son county was knocked down by the horse
Diamond" as she was running across the track,
thinking that all the horses had passed. In fall
ing she struck her head against the fence and
was considerably bruised, but her injuries were
not very serious, and DR.. W. N Wishard at
tended to them.
GOV. ST. JOHNS VISIT.
About O'clock an open carriage was driven
into the grounds, containing Hon. John p st.
John, the Prohibition candidate for the presiden-
cy, his wife, another lady, and Robert Mitchell,
president Of the State Board. Governor st.
John is pleasantlooking gentleman, about fifty
years of age, with iron-gray hair and mustache,
but the latter is not nearly so fierce as his pic
lures represent After various features of inter
est had been shown him, the ladies left the car
riage, and it was driven near the headquarters,
where, for a few minutes, the Governor
held an impromptu reception, shaking hands
with the men and women who crowded
around his carriage and addressing few pleas
ant words to each. While thus engaged he met
several of his old Hoosier neighbors who were
only too glad to renew their old-time acguaint-
Rnce with him. The fact that he was on the
grounds, however, was known to comparatively
few of the immense throng, and it was only after
band had been corraled and played a vigorous
Air, that a crowd of about ], 900 gathered about
the carriage. The distinguished visitor was
briefly introduced by Mr.. Mitchell, and standing
IN the carriage seat he spoke very briefly sayin g
"My Friends: am not candidate for any
thing | am the nominee of great party for
the presidency l am not here to speak
to you on politics-for 1 am to make political
speech at the Circle to-night-but | am going to
talk to you briefly on a subject of which know
very httle-that is agriculture | feel at home
among you Indiana people, for l spent my early
boyhood days in an adjacent county-Johnson
in the White river bottoms. l lived princi-
pally on wild grapes, catfish and pawpaws ard
that diet is calculated to make any man tough
and hardy. [Laughter.l remember very well
the first train that came into indianapolis.
walked twelve miles to see it, and when the en-
gineer sounded the whistle 1 was fright
scared so badly that 1 climbed over "a
ien-foot fence which | could not possibly have
done under any other circumstances Renewed
laughter. After forty years absence from this
state, | come back to find Indianapolis one of
the leading railroad centers of the country and
4 city great in every other respect. remember
when you Indiana people broke ground with