Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-18
ENORMOUS ENTRIES.
Exhibitors Rapidly Applying for SpaCa
at The Omaha Fair,
A Noted Balloonist to Make an Ascen-
ston-Thel Amphitheat Com
pIeted.

AS the time for the fais approaches
great activity is to be found Ia the Office
Of Secretary Wheeler. Ia fact so busy
has that gentleman been, for the past
few days that newspaper man In seach
of facts has hardly been able to get a
nom ant's conversatlon with him. Entries
have been steadily pouring Into the
office, and the space provided for exhibits
has been nearly exhausted. "It Is only a
little over two weeks before the fair
opens, and all who intend to make en-
tries will have to hurry up, said Mr..
Wheeler ye,terdsy. ave are making
extensive engagements for exhibits, but
the space is all being taken very
fast. To-day l received word
from the managers of the Dodge
county fair, informing me that they had
changed the date of holding their exhibi.
tion from September 8, g., and 10, to
Septsmber 2, and 3, 80 as to ALLOW their
exhibitors 10 bring their exhibits to the
Omaha fair. Word also came from Mat
Colvin, of Kansas City, that he intendu
TO enter his stable of ten trotteru for the
races. Mr.. McShsne, who returned Sat-
uraay from Illinois, met many prominent
horsemsn, and received assurances of lib
eral entries In the regular speed clas,es.
Mr.. Garneau, as already announced, has
secured Phyllis aud Joe Davis for a
special trot, and they will make an inter
estipg race. Phyllis has arecord of 2:15,
while Joe Davis can do his milo In 2:16.
The purse Is $4,000, with an additional
$500 provided 2:l9 or better is made.
Better horses than these never trotted In
Nebraska. Then we have numerous en-
tries Of blooded cattle and hogs, and
many other attractive features. The
new smphithsatre was completed to-
day by the contractors, and to morrow
ii Will be turned over to the association. >
A BALLOON ASCENSION.
Prof. Oscar Hunt, the we'll known bal
loonist, arrived In the city yesterday en-
route to Helena, Mont, wners he will
give a balloon ascension at the coming
stste fair. Mr.. Hunt called on Secra-
tary Wheeler and closed arrange.
ments with him for balloon ascension to
be given from the expedition grounds
during the fair week. 1t Is expected
that this will be ono of the great attrsc.
tlons of the day. Prof. Hunt is an old
hand at tho business, and doss some
sklllful trapeze work, while suspended
from the balloon. His balloon carries no
baskst-only set of trapezs bars. He
makes ssceneions Of from ono to three
miles from the earth, and some of the
most startling and finest feats are done
while hanging from the bars mile or two
above terra frms. SIT 10 just as easy 10
do such things mile above the earth as
1t is two feet above" Prof. Hunt ex-
planned to reporter who met him
In Secretary Wheeler's Office; "in
fact am inclined to bslieve that 1t Is
little easier. One does not feel as though
falling were possible, when suspended 30
far above the earth-I suppose because
the air Is very light.
"Yes, | have been In the business
good many yesrs-since l was ii years
old i learned the business from Prof.
Wise, who went up ct 81. Louis. In 1876,
and has never been heard from since,
having been lolt as 1t is supposed, some.
where in the wllds of Michigan"
MIR. Hunt has just come from the east
where he has been giving exhibition, of
late. he was secured by Mr.. McShane
who saw him perform In Cleveland a few
weeks sn:a, aud determined at once
that he would be great drawing card
for the fair. He is a young, good look
ing, and rather stylishly dressed
man, with a figure of athletic outline,
rather small but powerfully built.