Wichita eagle., 1886-09-24
THOUSANDS STRONG.
The Attendance at the Fair Yesterday
A Thursday Fair Day Sure
Enough.
A Fine Parade OF Live Stock With Exciting Races
and q Good Time Generally-Several
Special Races Today in Which They
Will Work for Blood.

Yesterday was certainly a Thursday OF the
fair week. Everywhere one went on the
grounds it took an extra amount Of elbowing
and ssexcuse me, please" for disturbing the
ouietude of corns,. or slow progress would be
made. 1t was complete jam, rush and
lam from the early hours until 6 O'Clock in
the evening. It was thought that the morn
ing trains brought more human freight to
this city than on any previous day. 1t was
also the universal opinion that never before
in the history of the city was the country for
miles nroand SO largely represented.
The two contributors to big
crowd Esending in 50 many representatives
it was but natural to reason from the data
that the crowd was the largest that was ever
assembled in the city.
At an early hour all manner OF conveyan-
ces were busy conveying people to ana IRON
the grounds. They were by no means equai
to the task. The road was always lined with
pedestrians who, by the way, mad no soit
snap of it when they struck the dense cloud
of dust on the west side. The favored many
who succeeded in gaining a seat in carriage
also had difficult task in getting through
tba: unpleasant district. One gentleman
who partakes OF the nature of an astronomer
and geologist, after careful investigation,
pronounced the dust ten feet deep from the
line where the ground should commence
and three times that thickness upwards from
where the air should begin. The result OF
his examination may well be taken with
some latitude, but suffice it to say it was a
little on the dusty order in that particular
neck of woods. After reaching the grounds
no inconvenience was suffered from that
source. as Mr. o. G.. Daisy had been hired to
visit the race track near the grand stand
with a sprinkler.
One of the entertaining features OF the day
was the immense crowd. The number was
variously estimated. Some would say
p, 900, and others were equally confident
in asserting that there were 10000 present.
The number of tickets sold places the num-
Der near $4,000. This affords no accurate
knowledge, however, as the season tickets
and complimentaries were largely distrtbut-
ed and there is reason for placing the num-
Der above that.
As was expected the pickpockets. got III
some of their work, and as good luck would
have it the police got in some good work on
them also. Three Of the slick-6ngered tribe
were caught at his profession, and were
given position where they will not be
likely to disturb any very soon again. Some
were heard say their purses had turned up
missing at evening, but no large hauls were
reported rs having been made. The
extra effort of the police and some detect
ives who were on the ground, it is thought,
interfered with the work of the crooks very
materially.
Between and 10 O'clock there was live
stock procession around the speed ring.
When round had been made a halt was
called in front of the grand stand, affording
the crowd chance to see the kind of stock
raised in this section. None We're more sur
prised to witness the sight than the strang-
ers 1t was little amusing to hear some OF
them express themselves on the subject.
any such an exhibition Il was a
genuine picnic for the farmers to
hear strangers emit their expressions of sur
prise They were finally led to conclude that
Kansas was the banner state for good stock
in reality, and would soon become as famous
for the same as for grasshoppers No one
doubted that the exhibit was not only highly
commendable but simply immense.
The morning hours were spent in looking
at the exhibits. Those who had visited the
fair every day did not complain of having
another opportunity to pass around and
profit by another look. To say that ii
seemed entertaining in the highest degree te
all who had not seen them and who could be
pleased at seeing what Kansas soil could pro
duce, is superfluous.
Although hundreds of carriages We're al
ways moving at various speeds around the
grounds by no means as many accidents oc
Cured as might well have been expected
There were few snashups, however, but
they were SO few that it may correctly bt
| pronounced lucky day Mr.. Carver wht
lives few miles west of the city had the mis-
| fortune OF having one hind wheel of his car
riage smashed by the encroachment of an
other No one was injured however Som'
other similar accidents are reported.
| The time for the races to begin was
! o'clock Long before that time the immens
crowd had commenced to arrange itself il
position to see the fun. Ih
|
grand stand and its neighborhood did not al
ford even standing room. The fence on tn
inside of the speed ring was lined with car
riages On every high post was pinned /
boy who was waiting. it might be said, en-
Enthusiastically. Every available spot an
nook was occupied and still there was no
room.
| The first race called was trotting race o
the 2:45 class. The vibrating sound of th
gong was welcome cali. Under that elias
Mr.. E. j. Jewett had entered Minnie Pal
mer, Barnum, Dudly: and t. King Mable
The positions were assigned in the orde
named. There was no little difficulty ex
perienced III getting start. The crowd wa
considered sufficient cause by some to tax
their position in the speed ring. This CAV
the marshals hard task for the afternoon
The sporting lads, bar buffers and gambler
did not hesitate TO take possession Of tn
track in front of the grand STAN
in order to get a good peep a
the speeders prior 70 making u bet The
1 were a source of considerable annoyanc
from the tune The races commenced unit
they were finished.
At last start was effected and Mimi
>,,oyrai her ability lret to IN