Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-09-27

The ThirtIeth Annual Minnesota state Fair
Closes with the Greatest Possible succesB.

agricultural exhibits in the Northwest Fully
forty-fve Thousand people were within the
Enclosure. When the day broke there was no
sun TO be seen in the east, nor at either of the
other three points Of the compass. Atnbout
8 O'Clock the clouds in the east disappeared,
and the king of the day shone forth in
all his radiance and epiandor. Trains of
ten cars each from the two cities went
laundering into the station at the fair
grounds depositing their precious freight IN
thousands at a time. The brightness of the
sun had absorbed the moisture on the grass
which had fallen the day before, and every
thing bore evidence OF a superb day in the
celebration Of the thirtieth anniversary OF
the history and progress of the splendid
achievements in the world Of agriculture in
Minnesota. The American flag, as it I'M
folded Its majestic folds TO the bright crisp
northwestern breeze from the topmast OF
every building. never 6efore presented a
more inspiring scene than it did yesterday
morning, with thousands and thousands
of lovers of the emblem of American
liberty upon the grounds and hundreds of
SCARED veterans who had followed it TO vie
tory and preserved it's dignity and grandeur
and the solidity and perpetuiy Of the union.
1t was typical of the breadth, not of the acre
age of the golden Northwest, but of the spir-
it of its citizens in making it one OF the inte-
gral parts OF the common union, associated
with the achievements of the past and the
uDutdnt pQcckDlutltS Di the luiufe-
THE INDUSTRIAL PkRADE.
At 1890 O'Clock supt, Bushnell was the
busiest man in the state. The industrial pa
rade was the creation of his own prolific
brain, and it's magnitude as well as beauty
was looked forward to with more han or
binary interest. The delay in getting the
various industries in line naturally caused
some inpatience, though it was not long un-
til the line was formed, and a more extensive
display was seldom il ever exhibited. The
procession was headed by the Great Western
band Of sixty pieces, followed by Supt. Bush
nell on horseback. Next came a magnificent
ly painted wagon drawn by two handsome
bay horses, in which were President Merriam
and the other officers of the asso-
cation. hen came the steum en-
gines drawing their tranis OF wagons, thresh-
ers, mowers, reapers, ccrnplanters, plows,
cultiyators, harro VS.. rakes, drills, potato
diggers, grass-seed sewers and the hundreds
OF other farm implements which have con-
tributed so much to the advancement Of the
state of the industrious ~husbandman, and
especially to the benefit and interest of the
fair.
THE STOCK DISPLAY.
The next in line, and a long lineit was. too.
was what appeared to be miles of stock. 1t
Is doubtful il a mo re splendid aggregation OF
horses and cattle were ever placed on ex-
hibitioa than was seen on the grounds during
tae week just passed. IL was a sight, the
beauty of which is not often offered in this
or any other country. The progress made
by the people of the United States within the
last ten years in the cultivation Of blood In
domestic animals, as well as the human
race, has attracted the attention of the civil
ICED world. No better evidence Of this prog
ress could have been Offered than q demon
strated yesterday.
The display was especially one of the dis
fineflvA fqQfrrez nf the NnrfhpraEf which
could with consistency be taken TO illustrate
the fact that this section has not only kept
pace with the march Of progress, but has
placed itself in the lead. The exhibit aud dis
play made in the parade ofthe Percheron and
Ciydesdale heavy draught stations was one
of the most attractive features in the parade,
which commanded the admiration and favor
able comment of almost the entire attend
anee.
THE GRAND ARMY.
By this time the attractions incident to
the coming battle were the chief topic, and
soon the grand stand began to be filled by
those who might have objected 10 being first
in war, though they manifested a desire TO
occupy front seats when war-hke scenes were
in full view. The scenes in and about the
tents of tbs Grand Army were brisk in the
extreme. The old veterans were not as
hilarious as the young, who had only read
instead of tasted the hardships Of war. The
A4N AAAs1 IN iii AAAAaA AZ AA III HAANA
The citizen soidiery clad in the habiliments
of wal were not less imposing in appearance
than we're the regulars, though the latter
commanded the admiration OF every one and
simply because they were participants in the
name of the army of the United States. Al
the positions we're taken by the contending
forces upon the different portions OF the field,
when the infantry with it's steady tread,
followed by the force mud dignity of
the United States artillery, had taken it's
place, cheer after cheer went up from
the forty Thousand throats in praise of
the institution of the army and it's proud
achievements. Galloping horses with gall
liant riders vent rom end to end OF the
acreage, bearing the ensign of the army and
holding il up, for admiration to the civilized
world. On the distant hill stood silently
waiting the command the army Of the ma
ton, while in the valley below we're stationed
the citizen soldiery OF the state. 1t was not
unlike the massing of tho forces for a
Gettysburg OF n march up lookout noun
tain. IL was a renewal of the scenes
during the darkest days OF the nations his
tory, and when gard upon by those who
had barred their breasts to the enemy for
their country's good, il called forth the recof-
~iections of the past which are so dear to the
survivors of that grand army OF patriots
whose day wns yesterday in the celebration
of the eventful past.
THE BATTLE BEGINS.
After a proper disposition of the forces in
the bloodless battle a skirmish fire
was commenced by cavalry from the
Blues and infantry from the Reds.
The FIRE grew hotter, and the Reds began TO
move down and'oyer the fence into the field.
The regulars held their places on the left OF
the Red line OF battle, save one
which was deployed along the track at right
nngle to the lines of battle, where they CON-
menced a crossfire. Their skirmishers were
- = Al.
yanced in full line of battle. their skirmishers
forming on the right. The battle waxed
hotter, and the artillery Of both sides
was brought into action. The
Blues answered the desultory
firing of the Reds By yolleys from the militia.
The smoke gradually began to obscure the
field from the sight of the eager spectators.
The Blues were driven back slowly MT first,
then the right broke and then the center, till
they were in their original position, when
the firing ceased as If by mutual consent.
At 1858 the Blue skirmishers ~rc-opened
their scattering fire and retreated, followed
closely by the Reds. The Blues artillery
commenced firing again. The regulars were
marched up battalion front ut right angles
to the rest OF the Red line aud opened a
fierce fire at left oblique. Tho battle now
reached its hercest point. The Reds adj
yanced. driving the enemy before them till
they were intrenehed behind their breast
NOTkc anu the DdttffN ietiftHl 10 the extreme
end of the field. The Reds thought they had
inflicted n decisive blow and fell back, but
the Blues with renewed fury advanced again
on tho full run. TIL Reds retreat was not
because Of weakness. however, and they
turied on the enemy. driving them back out
of their entrenchmeut to the higher ground,
forming their own line at the
fence. The Blues sent their skirmishers out
again to the earthly orks. At 4:15 the firing
again commenced, and the Blues advanced
to their fourth charge. The Red line was al
most broken, but the regulars advanced to
the line of battle in the face of a fierce fire
rom the Blue artillery. The Blues halted
behind the fence and formed their line, and
then advanced again, the Reds stubbornly
resisting. The engagement was almos.
hand TO hand, and the field was strcwn with
bodies The regulars were sending forth
deadly voleys by battalions, which
checked the advance. TIL com.
manders, wishing to stop the needless
slaughter, sent out flags of truce. Another
consultation was held and a ye0r's armistice
was agreed upon The two armies marched
of the field TO the martial notes ofboth bands
and amid general rejoicing, both bodies firing
their muskets in the air. The regulars set
nut at once on their march to Fort Smelling.
The veterans went over to the camp and de-
Hvered over their weapons, and the militia
stocked arms and dispersed to see she sights.
The Old men were rejuvenated by the smell of
powder and the yourg men were excited and
flushed by the simulated conflict.
AskD ACCIDENT.
The sham battle was marked by only one
accident, though that was sad indeed. Paul
Mitch, a young artiileryman from the fort,
suffered the loss of his right haad and wrist.
The accident occurred during the thick OF the
fight, and was due either to insufficient
sponging Of the piece. or to the fact that
the man holding tho vent let his
thumb slip, allowing the air TO
enter. The piece was prematurcly discharged,
tearing on Mitch's right hand, managing the
arm f%earfully and breaking the thumb of his