Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-21
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The Watertown Fair Has Hard Luck
 Rnin and Mud Hold the Fort To-day.

The Watertown Fair Has Hard Luck Rain and Mud Hold the Fort To-day.
 The closing events of Thursdays fair at Watertown were slightly interrupted by the rain which began to fall when about half the scheduled programme had been given. In the racing poor time was made in the 2:35 class possibly for the reason that only two starters were in the race, and as the result of the heats shows it was almost n walk over The minute class showed up to better advantage, there being more en- tries. The road race was won by Atwood of Woodbury who drove the Charlie pacer. Two straight heats were easily won in 2:55 and 9:54 This race was for local teams from surroundings towns, Waterbury be- ing barred. The minute class race was won by F. J. Lewis, of Bridgeport in three straight heats Lewis drove Harry H. and in every heat was pushed hard by N. w. Heaters big bay of Waterbury, driven by J. H. Lewis, of Stratford. Time 2:51, 2:524, 2:52 The 2:35 race was won by J. H. Lewis, of Stratford in three straight heats; time 2:43 2:51, 2:54. At the con clusion of the racing the crowds surged to the rear of the judges stand and watched with interest the initiating of the mammoth balloon. Prof Young, the eronaut, super intended the work himself and watched the huge air ship slowly forming for its upward trip. The manner of filling the balloon is very simple. A pit twenty feet long is dug to connect with rudely con structed hot air vault. The pit is filled with wood saturated with oil. It is then banked over and the wood ignited. Thirty minutes was the time it should take to fill the balloon. but owing to the shower of rain which came up 1t was fully an hour before the cry 'Let her go" was heard. For a few wards the basket containing the bal loonist touched the ground, then as the great sea of canvas shot upward mighty shout echoed and rechoed from thou sand throats. For about 600 feet the bal loon ascended heav, inward, but the damp air and rain began to tell on the hot ar without the canvas and slowly she showed a perceptible sign of descending. 1mmedi- ately the aeronaut pulled the rope which cut him loose from the balloon and for 20 | feet he shot downwards with terrific speed. 1 Then the parachute catching the current of air opened, and the descent to earth was easily accomplished. MT Yonng landed but short distance from the fair grounds and in conversation afterwards regretted the l inclemency of the weather which prevented him from ascending to a greater height The balloon relieved of it's load ascended rapidly for three or four hundred feet and | towards Scovill's woods, behind which it slowly dropped. The rain, which up to now had been drizzling, came down i'll heavy showers, and the grounds were quickly cleared of the scores of sight-seers. President French remarked that he had never before i'll the history of the Water town fair seen so many vehicles in and around the grounds Takers predominate in goodly numbers on the grounds, but are meeting with poor success. They deserve more patronage than the parties who are running the fake dining rooms.
 NOTES.
 1 Several Waterbury parties received awards on fancy work and oil paintings.
 Owing to the storm the fair was postponed to- day. The exhibition will conclude to- morrow.
 It was officially announced yesterday that Henry Boylan, of Waterbury, and a young lady from Bridgeport would be married on the grounds this afternoon. A barrel of flour and a purse of money is the prize offered.
 The marshals of the day were Ravens Hemingway, Frank Peck and F. L. Norway The judges on the horse racing E. Curtiss, Woodbury. Abe Durham, Seymour, starter.
 Mrs. M Sharkey of Litch6eld was taken violently ill on the grand stand yesterday and two doctors who were on the grounds attended her. She was con- veyed to residence close by and was pronounced dangerously i'll.
 The crowds of men and boys who held the balloon down while it was inflating seemed very loath to let go when the com mand was given. In fact ono countryman was lifted or feet from the ground be- fore he decided he was not anxious for a voyage.
 Before the second heat of the 800 class race the driver of one of the entered horses tried to protest the race on the ground that the winner of the first heat was ringer from Waterbury, although scheduled from Bridgeport. The protest did not work.