Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-01
CLOSED In RAIN.
THE STATE PAIR has THB MISFORTUNE to
STRIKE BAD WEATHER.
All Races Declared 0f-0nly Few hnnore0
People visit the Gruunds-Scsnes During mo
Dsy-Mrchants Exhibiting.

the uss of the West Virginia Exposition
management, ran out about daylight yes
terday morning, and as consequence the
Fair ended dismslly in rain and mud. IL
was too bad; but it couldn't be helped.
Such little matters as the arrangement
of clear days and stormy ones, are beyond
the reach of humanity, and State Fair
Directors, along with the rest of the world,
must trust to Providence. and try TO keep
the exhibits dry.
Some of the exhibitors didn't succeed in
keeping their stuff out Of the all-pervading
damp, yesterday; bat for all that, what
were their feelings compared with what
the owners of the flyers on the turf were
called upon to endure? And especially
the favored few who would have divided
up the fat purses which were to have been
contested for? Those were the people who
rallied at the lowering clouds, the descend
ing rain, and the sticky mud, and a good
many of them united in plea to be al
lowed to go" mud, rain and all. The
question was debated for some time, but
those in authority decided it was impossi-
BILE to proceed, and at three o'clock formally
declared all races off There was little
kicking, as there is on every occasion OF
this sort, but the great majority Of those
interested recognized the impossibility OF
proceeding, and we're satisfied.
Had the day been good, the attendance
would have been next to the largest Of the
week, and the Association would have had
its most profitable year, and been enabled
to offer CO respondingly greater induce
ments to exhibitors next year, and as re-
suit, have had q much better Fair. As il
is, 1t was the judgment Of Secretary Hook
and others, last evening, that the Associa-
ton would come ont about even
or little behind.
The rain set in about five clock yesterday
morning, and for q time it came down
hard. Along later in the morning it
Stacked up, and people began to 20 over to
the grounds, expecting or hoping the rain
would cease as noon approached, and there
was every prospect for quite large crowd. |
The hofsemen were soon speeding their nags |
around the track, the fskirs were at work, |
each crying the meritsof his Particular and |
peculiar racket, the exhibits were looking
their best, and there was every promise of
a successful closing day. But about eleven
o'clock it began to come down again, and at
noon the rain increased from sprinkle to a
sharp shower, and from shower to
heavy, persistent and soaking downpour,
which continued without intermission I'M
til hslf-past two o'clock, and
in proportion as the rain increased,
the visitors fell of, and the prospects for
crowd and of something like fair profit
to the Association alike fizzled out. Prob
ably there were a thousand people inside
the Enclosure at two O'Clock, and these
spent the succeeding hours in making
thorough examination of the displays in
the several buildings, looking at the poul-
try and the stock, or in talking over the
of the day. A good many
of the privilege folks had made no adequate
arrangements for protection from rains, and
some had to close up, while Others were
permitted to set their tables in
Horticultural Hall, where they served
meals all during the afternoon.
About three o'clock the exhibitors of live
stock began to load up their sheep and
swine, or drive out their cattle, while the
farmers having exhibits of fruit or farm
products, either made preparations to re-
move their stuff for shipment to other
Fairs, or sold it, or divided it with city
friends. Among those who took this lat
ter course, were Mr.. Lash, and Mr.. Dixon,
the Ohio County Commissioner, under
LAY offruits, &C., was put on exhiDlI.c-,.
Ir. Dixon had forty varieties Of apples on 8
he shelves from his own farm. He divided 2
bushels and barrels of the finest fruit with I
riends, and it did not take long to clear Z
he shelves.
The strangest thing of the day was the
rrival of exhibits. A large consignment
# coal, coke, etc., prepared under the d.
ection of Ex-senator Henry G. Davis, ,
anne in yesterday morning and was duly
placed in the Machinery Hall. Another ,
arge consignment was expected last night
md to-day from Mineral county, and along
he line Of the West Virginia Central rail 7
Dad. This is the collection of exhibits to :
which the REGISTER alluded during the
irst of the week az being expected. 1t !
vas shipped in abundant time, but was de-
syed in transit ut some point out the b.
Z o. road.
By four o'clock everybody was at work
packing up their goods, and at five a i
ong procession of wagons was on its way {
Id South Front street, laden with every i
description of exhibits, while interpreted 9
here and there through the moving column
we're little flock of sheep or drove OF
,attle or hogs. The first building stripped
If its contents was Horticultural Hall, 1t
being about empty at half-past five. The
.hings went out of the Main Building more
,lowly, but by six o'clock the Eighth de- ,
,artment was we'll cleaned away, and
many other exhibits had vanished from ]
light. Lots of stuff will be allowed to re-
main over until to-day, however, and the
gstchmen were on duty about the
grounds last night, as usual. ,
Many of the live stock men, horse own
,rs, and some other exhibitors, will 60 to
and others viii take in the st.
Evansville or Little Washington Fairs the
coming week. .
About five o'clock there was lively
lime down by the grand stand, and a
.umor quickly spread that colored man
nsd his neck broken in fight, and was
lead. A REGISTER reporter made an in
resignation, which showed that the '
-umored dead man was still in
The land of the living, but he had been
bumped pretty soundly. The cOlorsd
man, whose name was given as Charles
Otte, had lost $40 at quiet little dice
game, and was wrothy. He soon had
row on hand, and when Special Officer AID.
Gilbert attempted to quiet him, he pulled ,
put big knife, and profanely said he was ,
''gwan ter carve somebody" He made
,ne or two passes with his knife, when q
man of powerful physique, who
had been looking on, quietly stepped up
and hit Otte under one cor. He dropped
like log, and couple of
kicks in the ribs failed TO rouse him from
his deep insensibility. When be came
too, all the desire to cut meat had left
him, and it will be days before his head
gets level on his shoulders. When Otte
came over to this side of the river he raised
4 row with his wife, and was locked mp by
officer Lukens.
Thus ended the eighth annual State Fair.
L. .L.~la r.nS1 md