Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-09-13
THg LARGEST CROWD Oh RECORD.
A Great Racing Programme for To-
Day.
EVENTS OF YESTERDAY DETAILED

/ EVENTS OF YESTERDAY DETAILED.
Never, since the organization Of the
West Virginia State Fair Association, was
there such a crowd in attendance at any
Of its exhibitions as that which sss,mbled
within the enclosure yesterday.
There have been big days" in the past,
when the hearts of the gentlemen of the
Board Of Directors were made glad by q
large attendance, bat yesterday was the
greatest day OF all.
Estimates of the number Of admissions
varied greatly, as they always dc, run
nirg from $1,000 to $4,000, but
those best informed thought that 90 900
was about the size of the crowd. But
whatever may be the exact number it is
pretty clear that many more could not
have been accommodated. Every square
yard within the fences, aside from the
grsss-plot within the track, had from
one 10 half dczsn occupants
daring the afternoon, and from eleven
O'Clock until i've it was impossible to
wedge any more psople into the various
buildings; the crowd had reached the
limit Women grew red in the face and
ont Of patience, as they were hOpslessly
caught 10 the mass which drifted through
the broad sisles Of the Main Building with
a motion almost impcrceptible; men swore
softly aud struggled desperately, bat met
fectnallg: babies crisd, and children grew
frightened; and on several occasions the
lam passed the unpleasant point and Dor
dered on the dangerous, for ladies and
children.
But what a gOOd-natursd crowd it was.
The people came, not only from the city
aud the surrounding towns, but from all
the four corners of the compass. Regular
railroad trains we're crowded, and specials
bad standing room only; they came in
wagons and carriages; on horseback and on
/ foot: prepared for a full day Of sightseeing
and enjoyment, and disposition to over
look even great inconvenience, and bear
patiently all the ills inseparabie from so
vast a congregation Of strangers. There
was nodisorder; a very few were noticeably
under the influence Of liquor, and the day
passed with scarcely an appeal to the
police from any one.
The crowd was an interesting study,
along about two o'clock. For the nonee
| the Fair was swallowed up in the mass oil
people, ard many, despairiDg OF seeing tue
/ exhibits in o satisfactory way, turned aside
to contemplate the crowd. 1t was well
worth studying; "all sorts and conditions
seems to fall short Of terse DESCRIPTION
/ Ii had not only to he seen, but to be close
/ lv examined to be properly appreciated,
but looked at leisurely, the stream Of hui
manitv. as il poured through the gates and
distributed itself over the grounds, was
I the greatest scene in great SHOW.
/ A REGrsTER reporter spent an hour IN
tbe ticket Cfice, a. the main entrance,
during the busy part Of the early
afternoon. and It was ike reviewing a
great parade. The stream OF people was
incessant and interminable. They poured
down Front street from halt-past twelve
10 half-past one, in a column rs large as the
sidewalk woald accommodate aud ten
ticket takers were kept on the Jump TO
take the oasteboards ard inspec. the rail.
road tickets. The largest proportion OF
/ the sieht-seers were strangers; only here
/ and there could q city man beseen, and yet
there we're thousands of Whcelingites
there. as O matter Of course. About hall
/ the people seemed to have railroad tickets,
aud these were simply glanced at by the
men al the gate; thoss buying tickets Kept
| four men, at the WindOwe, working Ike
circus experts, to supply admissions and
make change. More people had passed
the gates at noon than went through all
dav Thursday of las. year.
Wagons and buggies and carriages FOL
lowed each other almost incessantlyi snd
more than thousand vehicles passed
through the gates Sometimes big coun-
try wagon would pass in, loaded with two
or three families, provided With ample
lunch-baskets, and all in for day OF
endowment. By enc o'clock the sides OF
the roadwsys frOm the upper end OF the
cattle uens to the grand stand, all
along behind the stand, and south OF II
psst the pool boxes and clear around to
/ the stables, we're lined with wagon, as
thick as they colld be crowded, and when
the racing programme was opened every
wagon was blsck with people. The In
field was we'll filed with handsome turn
outs, and even away up under the apple
trees az the north end Of the track there
were scores OF vehicles. But the great
time 60 look at that immense crowd
was ut noon, when hunger tenn
porarily obscured thoughts of the
Fair with thoughts Of dinner. The restau'
rants never did anything approaching the
business, and yet they fell far short Of sup
plying the demands. Long tables would bt
iilled with diners, behind them would
stand a TOW of men, women and children,
ready to drop into a seat the instant 1t was
vacated, and often this patiently waiting
throng was three OF four deep Thou.
sands brought lunches, and at them on the
grass, under the trees, in the buildings, IN
the stalls, il wagons, and even while
walking about the roads. Still, many
hundreds went without dinner, simply be
cluss they could not fud place wher'
they could be served.