Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-10-10
Shenandoah County Fair
FIRST SECOND and THIRD DAYS.
The Grandest Success Yet Scored by
the Society.

Inc OrAuueSL SuccSbS 1cI OCO1cu Ny
the Society.
Shenandoah County FAIR the week opened
with leaden sky and Monday, the day
before the fair, was day to make all feel
depressed and blue, but by the middle of
the day the clouds broke away and the
bright sunshine gave promise of better
things. Tuesday morning, the first day,
came in with clouds and disheartening
drizzle, that added many inches to the
large number Of faces that crowded the
town, prepared to take in the best fair
the Valley of Virginia has ever known.
iBut for all the unfavorable appearance
Of the ueather more people attended the
fair than has ever been the case before on
the Fl st day, and the gate receipts we're
largely in excess of any previous opening
day. The display IN the main building is
long way ahead of any prior effort,
much to the astonishment of everybody,
as the past season was utterly without
fruit, and vegetables were sc2iee and
Indifferent. In the south end of the
building on the second floOrls large and
beautiful display of flowers and potted
plants,
Pawnee Bills Great Wild West gave
their thrilling scenes of western life, In-
dian fights, rescues by the cowboys, rife
shooting, &c. This was followed by
pretty trotting race of four year-olds and
under, with five starters, won by Pal
metto in three straight heats, best time
2:54a.
Wednesday morning broke clear and
bright, and scarcely had the first rays of
the sun bounded over the eastern horizon
when it became apparent that an I'm
mense crowd would be on the ground.
With the first rays of light the people
commenced pouring in from all directions,
and horses, carriages, road carts, buggles,
hacks, wagons and every conceivable
vehicle poured in in an unbrokOn stream
of humanity for hours, all intent upon
witnessing one of the most satisfactory
exhibitions of the kind ever held in the
State. All trans were full, the regular
excursions from both ends of the road
being literally packed. From the best
information obtainable we learned that
about 9, 100 people were brought in by
rail.
One train of twelve or thirteen crowded
coaches was delayed between Summit
Point and Charlestown, by the breaking
down of the engine, and did not get in
to Woodstock before 11:30.
At o'clock the Wild West Show
commenced aud for an hour or two kept
the crowd wild with excitement as one
after the other, IN rapid succession,
the thrilling scenes of wild western
frontier life were enacted before them.
Following the Wild West was the
competitive drill by companies of the 2nd
Va. Valley Regiment, for an elegant
silver cup. THIS friendly contest was
between the companies from Winchester,
Toms Brook and Harrisonburg, the
Woodstock company, being the home
company, did not, through courtesy, enter
for the cup. After a spirited contest in
which all the companies acquitted
themselves most creditably, the prize was
awarded to the Harrsonburg company
they having won fair and honorably,
although closely pushed by the
Winchester boys who did themselves
proud by their efforts. In simple justice
to the Toms Brook Company, we will say
that they have only been organized for a
few weeks and they entered the contest
only through friendly spirit to make it
interesting. This is splendid company,
composed of fiue material and a credit to
the grand old county. The judges were
Rev. j. P. Hyde, of Winchester, Va,
chaplain of the Regt., Judge E. D..
Newman and DR.. J. L Campbell.
The trotting race in the three minute
class was won by Palmetto in three close
heats that in the 2:3O class by Charlie
C. in 2:29t purse $500. The half-mlle
dash was won by Thrift.
Thursday morning proved to be anoth-
er bright day, and as the people came
pouring in by rail and every manner of
private conveyance it was soon apparent
that it was to be by long odds the biggest
day of the Fair. TIE large and beautiful
grounds were soon crowded with the
moving, happy, joyous thrOng. of men,
women and children, embracing many
thousands.
Commencing at IL o'clock, Pawnee
Bill's Wild West Show thrilled the people
with their wonderful and real scenes
from Western life and adventure, among
them being the .lassoing and riding OF
a wild bull that was turned loose in the
circle. After this came the races as
follows:
The free for all race was Voc by
Johnnie b., owned by Mr.. JAS Chambers,
of Dubois, Pa. Time 2:3l4.
Mertie Williams, owned by Mr.. Averilli
af Wheeling, W. Va, won the $40 race
Time 2:444.
The running race-balf mile dash-best
two in three-was won by Thrift, owned
by Mr.. Hewitt, of Danville, Va. Best
heat 50 seconds.
All these races were intensely interest
ing, and filled the crowd with enthusiasm
As we 60 to press on Thursday night we
inform our patrons that we will give q
full report of the great fair in our next
issue.
At the Presbyterian church, in this
place, on Wednesday afteroon at 5 o'clock
by Rev. Geo. W. Henderlte, Mr.. Samue
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