St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-22

cOuraglnS Wedtner JfldU
ushered in yesterday
afternoon, but there we're 5000 people
on the state fair grounds, and they were
by no means all of German nationality.
Every nations descendants represented
in the population of st. Paul and Min
neapolis were to be seen in the crowd
that half-flled the grand stand, and all
alike betrayed great interest in the
wonderful feats of muscle and agility
performed by the competing Turn
ers. AS the afternoon wore on
and the rain ceased, except for an occa-
Sional thunder shower. the electric
cars from st. Paul and Minneapolis
brought hundreds of new arrivals to the
scene. The cars from each direction
were crowded TO the rails 18th people
bound for the grounds between o'clock
and 5. The little WabaSha street and
West st. Paul flyers arrived every few
minutes, with men, women and children
standing up and hanging on to them on
all sides. In fact, all the cars resembled
beehiveS in Swarmng time until after 5
O'Clock, when the loads were less heavy.
One Hamline car broke trolly about
quarter of mile from the grounds. and
after struggling hopelesSly along for a
few yards. gave up the ghost, and had
to De dragged from the track. Aside
from lit tie incidentalS of that kind, and
the fact that cars should have been run
every two minutes to accommodate the
traffic, the street railway service was
very good. Certainly the exhibition
seen at the fair grounds yesterday was
one of the most remarkable ever seen
In this part of the country. From
reVeille, at 4:30 a. m., until 6 o'clock in
the evening, not moment elapsed that
was not filled by some interesting feat
Of tha fnct IL Hnrnorc
astir by five O'Clock, and few moments
later the call to breakfast found 1.500
men ready to respond, and that, too. in
the heartiest fashion. The meal was dis
posed Of by six o'clock, and there was
general turn out to caliSthenic rehearsal.
There was an hours hard drilling in an
ticipation of the days exhibition, and
then half-hour rest before the compet-
tive class turning was begun. An i'm
mense number of visiting athletes took
part in this competition. Chicago led in
numbers, with nine societies, Milwaukee
turned out four, ST. Paul and Mime
RpOlfS, two apiece, while one society IN
each case represented Winona, Duluth.
Freeport, Dubuque. Burlington, Daven-
port, DeS MoineS, New Ulm, Saltwater,
Grand Crossing and Elgin. A very
clever exhibition or hammer throwing
was given by several societies in the
morning, and at the same time in differ
ent parts of the grounds others were
putting the shot and practicing at the
long jump. AS to what societies are
most proficient that will remain
matter of conjecture until Tuesday,
when the averages have been compared.
The Chicago and Milwaukee men have
done some wonderful work at the high
Jump, and are also remarkably pro-
ficient in caliSthenic drilling. The fact
is. however, that all the societies are
extremely well drilled, and none but an
expert dare assert superiority for one
over another of the principal Organiza-
tions. The fencing exhibition was eX-
tremely Interesting, and the skill dis
played in workmanship was truly re-
markable. These Turner's have limbs
as 1.-the as willow and eyes as quick as
lightning. Many man who did not
know what turning really was
until yesterday has sworn to send
all his youngsters to the turning school
at once, and to bring up any future ad-
ditiOnS to the family as turner's from the
time they were able to walk.
At noon. promptly, the bugles sounded
for dinner, ,and an intermiSSion occurred
until o'clock. Then came continual
tion of the class turning, parallel bar eX
hibitiOnS, vaulting horses, etc. The
thenic drill by 1000 men. comprising all
the societies present. This held the
ground from TO o'clock. One thou
sand men, all well-built. muscu-
lar fellows. costumed alike and
drilled to perfection, are an in
teresting body to watch. The
various difficult evolutions were per-
formed with faultless accuracy, and con-
tinuous applause came from the grand
stand while they were in progress.
The street railway company had done
everything possible to anticipate the
rush for home at the close of the days
entertainment. and string of cars were
on hand to pick up the people. There
was good deal of crush though, after
all, before the thousands ofgsight seers
were fairly started for their respective
homes. Every one seemed to find the
German sports excellent fun. and the
prospects for the success of the fest are
brilliant.