The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-11

There never was day III the history
of the West Virginia Exposition and
State Fair Association like yesterday.
The attendance was simply immense.
Every place on thegrounds was packed
with people. The buildings were simply
solid masses Of perspiring, iostling,
squeezed but good humored humanity.
The grand stand could not have held
more people; indeed it barely held those
who we're in it, and some Of them had
to lean over to breathe. For the entire
circle of the race course people were
packed against the fence and back from
it for six to twenty feet. Down along
the path to the grand stand it was I'M
possible to get through the crowd. The
stock department was lined from end to
end. The orchard was black with peo-
ple, all the walks crowded, every seat
taken-and still they came.
Early in the afternoon visitors began
to leave to catch trains. There were 25,-
600 people on the grounds at some time.
and at least 10000 at once, about half
past two. That is great many people.
It is more than there are comfortable
accommodations for, but everybody
managed to have n good time, and all
left with good impressions and speak
ing words Of praise.
Early in the morning the streets were
thronged with people arriving from all
directions.
HOW THEY CAME.
The first train on the B. & o. over
the Pittsburgh division in the morning
was packed like sardine box, nearly
rs many people standing up when it
reached the city as had seats. 1t
brought 800 people, and the b. & o.
Company put 5000 people in the city
during the day. Pan Handle & Ohio
river trains brought as many more,
while the G. & p, O., L. & W., and
all other means OF access to Wheeling
were taxed to their utmost capacity to
bring the people who wanted to come.
Three naptha yachts loaded to the
guar DIS made trips across to the Island
Just rs last us the people could get in
and out, and up to s p. m. there was
one constant string OF people from the
landing to South Front street. The
tow boats, Eliza and Horace, with their
covered barges, carried five thousand
people over and back. The way those
barges hold people is mysterious.
Three hundred at a trip didnotiillt them.
They are popular ferries, as they put
the people right at the gate.
The main gate looked as II an army
was marching through, and as soon as
person got inside he was lost in the
throng. The gate from the river, the
south entrance and the Penn street en-
trance we're much the same. From ten
o'clock till after three there was abso-
lutely no let up to the tide Of humanity
that poured in at every opening to still
further croWN the almost oyerilowing
grounds.
WHO THEY WERE.
Persons of large acquaintance in this
section Of tho land remarked on the
few people present, comparatively
speaking, whom they knew. The
crowds usually come from not very
far away. Yesterday they were IRON
within a radius OF $50 miles. Hun
tington, Parkersburg, Marietta, Zanes-
Vile, Martinsburg, Grafton, Piedmont,
Pittsburgh, Uhrichsville, and almost
every town within n days ride were
represented by good delegations. Many
OF those in the grounds had never been
there before, and they were agreeably
surprised at the completeness and good
arrangement OF the fair. One OF the ex-
pert Judges, Detroit sheep breeder,
told an INTELLi6ENcER reporter that the
West Virginia fair has better reputa-
tion abroad than nearer home, and that
II deserved it. ~ have seen some
larger fairs than this, he added, "bnt
never a better arranged, more conven-
lent, varied and complete ono; and !
never in my life saw such a holy pack
OF people in as small space as / have
seen here to-day"
Even the trees were full OF people
about the race course. The number Of
vehicles on the grounds, and especially
Of country peoples wagons and car
riages, was never before approached. It