The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-23
MANY FAKIRS AT THE FAIR.
A Big Crowd at Lynchburg's
Gala Day.
The Roanoke Soldier Boys Take Part in
the Sham Battle-Tho Rain Interfercs
with Some of the Exercises of the
Day-The5 Lyons Murphy Fight Did
Not Matcrialize.

LYNcHBURG, Oct. 22.-lSpeciall-
This city was overrun last night with
strangers who camo hero to witness
what was supposed to BIO the gala day
of the fair. The beautiful weather OF
Wednesday no doubt had much to dc
with bringing the people here. and soon
the hotels and boarding houses were
taxed to their utmost and yet the
streets were full OF visitors seeking in
vain for a place to rest their weary
bodies.
But such places could not DO found
ana when the late train from tho west
came in Loaded down with pleasure
seekers, they were greeted by the cheer.
ing intelligence that there was rot a
vacant bed IN Lynchburg, but there
were few chairs in one of the hotel
corridors THAI could be secured for fifty
cents each. A rush was made for these
chairs and they were monopolized in a
twinkling.
To add to tho discomforture of those
VINO were compelled TO walk tho streets,
a drizzling rain set in about O'Clock
this morning and the CAV bunting on
the va ious buildings was quickly
changed into conglomeration Of rags
and mixed colors. This drizzle soon
changed into a steady rain, and soon tho
streets leading to tho fair ground were
seas of mud.
The Roanoke Light Infantry arrived
early this morning, about % strong, to
participate in the sham battle, and thew
wero accompanied by largo number OF
Roanokers. The soldier boys made n
mo appearance as they matched
through the rain to their temporary
headquarters and in tho parade to the
fair grounds were given tho right of
line.
Tho heavy clouds began to break
away about ii o'clock and an occasional
glimpse of tho sun could be had. AS
soon as the rain gave evidence of stop
ping people started for tho fair grounds,
and steady stream of vehicles of every
description was moving in that direc.
sion.
The principal features of the fair
to-day were innumerable gambling de-
vices encountered on every hand. In
deed the fakirs seemed to have entire
possession Of everything there and they
carried on tho thieving schemes under
police protection. Officers in uniforms
patrolled The grounds, stopping occa-
sionally in front Of some fakir's stand
where greenbacks and silver were piled
up, to watch the interesting operation
OF a victim being fleeced. Nearly every
game OF chance known to exist was in
full swing here and it was worry fastid-
ious person who could not be satisfied.
Ii is misnomer to call these opera.
tions of tho fakir, games of chance.
They should rather be called games of
certainty, for the man who went against
them was as certain to lose his money
as II he had gone up and handed it to
the glib-tongued gentry without q
word. One portion of the grounds re
ssmbled scene from Monte Carlo much
more than it did country fair.
The sham battle, which was adver-
tise1 to commence promptly at four
! o'clock in the afternoon, did not mate
rialize until about five and then the
belligerents were marched SO far away
from the spectators it was hard to dis
tinguish just what they were doing, but
the smoke from the guns could be seen
and the reports heard, which undoubt.
edly Satisfied the people who had paid
an extra quarter for a seat in o high pa
vilion that commanded q view of the
setting sun much better than it did of
the battle. Nevertheless the rattle of
musketry sounded really wariike and
tho roar of the artillery reminded some
Of bygonedays.
The affair which excited the most in
terest during tho day was tho advor-
tised boxing contest between Carter
Lyons, OF Roanoke, tho light weight
champion Of the South, and Harry MUIR
ply, also of Roanoke. Lyons arrived
in Lynchburg on tho early morning
train, accompanied by la'ge number
OF Roanokes sporting fraternity and
announced himself as in excellent con-
| ditfon and anxious for the fray. AS ho
moved around the grounds he certainly
looked MS though he could make the
fight of his life and many admiring
glances were east upon him.
Murphy, on the other hand, was in no
condition at all. In his go yesterday
with Layton ne had his right thumb
badly injured and his jaw dislocatcd.
Still he put on the gloves with Layton
in the early part of the afternoon, and
after the bout 1t was announced that he
would meet Lyons at 5 o'clock.
at the hour appointed Mr.. Lyons was
at the ring side ready Tor business, but
Mr. Murphy concluded that his condi-
ton would not warrant him engaging in
the fight, and the affair was called Off,
much to the disappointment of q largo
number OF sports who had travelled quite
distance to see it.
Throughout the whole afternoon the
weather was disagreeable, and between
IS and o'clock tho fakirs folded up
their articles of trade and tho roads
Heading back to the city were once more
crowded with q cold and hungry crowd.
Ingalls, Taken saddenIy III.
IdAVERttrI Mooo 49, 90 re-