, 1891-09-11
A WHIRLING WIND.
1t Brings Down a Driving Rain on
the Races. /,
The Big Balloon FearfuIIy Battered
by the Element.
Wyoming Hurdle Cup Postponed
Because of the Storm.
Three Good Races on the Pro.
gramme Yesterday.


Yesterday closed in gloom and disap-
poIntment at the race track. Since Mel
bourne's adjournment to Salt Lake
Jupiter Pluvius himself has resumed
business. He, too. has probably been
cooking up a rain for the past three days.
Clouds common to the country were
| visible all the afternoon in all quarters Of
the compass About half past 4 O'Clock
the wind was blowing a gale. Binding
clouds of dust and drops OF rain drove the
spectators under cover. The hurdle race
for the Wyoming cup had just then been
called aud the big balloon was rapidly ap-
preaching the limit of initiation. Wind
breaks had been built about three sides
Of it on the off side of the grand stand.
1t rave the aeronauts q good chance to
work and everything went along swim
mingly until the big gale of wind came
along. The expanded egg shaped mass
OF canvas sixty feet high BY
forty feet in diameter. by this
time lowered even above the very high
wind. breaks and became = toy for the
Storm. 1t was whirled thither and yon
at the caprice of the swirling wind eddies
and was finally sent by a giant gust crash
ing against the side of the enclosure.
When it finally fell away it was seen that
a 2x4 projecting from the wind break had
gashed an immense triangular hole in
the CANVAS and the hot air poured forth
from it in volumes. The balloon rapidly
began to collapse and In q very short
space of time Uttered the enclosed
ground, a graceful, bouyant beauty no
longer, but an inert, punctured mass of
worthless canvas. Some time later quite
= large party went inside to view the re-
mains. The wind was still blowing great
guns and the wind break was vibrating in
the teeth of the storm. Suddenly there
was q crash. the rough board enclosure
began to totter inward. and the curious
spectators piled out Of the door
in a manner that closely re-
resembled a stampede. Lady Gray was
inside at this moment but never budged
an inch, a rapid upward glance apparently
assuring her that she could make a more
leisurely and dignifed escape than the
male spectators. The whole structure
soon came crashing down but fortunately
none of the few curious ones who still re-
manned inside we're injured. The bal
loon last night lay buried under the boards
while the plying heavens played a moist.
dripping tattoo over Its grave.
OF course there was a good deal of
kicking but most of it was entirely uu-
reasonable. Everything hat men could
do had been done to provide for an as
c~ensiou. The wind break would have af-
forded ample protection under ordinary
conditions, but the conditions. unfortu-
nately. were not ordinary. The aeronauts
will work all day today in the endeavor to
patch up their old balloon. Should this
prove possible, as they believe it will,
Lady Grey will make the ascent and par
achute leap tomorrow. They t~elegraphed
last evening to Denver for a new balloon
and say they will give an ascension before
they leave even if they have to give it
down town..
H HURDLE RACE.
The hurdle race for the Wyoming
hurdle cup was expected to be the bis
event of Yesterday. 1t was called off on
account of the rain and wind. There
will be four starters today including Joker
and Master Kildare of the Oxford Horse
Association, G. G. Iogan's Rambler and
Dan Hogan's Adam.
10Y PONY RACE.
The opening event in yesterdays sport
was the COW pony race, quarter mile
dash. best two in three heats, carrying a
weight of $50 pounds. The four starters
included Natrona, ridden BY Chas. Hersig,
Kerry with T. w. Brooks up, Blue with
Percy Hoyt as rider and Spot with Fl. A.
Chapman. Kerry sold a lively favorite
against the field. In the start Natrona
got the lead with Spot last, but the race
was soon between the latter and Kerry.
1t was soon a neck and neck contest, but
Spot won the heat in :27 BY a head. Ma
roma was third. In the next heat con-
6dence was somewhat weakened in Kerry