Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-01


swarming with people and teemed with
great clouds of dense, yellow dust yes
terday morning. BY noon the grounds
were hlled with people and teams, SO
crowded IN every quarter that it would
have seemed impossible to find room for
more. Secretary Barnard places the at
tendance at l6,00O people, at least, pos
sibly $4,000, from 5000 to 5000 more
than nave attended during the previous
years on corresponding days-when the
attractions were strongest The exhibits
In the several departments are not so
numerous, nor attractive perhaps, us in
past years, and what there are here ap-
parently lack appreciative attention.
Taking these circumstances and con-
dltions all into consideration the man
ayers frankly and freely assert that the
sale OF pools is the direct cause for this
increased attendance. With this aug
mented number of people the returns in
the way of cash have been more than
commensurately increased. The pools
that draw the people, as they allegc,
draw the money. Every one desiring
OF enjoying access to the book k-makers'
pavilion are Obliged to pay 80 cents ad-
ditional and hundreds Of these tickets
were sold Wednesday and yesterday.
That the people desire to put money on
the racing events, the directors stoutly
maintain, is clearly demonstrated by the
demand for these half-dollar privilege
cards, but whether or pot their tastes in
this direction may be indulged is u
question a future Legislature may be
asked to decide.
The directors last evening stated that
seven with the pool-selling stopped,
soon after the opening of Yesterdays
races, the fair is better off by over s., 600
than it would have been otherwise
without considering the at least 5000
people the betting feature drew of itself.
This is light estimate and the pools,
directly or indirectly, may have brought
us $4,000 clear money. They have set
us on our feet, and have made possible a
continuance of the exhibitions. Another
manager of the association added 1t as
practically this I'VE cannot maintain
our fair unless pools are sold, its the
only way we can secure sufficient
revenue to pay the running expenses.
Of the scores of fairs in existence in this
section 20 years ago, only those survive
or can survive that grant the privilege of
selling POOLS"
The directors will look to change of
public sentiment, and an outspoken ap-
proyal OF this form of exciting diver
sion by next year, or at least In time to
provide for them Legislative relief.
THE PooL-sELLERs STOPPED.
The bookmakers were busy yesterday
afternoon, and had Just backed their
favorites in the first heat of the second
race, when Detective McVey and Special
Officers Jones and Vandegrift ap-
peared upon the quarter-stretch.
They came from Attorney general
Biggs with the demand that the
pool-selling and bookmaking should
stop at once, and that the wheel of
fortune should cease its costly hum,
Secretary Barnard at once directed
Frank Herdick, in charge of the pool.
selling; to close up his business at once.
The wheel of fortune was the first to
disappear, and the piles of silver found
repose in two or three capacious grips.
Two or three local lawyers contended
that there was no law against bookmak-
ing, claiming that an act, or amendment
to an act, had been passed by
the last Legislature, engineered by a
Wilmington lawyer, legaliziEg this par
ticular method of tempting tickle for
tune. They urged Mr.. Herdick to CON
tinue his selling but the eloquent vender
of 'choices" did not care to assume the
star role in suit to discover whether
he was in the right or wrong Without
much protest he struck the tent, gathered
together his rich harvest of greenbacks
and silver, and for the rest of the day
was disinterested spectator on the
quarter stretch. Whatever may be the
outcome he will sell no more pools here
this year, and as he ceased at the first
command he perhaps will not be prose-
cuted. There was, however, an air of
determination in the manner of the
officers, that may have inspired the
ready acquiescence.
AMONG THE BIG CROWD.
The throng yesterday was typical
Delaware gathering. Every section of
the State was represented. Dover homes
were practically deserted during the
afternoon, and every vehicle in the
community was brought into active
requisition. Nearly all the men of
prominence in the State were in attend
ance, and the occasion was reunion of
friends as well as "a gathering to view
the attractions of the exposition.
Ex-Secretary Bayard was con-
spicuous figure in the throng and met
with the usual hearty and cordial greet
ing on all sides, which every one is glad
to pay to Delaware's distinguished son.
Senators Gray and Higgins, both Just
home from summer abroad, chatted
pleasantly over some incidents of the
trip. The attire of neither gave the
slightest suggestion that he had been
patron of English tailors with view
avoiding the impoverishing McKinl
tariil. Congressman Causey was beam
ing and radiant; hailed everywhere in
the most cordial, good fellowship;
probably fondly anticipating the day
when he will go to sit in the lower
house of Congress to guard Delaware's
interests in legislative matters. What
hosts of friends has our congressman
elect. Governor Reynolds was in the
throng chatting with friends and now
and then with his brother, prominent
Baltimore lawyer, who has the gilt-edge
practice of the bar of the Monumental
City. Of him ii is said, and he himself
has related, that he neyor heard politi-
cal speech, attended political meeting,
or voted except in n few instances for
personal friends. 1t is further ayerred
that lie never contributed penny for
campaign purposes in his life, an allega-
tion many Deiawareans are prepared to
partly Mt least substantiate. His diver
sion is horses, aud his stables contain
the finest animals in Baltimore. Ex-
Governor Biggs was radiant and ROSY,
with his long white locks in curling
mass below his hat, in picturesque con
fnsing. Ex-Governor Stockley, now
register of wills of Sussex county, had a
kindly, quiet and atfectionate greeting