The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-16
HOME FROM THE FAIR.
Charles e. vanKeuren Talks About
tho Chicago Show.
BAD WEATHER is DEAD AGAINST IT.
Some Truth in the Charges of ExtoF.
tIon by Restaurant and Hotel
Keepcrs-The Midway PIaisauce
Side Shows Moro Attractive than
tho Exhibition Proper-Tho Wild
West.

Mr., Charles E. Van Keuren came
home from Chicago at noon yesterday
for stay of day or two, He looks as
II life in the "Wild West" agreed with
him, being brown as q berry. He ex-
presses himself as thoroughly satisfied
with the outlook for his business as
caterer to the thousands OF visitors to
Buffalo Bills Wild West, within whose
enclosure Of fourteen acres he has the
exclusive privilege for restaurant aud
lunch stands, So far there has been no
special rush to the fair from distance,
but the Chicago people and transient
visitors who take in the fair keep a
tolerably good crowd on the grounds all
the time, Thirty-two thousand was the
largest attendance on the grounds in
one day 30 far, while Buffalo Bill had
10000 paid admissions on Sunday,
Tho weather has been bad there right
rlong, as 1t has been here, Mr.. VanKeu-
rem says, with the added discomfort OF
exceeding cold, It is expected when
tho weather settles the rush will open
up. He advises people who want to
really enjoy the exhibition TO go in
June. before the biggest rush COM
mences. They will then secure better
accommodations, and see everything
fresh and new.
Asked as to the stories OF extortion
on and near the grounds, Mr.. VanKeu.
rem said there was unfortunately some
truth in them, but he thought that
later in the season these things would
regulate themselves.
He has large restaurant where he
can feed 200 people at one time, besides
two extensive lunch counters. So far
he is not making fortune, but no ex-
poets to clear up neat round sum, and
recently refused what sounds to an out
slider like very tempting offer for his
privilege. He says there 10 res
tauraut in every building and depart
ment but the Libby glass works, and he
had notion to try and get one there,
Tor the exhibit is great novelty and
the building crowded all tho time.
"Do you feed the Wild West people"
the reporter asked.
"No; and ! don't want to. You
ought to see the way these people eat
! saw one cowboy cat eighteen eggs for
breakfast the other day. besides other
things in proportion. ! saw them cut
up three quarters OF beef, q whole calf
and o half sheep for one dinner"
He tells an interesting story OF new
nnnnk W tntun1 thn stt1,r hnnIFnH odd
people in tho Wild West. He is the
old fellow who piloted Brigham Young
across the plains to Utah. When he
arrived and saw tho Sioux Indians, he
was afraid Of his old enemies, saying
there were too many OF them. He
would not go out Of tho house alone,
till Colonel Cody made all the Sioux
shake hands with him, after which
they formally smoked tho pipe OF peace
and as formally buried Ratchet Since
then the old fellow and tho Indians
have been friends, and he and Rain-in-
the-Face occupy jointly Sitting Bulls
old cabin, which was moved bodily
to the grounds from the plains
The show seems to be indeed "Wild
West" One Sunday number OF cow
boys and Russian cossacks were playing
ball, when q cossack struck cowboy.
III a minute there was war, and the
cowboys all had out their revolvers,
while IN Irish attache came running
with an arm load OF FIRE arms for their
use. Only tho timely arrival Of Buffalo
Bill prevented bloodshed. Mr.. Van
Keuren predicts homicide yet, owing to