Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-09


Yesterday was a Fair day in at least
two senses, and was greatly enjoyed by
The thousands who thrOnged to the State
Fair grounds.
There were but few visitors in the
city, it being just one day too cary in
The week to expect much Of q crowd
from out of town, but the t.ty people
rallied in a most gratifying manner, and
at half-past two o'clock in the afternoon
the crowd was considerably greater
than on the same day last year, and was
fully up to the expectations and hopes
of the management.
To-day it will be larger, for there Will
be large arrivals by train and other
conveyances from the country and TIE
cities and towns within a radius CT enc
hundred miles. These strangers viii
be welcomed, will be shown fine Fair,
and can enjoy as good racing as has ever
been seen in this city, and better per-
haps. than we have had for some years.
There was only a fair attendance yes
terday morning, and as a result The
early arrivals had lots of room to enjoy
the various displays, but soon after noon
the crowd began to increase, and by two
O'Clock all traces of anxiety or the part
of the management had vanished. 1t
was demonstrated that the West Vir-
ginia State Fair had lost none Of its
popularity, and that the people both
knew and appreciated good thing.
There was no disappointment among
the spectators. On the contrary great
many compl!mented the displays as
whole. while they were astonished at
the size of some OF the departments.
All during the day, even while the rae
ing was in progress, there was large
attendance In the various buildings on
the upper portion of the grounds, and at
xlmes they were crowded. Everything
on exhibition was examined with the
greatest attention, and the Poultry,
Live Stock and Horticultural displays
were centres of attraction.
The Judges in the various departments
got TO work yesterday morning, and the
day was devoted to registering the COM
parative merits Of the many eXhlDlIs'
This work will be recommended THIS
morning. and the bulk Of it will be con-
cluded by tonight, when the prize WIN
ne~s will be known all along the line.
The balloon ascension OF Alyini TOOK
nlaca few minutes after four O'CLOCK IN
+he afternoon. and was equally success
with thai of Monday. The aeronaut de-
scanded. as on the previous day, on the
Ohio shore of the river, Vhe balloon
passing over about the center OF the
grand stand at a height Of perhaps a
'fhous9nd feet or more. The ascension
look Mace Just as the horses got away
Tor the third neat Of the trot, and there
fore a great many people interested IN
The nags did not have an opportunity TO
sea Alvini's act. or at most gave him
but a passing glance as he shot sky
ward. but as the ascension will be re-
peated this afternoon, there will be an
other chance. As on Monday, thou
sands of people saw the ascension from
ne city side of the river, and there were
probably fifteen hundred people strung
along the river bank alone, from the
creek south to the Belmont mill. Spec
ta;ors could he even seen from the
grounds away back on the hill tops east
of the city.
"The Midway" will be in It's glory to-
day. and careful tour through it in
the height Of the afternoon crowd is we'll
worth The time and trouble, since it af-
lords some curious and interesting
Ne AhnIrr
feature ever seen at a Fair is on hand,
and every attraction is accompanied by
people with remarkable lung power, the
result being a discordant babel Of cries
which at TINES browns the roars from
the grand stand and the music Of rhe
band. There is fully half a mile Of
tents and booths, and everything can be
bought there from hot "wenies"tO photo
graphs. or from peanuts to Republican
campaign literature. This last is no joke
for the enterprising Republican State
Committee has a tent on the IN dway,"
and dishes out gold arguments to all
who want them. They don't do
rushing business, however.
The excellence of the management Is
shown from the fact that there was not
a disturbance Of any sort yesterday, and
no case Of robbery or anything else call
ing for the interference Of the police was
reported at any time. The only ripple
on the surface was Occasioned by dog
fight behind the grand stand, about four
o'clock. This attracted about as much
attention as did the balloon ascension
for moment or two. AS result Of
this great good nature on me part Of the
crowds the police reporters Of the local
papers had nothing TO do, and devoted
their entire time to enjoyment.
A detailed report of the races will be
found elsewhere in this issue, as we'll as
the programme for to-day. Space will
only be taken here to say that they were
excellent and at times exciting. and that
every horseman was dead in love with
the track.