The Press., 1896-10-15
Number 29.

| known fact that the reporters Of the Re- publican are hard to impress. They have seen so many things, you know, that 1t is difficult matter to astonish them. Per- haps Madame La Roux made an impress sion on him, but at any rate, this is what the Republican fair reporter said about the balloon:
 "The balloon ascension formed with out doubt, the feature of the day. As tensions were billed for the three days, but the one Wednesday did not come off till nearly everybody had gone home and Thursday the weather conditions were un- favorable. The aeronaut was Joseph La Roux, who made an ascension at the Spencer (Mass. fair in 1899, falling into tree and breaking his arm. He has been at Rigby park, Portland, Me-, where his wife, Mme Ida La Roux, was twice hurt by falls and at Willimantic, last were slightly hurt by the parting of the parachute rope when about 50 feet in the air. The man who went up to-day was l Sydney James Townsend, a wild-beast trainer whom MT. La Roux met at Rigby park end who said that he found lion tanning too venturesome and wanted to lead more quiet life. He is from Bir- mingham, Eng, and has been in this country about year. His first ascension was at Rigby park few weeks ago. The big balloon, 90 feet high and 50 in diameter, was slowly inflated with hot air, attracting the crowd as it filled, to the west side of the grounds. The horse races were suspended, the iugglers ceased to juggle and the fakirs to fake. The Hebrew jeweler shouted, "Gold watches, five cents," but no one heard. Mr. Townsend, or "Jimmie," as he was called, took his place in the parachute and up went the balloon. Jimmie" went up till the balloon looked about as big as baseball, and then he dropped He fell about 50 feet before the parachute opened; but after it spread he sailed calmly along with the motion of d man above the mundane, and lit safely in the roadway on Holland hill.
 | The balloon and parachute were then brought to the grounds and preparations made for another trip. Madame La Roux was scheduled to go up this time, and she went into the tent to don her ascension robes, but the thought of her fall at Will limantic and the terribly slender appear ance of those ropes made her shivor and | she told "Jimmie'' he had better try 1t again, so he did. The balloon went up about 5 1000 feet, 1000 feet higher than 1t went the first time, and nearly everybody held their breath. The rest did the best they could. It was reported that one man required the help of two friends, but this was afterward denied. When the @ro- naut cut loose, his parachute opened at once and sailed like great white bird to wooded lot about half mile from the fair ground, where James landed without injury. Everyone then took long breath. Some took two. Several other @ronauts were at the fair, and all said the trips were a success in every WaV,"
 A description of the local fair would not be complete without a word about the stage show. Now there is difference of opinion about this particular branch of amusement. There are those that main- tain that the female acrobats should wear Mother Hubbard wrappers. Others in sist that the present costumes allow more
 freedom of movement. It is noticeable fact that none of the spectators left the grand stand while any of the events were on over which the difference of opinion
 has arisen. The platform attractions
 were unusually good this year, and there is no doubt that the people were well pleased with it. Prof. Hurd, the man
 who showed that the hand Is quicker than the eye, was a favorite. He amused the children by his rabbit trick. Harry
 Steward, the trick bicyclist, who rode
 from New York to Philadelphia, without
 handle bars, gave 8 pleasing exhibition.
 The jolly Brannigans, the; muscular Atlas
 pair, John Jenks on the wire, and Mile.
 Rezac on the elevated rings kept the time
 from hanging heavy between the heats. NOTES.
 Taken as whole the trotting was the best this year ever witnessed.
 What is the matter with Dana Gary He took three' firsts, and lowered the
 track record to 2.184.
 Only one attempt to work the shell
 game came to the knowledge of the . officials. This was in the Cairo tent, and the officers of the society nipped 1t in the bud quite early.
 The only serious accident was in the 2.4O race, when Theodore Youngt pn, of ) Norwich, was thrown and dragged by the , fall of his horse. MT. Youngton's nose
 was broken and his face badly bruised but he was not otherwise hurt. The horse and sulky were not injured. The London Zoo, the biggest and most popular show on the grounds, had hard luck here. One of their lions and ser pent died while they were here. The "Peek-a-boo" game by the fakire caught quite a number, and was amusing to everybody except those who loaned over to look in the barrel and got bat
 tered when in position. The Citizens band furnished music the
 second day in their usual finished 5 manner.
 : Director Dimmock Is receiving compli.
 ments for the overture work that the 3 Stafford Cornet band did the first and 3 last days of the fair.
 l Henry Bartlett, the iovial insurance agent, was present at the fair all three days and acted as one of the judges in the horse racing.
 8 The dinner served by St. Edwards So S ciety was a great success, and tho 0 society will clear about $500.
 A noticeable feature was the lack O n drunkenness and disorderly conduct - There was hardly drunken man on thu
 grounds the three days,