Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-09-09
The Original and Famous Fall Festival
Breaks the Record.
HIGHLY cRtD|TABLI DISPLAY OF FARM PRODUCTS.
Watermelon Day was Never Before SO Largely
Attended.


At an early hour Thursday morning
the streets began to fill with sight-seers
and the sea OF humanity was at high tide
about 10 O'Clock when the Santa Fe's
numerous excursion trains arrived. The
trains were more numerous, longer and
more crowded than ever before.
The sccne was a lively and exciting
one. There was the blare OF three brass
bands, the screams OF the whistles and
the changing Of bells ss the happy thous-
ands moved down Main street to 4he
melon pile in q fine grove just out4de
the fair grounds.
Past experience having shown the Inn
prncticability OF speaking program on
Melon Day, the assault on the melon
pile was begun without oratorical 10
traduction and with no promise Of IN
after dinner speech.
The melons were nevor larger. juicier
or more luscious than this year, and the
great crowd entered upon the feast with
zest that showed hearty appreciation OF
the efforts OF the Rocky Forsiites 10 pro-
vide for their unlimited enjoyment Of
this staple luxury. ia melon was out
and found to be not mp 10 high stand
the table and another twenty-five
FOUNDER slashed into crimson hemis-
pheres.
After the feast the grove was strewn
with the CORY remains OF half eaten mel
ons, the results OF tho assaults Of the
sharp appetites Of the happy ten thous-
and. So liberal was the supply OF mel.
ons that hundreds were darried away
meant for future carving. Tho canta-
loupes which ornnmentcd the edges Of
the vrecn pyramid had n due share OF
attention.
At / O'Clock q fine parade OF stock won
the admiration OF grand stand packed
to its fullest capacity. The presence Of
an unusual proportion OF Jersey cows
in the interesting stock parade
may be attributed to the increasing in.
terest being taken in dairy matters in
the Arkansas valley.
The experience Of former years was
duplicated and the Fair favored with
splendid weather. The opening day at
years and visitors were well pleased with
the exhibits in all departments. The
quantities Of fruits and farm products
were not 20 large - they should have
been but the quality b superior, The
absence Of quantity was due to the fnct
that % many farmers were crowded with
crops OF cantsloupes and melons which
demanded prompt attention.
The most exciting event OF Wstermel.
on Day was the cowboy race. As each
Of 1--WE miles was completed the riders
vaulted from the running horse to the
ground and instantly on the buck Of a
fresh racer. The interest w,ss most in.
tense and the nerve and endurance OF
tho cowboys was remarkable. Three
strings OF horses were entered by ]. w.
Beatty, Schwartz Bros. and William Rob.
in son. The rnce wns won in the order
named.
Visitors found the business portion Of
the town gay with bunting aud the ma
tional colors and tho streets SO thorough
ly soaked with artesian water rs TO
Gauss belief that an opportune rain had
ashered in perfect day. The great
throngs Of people, estimated ut, from 10
600 to IL, ,OOO, was handled without fric-
ton or Incident. The well behaved
character OF the crowd was the subject
OF favorable comment by visitors.
The afternoon sport in the speed ring
was good both in bicycle and horse races.
Art. Q. Blake entertained the crowd
with fancy wheel riding between heats.
Tho three mile handicap professional
bicycle rnce was won by Robert Woods
Of Denver, second place Geo. Kelloff Of
Trinidad and third place by o. g. 6lass
Of Pueblo, time $50. The two mile am-
ateur, T. .. vaux Colorado Springs, scc-
ond Eph Jones La Junta, third George
Riddle Florence, time 4:41i. The hnlf
mile professional was won by Berthe
and third by g. A. Maxwell Denver.
The IS ynrd foot race wins won by Willie
Browning former Rocky Ford boy, now
Of Pueblo.
The exhibits Of live stock OF all kinds
showed TINT this feature Of the valleys
growth and development is keeping pace
with the steady advance in other direc-
tons.
The attractions in the speed ring kept
tho grand stand well filed each after.
noon. Among the favorites and winners
this year were: J. b. Weiland's "Silver
Buck" Dittemore's away Behind" from
Colorado Springs; Mitchell's Patsy Du-
gan" from Wnlsenburg; Miller's "Pris.
mus" from Colorado Springs; Hnrvey's
"Idlewild" from Florence, and M. D."
entered by ]. Sproule, Rocky Ford, who
won the $40 trot in three straight heats
against .Idlewild" and "Silver Buck"
The In Junta Tribune says: "There
is this to be said about this years Fair:
There were, at least in public sight, few.
or Of the purely gambling games OF
chance and more that depended on some
measure Of skill on the part Of the play.
or. A game that reilly involves a trnined
eye or trained hand or well developed
muscle has some merit over loaded dice,
marked cards and confidence games. A
effort was made by the town
authorities this year to suppress such
games. There was comparatively little
dents in the midst Of euch crowd on
rnce course and drive ways and trains is
luite notable"