The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-23
MORE RAIN
AND NO RACES
The Great Friday Track Ev-
ent Was Hid Away.
YESTERDAY AT THE FAIR
FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE ON
THE GROUNDS
AND MORE WILL 60 OUT TO-DAY
Some of The Closing Scenes incidents and
Special Features of the Fair Week
Occasion Enumerated.

The elements were determined that
there should be no races at this Fair.
Everybody went to sleep Thursday
night with the stars shining and the
horsemen dreamed that the wind-burn-
ing chargers were coming under wires
at two-minute clips and raking in har-
ness galore. The horses themselves
must have been dreaming of added
laurels to traces already richly decor
ated, for they heayed and snorted in
their sleep. Yesterday morning it look
ed for a while as though the weather
was going to be generous again. The
trackmen narrowed and rolled the track
and early in the morning got it in first
class condition for the great races that
were to begin at 10 o'clock. The horses
took their breakfasts early and so did
the drivers, but just about the time
erybody and everything was in good
shape, the clouds began to hover over
the grounds and in few moments the
rain began pouring. That settled it.
The horses lay down on the straw in
the stables, the drivers lay down by
them, and the owners "fung up the
fight" and surrendered to the inevitable.
The town was full of folks with their
intentions all turned in the direction of
the Fair Grounds, waiting for the time
to come to go out.
And people were gathering at many
neighboring towns waiting for the morn
ing trains, but the clouds drove them
back. 1T rained and the winds were
nnva~ xxvaarxy
But the folks were weary, and the
horse owners were the weariest of all,
for there was speed in the horses that
were waiting for the tap of the bell, and
they wanted some sunshine to race in.
So the races were declared off, but the
folks would go to the Fair, rain or no
rain, race or no race, and there were per-
haps four or five thousand people on the
grounds, and they were all having a
good time.
There will he still others to-day, for
the Fair will remain open. The principal
exhibits will be in place, and one more
final opportunity will be given to see the
great Fair OF 1897.
The Fair has been a success. Nobody
could control the elements. Prof. Won
Hermann did his best. He ordered sun
shine, but they sent showers; he couldn't
help it. The Fair, but for the inclement
weather, would have been a magnificent
success, and Raleigh would have teemed
with people three or four days instead of
one, but now that it is about over, let
us give thanks to the managers for thir
efficient work, to Mr.. Battle, Mr..
Nichols and all their cola borers, to all
those enterprising men who came with
their products, to the horse-owners, who
showed their willingness to entertain us
with rare race track sport; to those
meritorious attractions that came from
afar to help make q big Fair, and above
all to those thousands of visiting Tar
Heels who came despite the clouds and
made the occasion almost perfect sue
cess.
THIS PAPER DID 1T.
"The News and Observer deserves the
thanks Of the Fair authorities and the
people of Raleigh more than anyNng or
anybody else for the crowd tha came
to the Fair" said a prominent Business
man yesterday. "Your last Sundays
issue was easily worth $1,000 to the
Fair, $500 to the hotels, and as much
more to the merchants Of the city. The
adverse weather kept away many, par
ticularly those who come on the excur-
sion trains, leaving home In the morning
and returning at night. These people
spend little money In Raleigh. Those
who spend the most money are those
who come early, stop at the hotels, ride
about in carriages, buv NICE dresses and
other goods, attend the balls and
and make a week of pleasure
and sightseeing. Those are the folks
who do Raleigh the most good, and as
have largely shared what they spent
am in a position to know that Sun
lays big News and Observe. brought
thousands OF dollars worth of trade to
Raleigh this week"
81 have had the best out Of town trad
this week have had any year since
have been in the business in Raleigh
said Mr.. Sherwood Higgs yesterday |
'The News and Observer advertise |
ment brought much of it to me. sold
many handsome bills to ladies who said |
they had seen my advertisement in
your widely circulated paper"
FAIR NOTES.
"We sold four hundred dollars worth
If spring beds during the month of Au-
yust," said Mr.. John b. Brewer, of the
Raleigh Spring Bed Company. "We
placed our advertisement in the News
md Observer about the first of Septem-
Der, and during that month we sold
even hundred dollars worth.
"You may take all the credit you want
or the increase" continued Mr., Brew