Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-07

4lIy IAOuSdHQ strangers IQrO0g
st. Louis-Over Four Thousand
Active Turner'S Are Present and
Taking Part in the Contest for
the Laurel Wreath, the Only
Prize Given A Fine Parade
Through Streets Handsomely
Decorated-Result Of the First
Contests.
st. Louis, May 6.-The National fes-
tival Of the North American Gymnastic
Union (Turnerbund), which is held
quadriennially, opened here to-day. All
Of yesterday and during this forenoon,
trainlCads Of avtive and passive Turn
ers from all parts of the country, as
well as thousands of people who are
taking advantage of the low railroad
rates, have been coming into the city.
1t is estimated that there are at least
$4,000 strangers here.
At the last national festival of the
Bund, in 1898, more than 5000 active
Turner's strove for the laurel wreath, the
only reward offered in the contests.
This year the programme is much more
extensive and interesting, if possible,
and the contestants number 1000 at
least.
All of the principal business buildings
in the down town district are beautifully
decorated. German and American
flags fly from numerous fagstaffs and
the fronts of all the blocks around the
line of parade are hung with red and
blue bunting and thousands of stream
ers and banners of the Turnerbund.
At several places along the route
handsome arches have been erected.
The exposition building, where the Fest
will receive Its dedication and the six
Turner halls, showed splendid displays
of the decorative art.
The festival opened at noon. when an
immense procession Of Turner'S, among
whom were 1000 local men, passed
through the business section Of the
city.
August H. Muegge acted as grand
marshal of the parade which was es-
corted by a platoon Of mounted police
At the Fair Grounds at least 10000
people assembled to see the field eXer-
cises. One of the most interesting
events was the mass exercises by 1000
bows of the gymnasium schools OF the
city. consisting Of calisthenics and
with flags. The boys places
were then taken by an equal number OF
girls from the gymnasium schools or
the city.
The last event of the days program
was the six hundred yard relay race in
which 324 men were contestants. Fifty
four clubs each entered a team Of six
men. Provision was made for the run
ming of six teams in each heat and nine
heats were run.
The Socials. of ST. LOUIS, won the first
heat in - seconds. but as foul was
claimed. the heat will he run again.
Second heat-Louisville won in 20 Sec
onds
Third heat-south ST. Louis won 7ola
seconds.
Fourth heat-west St. Louis won in Il
seconds.
Fifth heat-Germania, of Philadelphia,
won in 72 seconds.
Sixth heat-Chicago Turngeneminde
won in a seconds.
Seventh heat-North St. Louis won in
20 Is seconds.
Eighth heat-New York won in 20 Sec
onds.
Ninth heat-Davcnport won in 50 % Sec
onds.
The winners Of each heat will run off
the finals at a future date.
The feast was formally dedicated at EX-
position Hall tonight by Hugo Muench.
chairman of the central committee.
Henry Zeigenhein. mayor of s.. Louis
welcomed the Turner's and extended TO
them the freedom Of the city. Henry
Braun. chairman of the national executive
committee. also spoke. The rest of the
consisted of gymnastic eNer-
cises on apparatus by picked classes
from the gymnastic societies Of st. Louis.
Musical numbers gave variety to the eX-