The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-06
1000 TURNER'S
Will Compete for the Prizes at the
Meeting Which Opened in st.
Louis Today


st. Louis, May 6-The National Fes-
tival of the North American Gymnas-
tic union (Turnerbund) which is held
quadriennially opened here today. All
of yesterday and during this forenoon,
train loads of active 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
and it is estimated that there are at
least $4,000 strangers here.
At the last national festival of the
bund, in 1893, more than 5000 active
Turner's strOVe for the laurel leaf, 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 beauti-
fully decorated. German and Ameri-
can flags fly from numerous flag staffs
and the fronts of all the blocks along
the route of parade are hung with red,
white and blue bunting and thousands
of streamers and banners of the Turn
er bund.
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, show fine displays of the
decOrat Or'S art. The most elaborate
decoration in the city is probably that
at the fair Grounds, the scene
of the field exercises. In these spac-
iOus grounds everything has been done
for the many thousands of visitors who
Will visit daily.
Machinery hall has been transformed
into a handsome lining room. There all
the active Turner's and the judges and
committeeman will take their dinners
It is expected that 6, 900 people will be
fed daily. Numerous lunch booths
about the grounds have been provided
for the others.
Among the prominent people present
who have come to participate in one
way or other are: Miss Ellen LIE Gard,
physical director of the Providence, R.
L. schools who is the only woman
member of the observation committee;
DR.. Dudley A. Sargent, instructor in
physical culture at Harvard university;
DR.. Arnold of New Haven, Conn, at
the head of the Anderson gymnastic
school; DR.. E. Eberhard, of the Boston
Athletic club, DR.. Edward Mussey
HartWell, director of physical culture
in the Boston public schools; DR.. Zieg-
Ter of the Cincinnati public schools and
the physical instructor at the Chautau-
qua National assembly in New York;
Prof. Ridd Portuch of Philadelphia and
Prof Herr leader of the New Orleans
Turner's.
Last evening 1000 Turner's arrived, in
Guiding actiVeS from different parts of
Colorado, Birmingham, Ala Philadel-
phia, Brooklyn, Holyoke, Mass, Day
ton, O., Indianapolis and New Jersey
This forenoon large delegations arrived
from Cincinnati. Milwaukee, Chicago,
Fort Smith. (Ark.), Little Rock, Ark
Washington, Mo, Davenport, Ia, Mem
phis and Kansas points. Three thou
sand visitors from Cincinnati alone
helped to swell the immense crowd to-
day.
Most of the time this forenoon was
taken up with the reception of the visi-
tors at the Union station and escorting
them to their different quarters. The
FESTIVAL proper opened at noon, when
an immense procession of Turner's
among whom were 1000 local men pass
ed through the business section of the
city.