The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-21
DAY Of THOUSANDS
First Day at the Fair Was
Exceptionally Large.
HORSES DIDN'T DIVE
Engine Which Pumps the
Water, Broke.

Weather Observer Fred L Johnson said
yesterday: so far as I can see into the
future, the prospect is favorable for good
weather during the fair"
Fully ! 90 people, including men, women
AID children. were on the fair grounds
yesterday. II was the largest attendance
for the first day ever recorded n the
history Of any fair ever held in the state.
The halls. tents and grand stand were
crowded all day long. Il was one living,
slrging mass Of people and they were all
intent on seeing all tnat was 20 be seen
Expressions Of concentration were 10 be
heard on all sides. Every one was pleased.
The first day Of q fair ordinarily Is not
Up 70 standard. but yesterday was q
record breaker in several respects and
was IN This that there were more attrac-
tIous and better ones the first day than
has IN the past been given on the biggest
day Of former fairs.
Beginning al the first dawn Of day
yesterday morning men were as-ir on the
grounds There were many little things
10 be Strengthened out and put in shape.
The h0rseusen were out early giving their
horses the last working out before going
into the afternoon races By O'Clock
there were more people OF the ground
than usually is seen az noon. Wagons
and buggtes were numerous and both men
and boys were 20 be seen scurrylng 10 and
fro. all hurrying TO perform some work
before the big crowd arrived.
Yesterday was ChiJdren's Day, and their
number was legion. There were babies
in arms. primary scholars. Intermediates
and nigh school seniors There was 10
part OF the big grounds that they were
not ever present There were several Ak
fractions thar particularly suited them
and il vas nearly impossible for an adult
70 Try % get through the crowd Of chill
dren- Every one congratulated the fair
officials FOR having ChIldren's Day al ire
beginning They are satisfied and are
now willing % get back to their studies.
At 10 o'cbock in the morning there was
fully 900 people OF the ground. most Of
them being scnool children. Fair week
IS always an event in Wichita and the
adults are anxious rhac the children can
enjoy AT least one day there. With this
idea in mind. the members OF the board
Of education dismissed school yesterday
50 that all the school children might be
allowed To attend.
The free show under = mammoth big
tent erected d snort distance north Of the
Art Han. is what found favor with che
youngsters yes terday. They went II with
a shout and hurrah. and hallOOed with
lus-y young lungs at the different feats
performed BY the aerial artists. tumblers
and Jrapeze artists Most OF them thought
there was nothing 50 hne, because l. was
free
Art hail is the frst building that at
tracts the attention after passing through
the gate, A tent has been erected % the
east OF the building and it IS necessary
70 pass through it to gain Abundance 70
the main hall IN the tent a sight seer
may spend a half hour advantageousIy
II he or she IS interested in fruits and
flowers. To the north IS a fine display Of
tropical palms. To the south on tables
are 70 be seen the finest peaches. pears
and apples. and IN fact all kinds OF small
fruit that have been raised in the south
west.
The vegetable display this year IS better
than ever before and really outranks tee
fruit exhibit
So far the displays in Art hall are rot
% 70 the usual standard, but they WI be
today. \ great number Of the exhibitors
90 not care to place their wares in TIE hall
on the first day.
The number Of eating booths and lemon
sde stands attract the attention oe tho cb-
server. There are more this year than
ever before. and they are well patronized.
Scurrying boys and men are continually
calling out what they have To sen. They
are to be found il every part OF the fair
grounds.
The TWO best displays 70 be seen yes
terday was that Of Thomas Shaw and Air.
Howard. They were much better than
last year. and they were good then
The special attrac-i0n-in cact the feature
n the ra.r--he high-diving horses failed
to jump yesterday. This was caused by
an unavoidable accident that befel the
engine which pumps the water into the big
pool 4 piece Of the machinery broke al
O'Clock in rae morning and Il was not fixed
until after dinner. This pool. or artificial
pond. Is twelve feet deep. thirty feet long
ard twelve wide, and ID takes an immense
amount OF water 10 I'll IT. The engine vas
pumping all night and there viii &c plenty
OF water in il for the plunge todav- The
horses were brought OUT Of Their stable
yesterday afternoon about ) o clock and
taken over 70 the diving platform Inme-
d.steIy there vas a grand rush co. c5s
pace. The grand stand was Eearly de-
Eerced. There were thousands. crowGlng
and surg.Eg 20 and fro, trying 10 GET Al
euvlaoie position 10 see the dive. They
were disa pp0i1ced.
The chute IS already up. Il resembles
e common hog chute only the sides are
higher L 5 rather narrow and on the up
right posts are padding. 50 that the AMI
uaIs VIII not hurt themselves L IS pros
so.y df-y teet II length and leads up grad
uslly - the top. Then lt 5escsn6s sore
three or four feet 70 the point where they
Jump or. The distance IS not . exceed
twenty faec, vet a dive from that dis
ta1ce VII De worth seeing The JV5 horses
are white and were feeling II particularly
dne tetrle yesterday wien 1-oUgh, . The
diving place.
The merry-go-round was busy al DAY.
l. did a ian5-office business. The children
enjoyed this amusement hugely.
The houchee-couchee. or muscle dance 5
Conducted in tent Immediately in the rear
Of The gra-d stand. There vas a th-ons
gong In and coming o.; Al during The
Afternoon Both OF the women are seed
looking. wa.ch probably makes the dance
more interesting. There IS = Turk = ,ls
party.
The racing yesterday was superb. TIE
rs pace for & purse o. 50. held the in
terest OF the adults all zcte noon. L COX
s. xheats 70 decide one % the preJ-i=,-
contests ever seen on the track Baby