The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-27
BELLAIRFS EAR.
Pythians of the over.the.River
Town and Many Visitors
TOOK PART IN TIE OPENING
Exercises Yesterday AternOOn-The
Cold weather lnterfered Slightly,
But Even With This Handicap the
success orthe AIair Seems Assured.
The Parade was the Great sPectacu.
lar Attraction in the Afternoon.

Yesterday was a gala day in Bellalre.
The gallant knights OF the Pythiaa or
der fairly owned the city. and the great
throng that crowded the streets fairly
rivaled any gathering ever held in this
city. Early in the morning Heather
ington's brass band was out, and visit
| ed the railway stations at each incom-
ing train. every one of which brought
a fair share OF the large crowd. The
music, kept up for three hours. was
augmented at noon by the appearance
Of the Uniformed Rank band, and a
little later by the American Mechanics
band.
BY the time the parade was to form
the immense throng OF people on the
streets could move about with din
Guilty. The sidewalks were packed in
the principal part of town. but the we'll
paved streets afforded opportunity to
get around without difficulty. II the
threatening clouds aud cooler weather
served to keep any away on the open
ing day It was good fortune 70. them.
rather than misfortune. =.iere will be
other days Of the fair. In fact 1t will
last all week. and on Thursday the
summerfeld band will come through
on the B.. 2. & c. R. R. with an ex-
cursIon from all the points along that
line.
But for an opening day greater sue
cess could hardly have been hoped for
than that of yesterday. GAINESVILLE
came down in goodly numbers, among
them Mayor White, Hon. Charles ].
Howard and other prominent citizens
and Knights. st. Clairsville came mod
erately. Treasurer W. C. Bergundthal,
sheriff Foreman, Albert Lawrence and
other distinguished gentlemen among
the lot. Bridgeport and Martins Ferry
did fairly well, but the country round
about and all along the Narrow Gauge
railroad poured in in great numbers,
while ShadysIde and all that farming
community was out in full force, and
with grand display of the products of
the farm and garden.
The procession lined up between 1
and . o'clock. headed by MARSHAL
Johnston and six police officers in full
dress, followed by the Uniform Rank
band. Chief Marshal ]. NJ. Du Bols
and four Of his aides rode at the head
Of the column, and the fiery steeds left
no room for call to cry My kingdom
for boss" The Uniformed Rank.
knights Of the Golden Eagle, all in full
dress; the valiant knights. the flremen
with decorated reels. the Elks, the
glassworkers and civilians, then the
splendid merchants display in wagons,
and the farm and garden display by
the farmers all around Bellalrc. A
whole hennery and an incubator formed
a novel feature of the parade. A few
carriages carried city officers and other
favored ones. but most people preferred
to walk. The parade was the largest
perhaps ever seen In the city, and was
made up OF all classes OF people. 1t
was immense. and the whole city was
profusely decorated with flags and
bunting. while the red. yellow and blue,
the PythIan colors. predomInated in
most quarters.
1t was q great day for the merchants
of Bellalre. For three or four hours
preceding the parade the stores were
packed with people who had come In to
spend the day. and were incidentally
letting loose of some OF their cash for
things nedeed.
The street fair booths are all fitted
up and decorated, and 1t is a great
place for commingling of old and young
people. The booths are attractive
throughout, some of them being most
artlsticully arranged. These are only
advertisements OF the business Of local
merchants, No goods are sold in the
fair enclosure, but with music galore 1t
is good place to meet friends. A lit
tie farther down the street, but sepa-
rate and apart from the booths, is the
merry-go-round, shows OF all kinds and
character, and any who want to can
visit them. Each afternoon and even
ing from now until Friday will be big
day in BellaIre.