Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-08-23
COUNTY FAIR.
IN TWO WEEKS FUN BEGINS AT
WYMAN PARK.
SOME OF THE ATTRA CTIoNs-THE PEG
RACE-CHILDREN'S DAY
ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Two weeks from to-day the eight an
nual Hancock county fair will be in full
swing at Wyman park, for the dates this
year are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day, Sept. 5, s and Z.
Though practically few OF the side at
fractions of the exhibition are entirely
arranged for, the association has done
work enough to guarantee plenty OF at
fractions being ready on tine to supple
ment the leading features. Money will
be freely spent to procure exhibits; 70, 900
will go for premiums and purses.
The experience of past years insures a
grand exhibition of livestock, the usual
beautiful display OF paintings and needle
work, a representative showing OF agri-
cultural products, and the best poultry
show of the State. In the agricultural
departments the entries already are OF
such a number and character as to point
to wider representation OF the county
than has ever been seen before.
The association plans to have its horse
races as follows: Tuesday, Sept. 5, 3-min-
ute class, trot and pace, purse 800; $50
class, trot and pace, purse s125; farmers
race. Wednesday, Sept. s, 2.40 class, trot
and pace, purse 500; 223 class, trot and
pace, purse ESQ; running race, purse
s75. Thursday, Sept. :, 2.3i class, trot and
pace, purse 800; 219 class, trot and pace,
purse 600; running race, purse s75.
Something new for the fair this year
and something which promises . great
amount OF amusement will be the peg
race for farmers driving single horse at
tached to a four W heeled carriage. The
contestants, with horses completely
harnessed, every buckle having been duly
examined by the judges, who should see
that 1t Is properly fastened, line up under
the wire. The drivers sit in their car
riages until the signal to start comes.
Really this is only the signal to get ready
alight from their seats, each unharness
his own horse, and then, after putting on
the harness again and rehitching the
beast to the carriage, must start on q race
| once around the half-mile trotting track.
Each may start just as soon as he is ready
and the race will be a go-as-you- please
when once the circuit OF the track begins.
The rules say nothing about the gaits
which the racers may strike in their mad
career around the track. Secretary Whit
comb Is confident that he will have no
trouble in getting enough Of the right
kind OF men to enter this contest for the
substantial prize the association will
offer. The peg race has been run at fairs
in other states and every time it has
proved rafting success.
AS before the second day OF the fair
will be children's day, when all under
twelve years of age will have free ad
mission to the park. The races and other
athletic contests for the boys will be run
this year on a larger scale than on pre-
| vious years. This is saying much.
What to do for base ball games is still a
question which bothers the secretary.
Desirable teams are strangely few in this
county, which for years has been alive
with baseball players. II the fair came a
few weeks later in the season there would
probably be some foot ball contests, but as
it is, hot-weat her games are all hat can be
expected. Secretary Whitcomb has not
given up hope Of getting strong mines on
the diamond.
Monaghan's military band OF twenty
pieces will give daily concerts, and q
large troupe of out door entertainers OF
a high class will give a continuous per-
Torrance in sight Of the grandstand every
afternoon. On Tuesday and Wednesday
evenings there will be ball in Hancock
hall.
Both the Maine Central and the Wash
ington County railroads and all the
steam boat lines of the county will allow
visitors to the fair half rates. A big
crowd is expected from Washington
county.
The prices of admission will not be
changed from what they were last year.
Single day tickets will be so cents for
adults and % cents for children under
twelve. Untransferable season tickets,
good for two admissions to the park
each day, only Sl25. Private carriages
and children under six years of age
will be admitted free. Seats in the grand
stand, Is cents.