The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-21
A FAIR RECORD BROKEN
DESPITE THE CLOUDS, 25,OOW WERE
In ATTENDANCE YESTERDAY.
Two Good Races and Numerous Other
Events-Enormous Crowd at the
sousa Concert.

ana cold and dismal from the outset raw
wind blew across the grounds and caused
the officials TO shake their heads doubtfully
until the first street cars to arrive came in
overcrowded with visitors. BY $50 o'clock
the gatemen estimated that the number of
people who had passed through the gates
would amount TO ten thousand. BY Il O'Clock
the clouds had lifted until a glimpse of the
sun at least was possible. The Frightening
weather increased the number of visitors
until, at 1 o'clock, 1t was given out that
twenty thousand had passed the gates.
Even at this time the fairs record for at
tendance on Wednesday had been sur
passed. The first few hours of the after
noon added to the numbers. so that when
the days attendance was officially counted.
it was said to reach as high as twenty-five
thousand. The members of the board are
highly elated at the interest shown from all
over the State and expressed the opinion
last night that the attendance throughout
the week would exceed that of any other
state exposition ever held In Indiana.
Every building on the ground was
crowded. People elbowed themselves
through the various exhibit stalls. through
the stables. the poultry shed, horticultural
hall and in and about the fine arts building.
IL pdSSdSCWdNs Wt-t LhPoSSociC, "hAO
the grounds themselves were crowded.
Many of the sightseers brought baskets
filed with luncheon enough to furnish two
meals. determined to remain on the grounds
not only during the morning and afternoon,
but during the concert by Sousa's Band in
the evening as well. 1t was difficult for ali
to find suitable places where the lunches
could be spread. Every bench or stool
oxy,;lob 1a uyo ooopp;ad aavlv The 1npch-
counter men did a rushing business. which
increased as the afternoon wore away and
it became obvious that the night, though
cold and raw, would bring with it no more
rain. 1
FLOWER DISPLAY UNUSUAL.
One of the features of yesterdays exhib-
its which attracted unusual attention and
comment was the flower display in the hor-
ticultural hall. The judges declared that 1t
was one of the best ever shown on the
grounds. In later years the annual exhibit
of flowers at the chrysanthemum show has
detracted somewhat from the interest the
state florists would otherwise take in the
fair exhibit. But this year the display is
unusually large, and will be increased by
the additions to be shown to-day. Besides
displays of roses and carnations and other
~ AN SAc VI PfoNO1
with a studied carelessness in vases, ar
tistically arranged baskets. decorative
plants, ferns and palms were on exhibition.
Mrs. Rorer delivered two lectures yester-
day TO hundreds of women who crowded the
fire arts building, and eagerly took notes
/ OF all she had to say. The lectures have
are considered by the officials to be more
CT a success than they had been led to ex-
pect.
The regular programme, as outlined for
the day, began at 10 o'clock with the award
OF prizes among TIE coach, Cleyeland h Us.
In the art building there was a band con-
cert. followed by the lecture of Mrs. Rorer.
Premiums were awarded in the ether de-
later in the day.
In the fine arts building the display of
photographs. charcoal. ~pen-and-ink sketches
and work in water, ecolors and oil has
aroused 7fiattering comments, 1t is the
largest. and. from an artistic standpoint,
the best collection that has been shown.
The pictures and sketches deal with a mum
theme and manner of treatment. In a room
set aside for the purpose Is an exhibit of
decorated china. work in plaster. clay and
building the Indiana Agricultural Expert
mental Station. connected with Purdue
University: presents some interesting, fea;
lures for the investigation of medical and
agricultural men. Sugar beets, produced in
indlana, are shown as one of the POSSIBLE
ties for the farmers soil. rn1s
Men and women from city and country
are displaying much interest in the exhib-
its of carriages and vehicles. This has
been an unusually prosperous year with the
manufacturers who have reaped the bene-
hts the country has enjoyed during the era
OF prosperity: Many Of those who intended
purchasing have refrained until the variety
and the kinds could be seen and compared
at the fair. The dealers have appreciated
this fact, apparently. as the number OF
During the morning the machinery mer
had their hands full with the farmers who
were anxious TO investigate the makes OF
that is used on a farm is on exhibition or
the grounds. The implement men helped
the farmers In their investigation with
timely bits of advice and instructions. and
the interest manifested by the farmer who
was anxious to secure only the most mod.
ern machinery and had the money TO ray
ior IT., TOO. as one man expressed himself
kept the implement men working hard.
The cattle display was attended by large
cfowds, VINO took UP places in the grand.
the afternoon while the judges examined
the animals and awarded the prizes. The
sheep and swine barns were crowded curing
the entire day, and the poultry came IN fol
Its quota of sight-seers.
RACES IN A SHIFTING WIND.
Yesterdays races made an excellent at.
traction. When 1t was found late Tues.
day afternoon that the track was in no con
dition to allow the horses to attempt the
course there was considerable disappoint
ment among those interested. 1t was feared
that the same conditions would prevail yes
terday from additional rainfalls. The tract
was In fair condition. and had 1t not beer
for the wind that almost blew a gale OF
I portions of the course, shifting from on,
section to another. the time would hav,
been much faster. In the early part of tn,
afternoon the wind met the steppers as the,
turned into the back stretch. Later /
shifted and caught the fatigued animals a
the three-quarters. But the flyers wer,
and made It usually in exceedingly goot
time, the conditions considered.
Inc race OF the day was the 200 pace
which was to have occurred on Tuesday
Every heat of the five was contested up L
the last feet of the course. The seconc
who moved up from the eighth position
where she. stood in the first heat, won b,
the Canadian gelding Free Bond. She wa,
pressed into place by Oddly and Minneha
ha. In the second and third heats these tw,
latter had a hard fight with Exploit an,
the whole. of the stretch. The fourth hea
was especially exciting, ending with a bril-
liant finish, Exploit and Splitsilk fightin,
the course from wire to wire. Birch Twil
and Hilton S. were pushing the two from
the outset: Splitsilk finally. broke ava,
her heels Exploit gradually forged ahea'
until she was able to push her nose unde
the wire ahead Of the bunch. In the fourtl
Nicol B.. who had taken the two previou
heats. finished eighth. He came back in tn
fifth fresh and won out easily, cutting tn
route from the three-quarters to the wire
Fourteen horses started In the event, an
Of these only one horse, Minnehaha. wa
drawn. Nicol B. ran the fastest heat of tn
event. going back in 2:ll and finishing 4