The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-04

were undergoing began TO be noticeable.
By Sis women began to shift about in
their chairs. look nervously around and
make other preparations 20 Withstand the
suddenness of the shock. Two minutes
later the men began TO crane their neckss
telling the women 10 not let their nerves
bother them, while they held their watches
in their hands. One minute was then all
that interviewed and the tension
was increased many degrees. Sud-
denly all became quiet, every eye
standing far out in the center of the field.
1t could be seen that Miss Lendormi had
her finger Oh the electric button. and from
the action of those in the judges stand
it was known that she was about to press
IL. Every form was bent forward. the
hands of watches that had been set with
those in the judges stand stood over the
mark that was TO be fatal TO the lonely
cottage. people in the crowd WINGED, some
shut their eyes and all got ready to dodge.
The hands of the watches had now passed
the designated mark and each person held
his breath. One minute passed and there
was no timber flying through the air, two
minutes and the nervous twitching or eye
lids became less noticeable; three minutes.
four minutes, five minutes and yet no ex-
plosion. Then the committee was seen
10 break over the safety line and make
for the house IL was realized that some
thing had gone wrong and the spectators
restlessiy kept their seats while they
awaited developments.
ANOTHER DELAY.
Soon 1t was announced from the stand
that the explosion would take place within
a half hour. Something had gone wrong
with the sparkling device that was to ignite
the gas. A crowd followed the committee
that was to make the adjustment to the
house and soon it was surrounded. After
working for ten minutes in the building
the committee again quit. Some one in the
crowd yelled run" and there was wild
scramble toward the grand stand, the long
weeds tripping the feet of the runners 10
the amusement of the grand stand specta-
tors. Again all was in readiness and Miss
Lendormi pushed the button again. But
the mechanical arrangement at the other
end again failed TO respond. Once again
1t was adjusted and the crowd made prepa-
rations TO grow excited, but the third time
was also failure. The sun had sunk be-
hind the tree tops and darkness threat
ened to fall over the grounds and leave
the house still standing. However, the
committee had advertised an explosion
thar was TO blow up A house and 1T was
determined to give the people the worth
OF their money. The next time the men
went to the house one carried an arm
load of something. The people in the grand
stand could not make out. 1t was dyna-
mite. As soon this became known the
spectators applauded in admiration of the
gramme as advertised. The dynamite fuse
was adjusted. the crowd was pushed back
toward the fence and no one was near the
mouse except one man. He was the man
with match. Presently he struck il,
stopped over and then flash went up from
the ground and began travelling rapidly
toward the building, while the man sepa-
rated himself from the building as fast
az MS legs would carry him. The people
had now become so accustomed to failures
that this was looked upon with doubt but
an instant after the last spark disappeared
from the fuse on the outside there was
sluggish roar, the roof of the building
raised and one wing of the house toppled
TO the north, almost separating itself from
the main building, while flames shot out
OF every opening and crevice. Then the
timberS settled back to their former posi-
tons as far as the disarranged carpenter
work would allow. The building and the
explosion was over
While the manner of blowing up the
house was not as picturesque as it would
have been had the building been rent to
pieces at the touch of a young woman,
fairly we'll satisfied. Soon after the ex-
plosion chemical engine from the Indian
apohs f1re department ran to the wrecked
building and put out the fire.
THE RACING.
The afternoon programme closed with a
last heat of 2:20 trotting race which was
won by Prairie Girl, in 2:19 Glad Boy was
close second. The race between these two
horses for first place was exciting, Glad
Boy winning one heat, and each time the
one in the lead only came under the wire
a neck ahead The balloon ascension was
failure. 1t went UP less than fifty feet
and then came down without injury to
the aeronaut.
The mile bicycle race was won by NJ. t.
Levey. III. T.. Rhodes coming in second
The half-mile bicycle race was won by
Rhodes with Levey second and Ray Davis
third. The fat mans race was won by
James Bryson, and the lean mans race by
Harry Ingram The prize for the
lean mans race was contested by
Edwin Meredith, who asserted that Ingram
did not have union card, necessary re-
Quirement.
The street-car company promised ade-
quate service and made it good. The crowd
was handled better than any that has as
sembled for any gathering or demonstra-
ton this year and instead of persons
hanging on at every corner, most all gained
seats. There was a jam at the gates
but nothing more than could be expected
at such a gathering.