The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-11
BIG TARONG AT THE
BLOOMSBURY FAIR
THE CHILL WEATHER WAS A
HANDICAP TOO.
II It Is Warm Today the Manage
ment Is Confident It Will Have
from $4,000 to $4,000 People on
the Grounds-Judges at Work Dis
tributing Prizes-Midway Was
Thronged with sightseers All Day.
Race Attracted the Greatest Atten-
tion-Winners of the Events.

tion-Winners of the Events.
From a staff Correspondent.
Bloomsbury, Oct. 10.-Over 5000 per-
sons thronged the spacious grounds OF
the Columbia County Fair association
here to-day, viewed the exhibits In
the mammoth exposition hall, strolled
through the Midway, enjoyed the
varied attractions there presented and
watched with keen interest the three
good horse races which were run off.
The cold northwesterly wind doubtless
served to keep away number Of spec
.ators, but, just the same, 1t was the
biggest, merriest crowd that had ever
been seen here on the commencement
of a fair in all the forty-six years OF
it's existence. And, no wonder; for it
is worth travelling many miles to par
ticipate in. The managers argue for
to-day's attendance that with fair
weather tomorrow there will be from
$4,000 to $4,000 patrons.
During the day many features of in
terest were on the programme arrang-
ed. OF course the horse races were the
premier attractions. OF these Heart
of Oak. of Pittston, won the first:
Prince NJ. of Herrick Centre, the Sec
ond, and the third was secured by
Allen s., of Carbondale.
Between the heats there was an at
tempt to have a dog race. Two start
ers came up in single sullies. The first
time, right after the word. Go" a
wheel on one OF the sulkies broke.
and the race was postponed. When
they again appeared one of the dogs
had fit Of sulks and would not go.
They We're again taken off and two
teams Of two dogs each started and
went half mile, being driven bv
small boys. Then an equipage with
four dogs trotted out on the track and
showed off.
Cold Day for Them.
There were also acrobatic perform
ances on a high platform, directly In
front Of the grand stand, to amuse the
crowd while waiting for the horses, as
well as clever troupe Of trick dogs.
On the Midway, feminine performers
stood out in the chilly air with bare
arms and bosoms and short skirts to
allure the gazing multitudes within
their different show tents.
The 2.4O class trot for Columbia
county horses was postponed until to-
morrow afternoon, to take the place
Of the 2.3O trot which did not fill.
At Q o'clock the Ninth Regiment
band from Wilkes Barre marched into
the grounds in full military uniform
and playing an inspiring march. This
was the signal for the formal opening
of the fair. Immediately after that,
the judges in the various departments
lo1 i,, ~ 60 10
flee, provided with a liberal supply of
blue and red tickets, emblematical OF
first and second premiums, and sent off
to discharge their duties. The largest
crowd of all that followed after them
went over into the horse paddock to
witness the judging of the best samples
of horse flesh. F. G. Smith was the
umpire in this division. He made each
owner put his horse or colt through
his best PAGES in a promenade about
100 feet long. His decisions seemed to
give general satisfaction. although in
several cases the exhibits We're so
nearly equally matched that it was
hard for him to make selection.
The road horses, single and double
teams. were driven around the track
and their gait and style counted in
the awarding of the premiums. This
work occupied two hours and half,
and was very interesting to a large
body of onlookers.
Making the Awards.
The other judges, especially those in
the poultry and ladies' departments,
will hardly be able to get through their
work before some time Tomorrow. The
long exhibition hall is packed full of
choice specimens of the work of deft
feminine fingers, and is as pretty a
collection of dainty things as was ever
displayed in this or any other fair.
The Midway was full of sght-seers
all day. There are all manner of en-
terta!nments on view there, most of
them of decidedly frothy nature. One.
however, is of a more grewsome cast,
That Is where man named Verny
Is supposed to be buried alive. At II
O'Clock this morning he was placed in
large pine box, with blanket and
pillow, lowered into hole four feet
deep, and the box was covered over
with sand. There will he stay, accord
ing to his manager, until 4 o'clock FIJI
day afternoon, without food or drink.
large air chute leads from the
ground into the coffin to supply him
Will breathing material. Another en-
tertainment. II it can be called such,
Is "Bosco," who advertises to eat live
snakes. He has rival here In "Ros-
co." feminine, whose appetite runs
in the same peculiar channel. Then
there is Moorish Palace" colored
variety show. and many kindred enter
prises, some in substantial buildings
hut more in canvas tents. through
which the chill October winds whistle
and howl in manner that induces
close buttoning of overcoats.
The first race of the day was called
at o'clock, but the horses did not
set going for some time after that
Starter +. G. Smith presided. The first
race called was the els pace. The
gray gelding Trouble had the pole. A
cold, strong wind blew up the home
stretch, making the 1000 spectators
blue and shiyery. The track tHas In
poor shape, dusty and cuppy. A de-
scription of the races follows;
First Race.
els class, raeingi mile heats hest three in
Ave; purse 500,
First heat-There were nine starters out OF the
entry list Of twelve, making large and un-
wieldy field. Starter Smiths stentorian voice
could be heard In every part OF the course, as