Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-07
THE BIGGEST YET.
Probably 10000 People at
Maine State Fair, Thursday.
Happy Crowd at Great Fair and Man
agement Smiling.
Bad Runaway in Afternoon Nearly Causes
Lady's Death.

Fair Grounds Lewiston, Sep. G.
CSpeciaD oh. They are coming,
today. all right" said the wicket tend
or beside the Journal building, this
morning. as he set his tin box down
beside him on the grounds and
Strengthened his necktic. SO as to look
as smooth as possible, for there was a
crowded car just pulling up outside
the fence. land yourl see lively times
right here before = o'clock"
Say" he continued, coniidentially.
stepping closer to the tWindOw, while
the reporter leaned out 50 as not 10
miss word "let me tell yJu some
| thing-thc gate receipts. yesterday.
were over S1l00 more than they were
for the corresponding day. last year"
That's the stuff" replied the pencil
pushcr-that's what we want. But
what about today how viii il figure
up, tonight?'
There's going to be a mob here
| 80 600 at least. | know il by the way
| they are coming now" Just then an
other car came along with both rum
ming boards packed with humanity,
and the wicket man sprang to his place
saying to the crowd in front Of him.
Right this way now-have your
tickets ready, one at a time please.
Here. don't crowd that Old lady;
there's plenty Of time. No ticket-weH.
get one at the office. Pass right along
to the inside"
When he got a chance he turned
| AGAIN 10 yt.inlny ''AHb-f
We're we talking about-0h. yes the at
| tendance. Say. have you ever been
down on the Damariscotta river when
the herring We're running Well, you'll
see a similar sight right here after din
ner, or I'LL miss my guess"
| The wicket mans prediction fore
cast was no dream. Where two people
came in. yesterday. dozen have come.
today, and every part Of the grounds
shows a state Of more or less conges-
tion. 1t IS the same orderly crowd that
filed the grounds. yesterday. ana Their"
are thousands more Of them.
There is one thing always noticeable
in the State fair crowds in Lewiston.
and that is. NJ matter how large they
are. they always behave themselves.
| Of course, this is due mainly IT, tn"
| class Of people who come here, but the
efficient work of the police force
should not he forgotten. 1t is admiral
bic and If any disturbance does oc-
cur. ana such happenings are only Of
rare occurrence, il is promptly nppe!
in the bud.
Then. another reason is that undo
sirable patrons are stopped at the
gate The management Of the fair
have worked always to secure a moral
standard for their exhibitions. and their
success ~ shown by the attendance
from year to year.
Early risers were a trifle in doubt
regarding the weather. The sky was
partly oyorca It and wet looking clouds
were lowering about the horizon.
Looks kinder bilious" said one ola
fellow over on the piazza Of the secre-
tary's office. as he methodicany file /
his r. y. for a smoke before break
fast. but | guess twon't rain afpre
midnight, unless We have shower
| ii was plain to see that the heautj-
ful weather Of Wednesday was not to
be- repeated. but clouds do not hurt u
fair as long as they retain their con-
tents, ana in way they are very ac-
! rtptable. There was a south wind
blowing. which frcshcncd as the day
progressed and has Whirled clouds OF
dust here. there and everywhere. But
the crowd don't mind little things like
these. ana though hats sailed i'm tn
air. and bangs ana frizzlcs blew out
as straight as violin strings, every one
was happy.
BY 10 o'clock there We're probably
10 600 people on the grounds. and by
moon. when the special trains had land
IN their froights there We're AZ many
more There were probably over 10000
people on the ground during the day.
In the forenoon there was no program.
but many people went down to the
grand stand to see the finish Of the 2.35
class. which was carried over from
Wednesday afternoon.
The exhibition building was packed
with sightseers. and the Vendors of
sweet things and cooling drinks did
a thriving business. That the people
appreciated the beautiful display was
attested to ny the expressions Of de-
! light that We're heard on every side.
Down on the midway there were
| thousands 1t does not take a great
| deal Of space to hold a thousand peo-
pie. and the two broad avenues that
characterize that locality We're surg
| ing seas of humanity. The attractions
ar diversified and range from the
Hebrew merchant who deals in mack
| intoshes to the stout lady with the
| hirsute appendage on her lower jaw
! And then there is pen fun Of the
cutest puppies you ever saw. Speaking
of the midway it is curious how these
| aggregations Of fake wonders attract
| the crowds. and people will fan over
| eachother in their eagerness to get in
/ to a tent. when they know at the start
! that they are going to be fooled. This
/ is. however. only a proof Of what the
great Barnum often said Of the Amer
\ lean people.
The grand stand was crowded to see
! the races. and the stand seats 1000 peo-
pie The races. while not as speedy as
some Of those Of Wednesday. We're hot
stuff. and every finish was greeted with
a chorus Of Wells that could be heard
for a mile The vaudeville and other
i sp-cialties were also up to the times
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