Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-09-13

The BaIloOn Ascension rms ktttr-
noon-This.ds Children'S Day. and
the Attendance should he the
Largest of the Week, as Thous-
ands Were Unable TO 60 Yester-
day.
The weather was u%nprepitious yes
terday. The rain fell continuously al
most during the morning. and the
State Fair management developed a
case of blues by noon. In the early
afternoon the sky was heavy and there
were indications of more rain, with an
occasional sprinkle. Out in the rural
districts and in the towns within a
radius of fifty miles of Wheeling. the
men, and children who regu-
larly attend the fair. were astir early.
and all the morning trains were
crowded. They placed thousands of
visitors in the city and all Of them
carried out the purpose OF their visit.
How many more would have come IL
the weather had been bright is a mat
ter for conjecture.
When crowded cars stopped at the
gates and the steady stream of pas
sengers went through. the State Fair
officials became more cheerful. Ths
attendance was remarkable. y hen the
weather is taken into consideration.
At the gates the crowd was estimated
- &c nnn orI 10 nnQ uyhtph 10
not far short of big days in former
fairs. The preponderance of country
folk was very pronounced. There
were not many familiar faces along
Midway or in the grand stand-not
more than one in ten. The strangers
were loyal to the fair, and their pat
ronage yesterday very materially help
ed to prevent a financial deficit. They
were a happy. good natured throng,
and they trudged through the mud
without losing their tempers. They
were bent on seeing the show. they
came to Wheeling for that purpose,
and they saw everything but the races.
That $4,000 people would turn out In
such weather is certainly a compli-
ment to the West Virginia S.ate Fair.
1t Is a safe assertion that IL the sun
had been shining there would have
been more people on the grounds
thar were ever before assembled in
one place in Wheeling.
But there are thousands of Wheel
ing people who have not yet seen the
big show, and they will have their OPP
portunity to-day. 1t is Children's
Day, and the pupils of the various
schools will be out by the thousands,
taking advantage Of the reduced price
of admission. There should not be
less than 5000 Of them. Their par
ents will be anxious 10 see the Fair
and should accompany them. If the
weather is pleasant, Friday should be
the day of days this year. All the ex-
bibits will remain, and the show will
be seen in its entirety.
There will be great racing this after
noon, weather permitting. All the
harness races were declared off yes
terday afternoon on account of the
heavy track. The mud was two inches
thick. The postponed races w,re car
ried over until to-day, making seven
races in all on the card for this after
noon. There will be continuous rae
ing from one O'Clock in the AFTERNOON
until dark. In addition there will be
the hlppodrome, the wild west, the
balloon ascension and the Midway.
Business men who profit by the an
nual State Fairs should show their
appreciation to-day by permitting their
employees to attend, and thus help the
Association III of a financial hole.
When it was decided to declare the
harness races off, the gates to the
grand stand were opened ard the
crowd was permitted to enter free OF
| charge. The management did every
thing that was possible to provide
amusement for the throng.
The Kemp Sisters combination gave
several exhibitions on the track, in
| GLIDING the hanging of the horse thief.
The thief was dragged in the mud of
the track and the crowd appeared to
take an intense delight in seeing him
swim.
The balloon ascension took place
late in the afternoon and was success
full.