The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-09-19
THE TApPAHANNocK FAIR.
The Exhibition Not Up 20 It's Usual Excel
Ience- Sudden Death on the Grounds
Etc ETC.

The Exhibition MOI Op 20 ltb usual bASoi-
Iencs-sudden Death on the Grounds
Etc. Etc.
Correspondence of 1HE FREE LANCE
Tappahannock. Va, Sept. If, 1901.
Yesterday marked the last and closing
dav of the Tidewater Stock and Agrcul-
tural Fair. In point of attendance the
lair may have been up to It's usual sue
ccssiul mark, but the attendance on
Wednesday and Friday was slim, and on
Thursday. 1.-THE big day" it seemed to
your correspondent that the attendance
was smaller than usual Tor that day.
The exhibits in the household and do
nestle departments, while excellent ana
beautiful as to quality, were greatly be
low the usual exhibits rs to quantity,
and in the stock department there was
literally nothing of any description eX-
cept few fowls This feature was u
great disappointment to numerous vlsl-
tors To the fair grounds.
The attractions in the way OF amuse-
ments consisted of match games Oi hnse-
ball between the WalkertOn and Tappa-
hammock clubs ON Wednesday, and Thurs
day. and between the Tappahannock
and Newtown clubs on Friday, in trot-
ting and running races on each day, and
in a larger number OF iakirs, slde-shows,
slut-machines and humbugs than your
correspondent ever saw on any similar
occasion. The games OF ball between
the WalkertCn and Tappahannock teams
were we'll contested and seemed To he
thoroughly enjoyed 10y the spectators;
both games resulted in decided victories
Tor the Tappahannock club.
The failure of Messrs Montague and
Willard 10 attend the fair, ~ announced,
was keen disappointment 10 many.
The number of horses running seemed
unusually few. and there was but little
enthusiasm or excitement in racing.
The balloon ascension on Thursday
was made in the fast gathering glOaming
OF the evening after many of the people
tired out with waiting had left the
grounds ON Friday the ascension was
more of a success and was highly enjoyed.
Friday opened with an accident which
disturbed and excited the people, and
closed with one of the saddest occur
rences which has ever happened in the
history of the fair Early Friday morn
ing during the playing OF the game OF
ball. Mr. j &. Phillips the active and
efficient secretary and treasurer OF the
association. was struck on the head by
a ball thrown by strong thrower and
knocked scnseless lie had to he carried
from the grounds finally and was com
PEELED to take his bed. No serious re-
suits are anticipated by the doctor and
his host OF friends.
In the afternoon Mrs. John I. Crow, OF
Brays, Essex county, was sitting in a
buggy watching the trotting race, when
she suddenly fell back unconscious and
died almost instantly although Drs W
/ b Robinson, Frank Hancock aud Lannie
Segar were all at her side Immediately
and did all that human hands and skill
could do 10 bring back 10 life the uncon
/ scious woman Her sudden death threw
n gloom over the whole crowd, and the
tenderest sympathy was felt for her be-
reaved and stricken husband. Mrs.
| Crow was Miss BETTE sherwood, OF
Essex. and was widely known and will
be sadly missed by a host OF admiring
friends She will be- buried from Hover
tons Baptist church on Sunday
Your correspondent missed. among the
attractions at the fair. the handsome
displays of furniture usually made by
Bell \ Bro, of your city; he however
did notice that YOU were represented 10y
Messrs Bernard and the Hunter pillow
works in their different lines
Failures. eyen.cOmparative failures are
stepping stones TO success and your cor
respondent believes that the excellent
management OF the association proftiug
by the experiences Of the past will put
forth renewed efforts and make the com
ing fair more and more OF "A success.
PWLO~.