The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-18

amazing. The magic of the name of Sousa
and the certainty or racing above the ~
erage acted as magnets TO draw the thou-
sands into the stand. The capacity OF the
stand Is about 5000 people, and II II mad
been twice as large as II Is there would
still have been ~crowding and pushing to
get seats for the concert and the races
Every inch OF space on the tiers or seats
was filed and a long line OF men and WON,
en- passed and repassed through the stand
anxiously seeking places but not nndlng
them. The crowded condition OF the grand
most unprecedented in state fairs. Down
A. the sawdust betting ring the sportlngly
inclined surged and fought in their anxiety
10 place bets with the two bookmakers that
did a rushing business with their hand
books and improvised stands. For DO yards
IN front OF the stand people were Jammed
against each other ike pickles IN a Do1'de;
there could not have been less than NV
in that space most of the afternoon Inc
fence on the outside OF the track Tor a
quarter of the distance around supported a
burden of humanity that watched the fly
ing feet of the horses with varying degrees
of anxiety. The crowds in the betting ring
patronized the bookies freely and one or
two good killings were made during the
afternoon. Ak, in the Eli pace, opened at
10 TO 1 in the books, was backed down 10 4
TO ! on the strength of a red-hot til, lost
the first heat, receded to 10 to i again, was
literally backed once more and responded
10 the confidence OF the betters by winning
the next two heats with ease. The book
Although the races and the exhibits
seemed TO hold the attention of most or the
people the sideshows and fakirs' STANDS
the fair has made every effort 10 proVloe
sideshows that were worthy OF the name
and although IL was impossible TO keep out
all obnoxious features. and to guard against
fakes completely, the shows are on the
whole clean and have a part In a satisfac-
tory fair days fun. People tired OF the
exhibits or of watching the heats OF the
races drifted naturally TO the shows, either
to take them In as a thorough way or
completing their days Jaunt or as a means
OF satirical amusement.
PRETTY WOMEN A FEATURE.
There's one thing about this fair that I
think should be a subject Of special COM
ment." said an official yesterday. THAT is
the number of good-looking women who
are In attendance. / think that next year
we ought to make awards and tie on rib
bons for the finest women as well as for the
other magnificent products of our State. I
think IL speaks mighty well for any State
that can show as many good-looking women
as well dressed as Indiana. 1 don't know
why it is particularly noticeable this year,
but ii Is certainly a fact"
The enthusiastic remarks Of the official
had a great deal of foundation in fact. A
not unimportant part sof the crowd was
made up OF feminine visitors. Many were
from the towns on the railroads near In
were lots of them and they
looked nice. Somebody made an OBJ
servation once that women were
.truer sports than men and women at a fair
or a race meet bear out the remark.
Yesterday they sat in the grand stand and
shivered with apprehension or trembled
with delight as a horse they mad pickeS
a fine burst of speed. At the same time
men sat beside them manifesting only a
perfunctory interest in the races. Lots or
them wanted to make bets, and II the book
les below stairs had had accredited betting
commissioners there would have been many
fair women TO a chances on a favorite
horse by the ancient and honorable method
OF running her eye over the score card and
then sticking a hat pin at random, plung-
ing on the horse whose name the pin
punctured. Another thing that was to be
observed OF the women who took in the
fair. their interest in the displays OF fine
horses. Hundreds of them ciapped their
hands enthusiastically as the magnificent
show animals were led out and trotted or
cantered up the dirt road near the horse
barns.
The fair yesterday was a representation
of the State In almost every particular.
People had come in from most of the big
Vulnerable. To many it, was an annual re-
union and to them not the least enjoyable
feature was the opportunity of meeting and
exchanging conversational notes with
friends who live In another part OF the
State 1t was representative also In the
sense that every class Of people were pres
ent. Farmers, manufacturers, laborers.
professional men. all came together united
by a bond of common interest-the EXPOSE
ton of the States growth and progress
during the past year
At 8 o'clock the horse judges fegan their
work on grade draft animals In William
N Blackstock's department. Premiums of
$40, IS. and 81 were awarded for the best
geldings and mares. and a premium of $40.
$50 and SIS for the best span of heavy draft
horses. mares or geldings. The display of
draft animals was particularly fine and Ii
required the closest figuring on the part
OF the judges to make correct awards. The
p ela.se s~ oe Stock on E RETs be- 1 as WedI ia as t 6e g goner
nal as soon as completed by Secretary
Downing's assistants. On account of the
unusual number OF exhibits and the extra
binary amount of other details. there has
been delay in posting the premium books.
Secretary Downing expects to have the
row morning. In Superintendent Beau
champs department the judges went TO
work on classes Of ponies at the same
The awards in fine cattle were
also made yesterday. the examina-
tion having begun at 9 a. m. The
OF Indianapolis. and the classes examined
were shorthorns, bulls, heifers, Hereford
bulls. cows and heifers.: Aberdeen-Anguses.
cows and heifers. and a grand sweepstakes
class I'm which special premiums of $50 were
awarded
FINE SHEEP EXHIBITED.
IN the department OF .Supt. John L.
Thompson. of Gas City, the judges exam
ined some OF the finest sheep that were
ever bred and raised in Indiana. Long
and medium wool sheep were made the par
ticular classes for examination, and liberal
premiums were awarded.
In the swine department conducted by
Supt. Joe Cunningham. of Peru, the judges
examined Poland China classes, Chester
Whites and cheshires, Duroc-Jersey Tam
worth and Thin-rinds, Essexes, Yorkshires
and Victorias. The morning crowd num-
bered about 1000 people, most OF whom
had some direct interest I'm the work of
the jucges, or were there for reasons con-
nected with the exhibits.
The Indianapolis Military Band furnished
the concert In the morning. playing in the
grand stand at intervals from 8 o'clock
until II O'clock. The entire morning was
taken I'D by the labors of the judges.
In the afternoon the real fun of the fair
began. AT / O'Clock there was the parade
of fine horses and cattle in front of the
grand stand. Prancing and caracolling fine
show horses displayed their points 10 the
grsnd-stsnd crowd that cheered and ap-
plauded. bulls and heifers. wad-
ding In their excessive fatness, were led
up and down before the people. The fine
stock parade lasted about twenty minutes,
and thirty horses were shown and about
tie.
1t was just half-past when John Philir
sousa raised his baton, in the oft-bur-
lesqued Sousa way, and began 10 whip the
air In the direction OF his band. The COM
pieuon or the first number was followed by
deafening applause and Sousa raised his
cap and bowed a number OF times toward
the crowd. From then on until about