The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-01
THOUSANDS ENJOY
THE FAIR BY NIGHT
They DeIiqhtin the Destruction
ofRome, and Witness Many
Other Events.

Ideal weather and a programme of
attractions second to nothing which
Will be seen during the remainder of
the week combined to make the at
tendance at the fair last evening great
er than it was on the first evening a
year ago.
1t was the first opportunity the pub
lie has had to see the grounds lighted
up this year, and the result equaled
all that has been claimed by the man
agement for the electrical arrange
ments. All of the exhibit buildings, in
Guiding the new structures, were bril-
liant with myriads of arc lights, while
the immense grand stand, in addition
was equipped with search lights to use
in connection with the running races
and the vaudeville and other attrac-
tionS.
Many of those who attended in the
afternoon remained upon the grounds
for the evening. and when the dark
ness came and the electric current Was
turned on the effect was magical.
Scenes which in the light of day look
ed garrish took on a mystic charm.
The many booths twinkled with gaso-
line torches or other lights, while, with
the arrival of the first installment of
the evening crowd, the ''barkers" for
the sideshows started their outlandish
babel. which added to the odd and
bizarre effect.
Before the programme started the
people wandered through the buildings
and looked over the exhibits. The
completeness of these on this, the first
day, speaks volumes for the energy
and push of the management. Practi-
cally every exhibit was in place and as
ready for inspection as it will be on
any day of the fair.
Rome went up in one vast conf1a-
grafton last night tO the nj
ment of bursting bombs and mines,
soaring rockets and Whizzing pin
wheels, shooting stars and showers of
sparks. And the throng in the grand
stand at the state fair ground was as
Indifferent to her fate as was Nero to
the destruction of the ancient city of
that name, and they cheered the Won
derful spectacle vociferously. Some
times, when some especially brilliant
filled the air with a bewildering maze
of colors, the applause would die down
for moment and be replaced by deep
breathed "Ohs!" and "Ahs!" Then
the cheers would break out afresh.
After the burning of Rome followed
an exhibition of fireworks which de-
lighted all in attendance There were
number of superb set pieces alter
mated with volleys of rockets and other
aerial fireworks, which finished a pro-
gramme which was excellent through
out.
Owing to the fact that the electric
light wires supplying the lights for
the track and the grandstand were
grounded during the early part of the
evening, it was found impossible to give
the running races on the programme,
but Secretary Randall said last night
that the running races would be given
this afternoon.
Next to the pyrotechnic display the
chief attraction was the wonderful fly
ing leap of Schreyer from a bicycle.
Coming down a steep incline at rail-
road speed he hurled himself from the
wheel as it left the high platform and
landed thirty feet in front of it in the
shallow tank, throwing up a great
cloud of spray. The next moment he
was seen wadins to the edge of the
tank and received an ovation.
The other numbers on the program
were all excellent, the Livingstones,
who do a clever acrobatic turn in even
ing dress, being we'll worthy of men
ton. There were other speciality turns
and they were performed in the focus
of an immense searchlight, so that
every movement of the artists was
plainly visible from all parts of the
grand stand