Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-10-05
CORN PALACE DRAWS CROWD.
Record-sreakins Crowds Are the Rule
at Mitchell.

at Mitchell.
Before 1000 people, Mitcheii.s sew.
enth corn palace was opened, and the
| new building, which was just COM
pleted, was dedicated amidst most inn
posing ceremonies. The building pre-
sented magnificent appearance, with
the exterior covered with handsome
and intricate designs of corn and
grain and grasses, and it far surpasses
any of the previous buildings.
The invocation was delivered by DR..
Thomas Nicholson, and the address of
welcome was made by Mayor George
A. Siksby. Gov. Samuel H. Elrod de-
| livered the dedicatory address. On
the stage were Congressman Burke,
Hon. F. M. Crane. Hon. o. l.. Bronson,
Hon. H. C. Preston and Chairman Dun
| das.
The afternoon concert was given by
the Banda Rosa band, which will play
every afternoon and evening, "The
| Resurrection of Christ" being present
ed at every performance. 1t made a
| fine impression on the people.
Good weather prevailed, except for
high wind, and with favorable wealth
err the rest of the week immense
| throngs will come to Mitchell.
The second day of the corn palace
| showed a big improvement over the
| crowd of the preceding day. There
/ We're $500 people in the palace build
| ing in the afternoon to hear the con-
| cert by Sorrentio's Banda Rosa. The
weather during the day was ideal, a
light rain last night settling the dust
nicely.
Several trains arrived in the city
from Brookings and Huron over the
| Northwestern roads, bringing in eight
| coach loads of people, and Huron made
large showing. Two special trains
| came over the Milwaukee road, one
| from Canton and the other from Elan
dreau, adding nearly 1000 people to
| those already here. Many of the eX-
! cursionists are remaining over for the
second day.
The free street attractions which
! take place every morning, afternoon
and evening, assist materially in anus
| ing the crowds when there is nothing
| going on in the palace
An audience of $500 people crowded
and packed the corn palace building
the third day at the Banda Rosa con-
cert to practically it's utmost capacity.
1t was thought when the new building
was constructed that it would accom-
modate any crowd that came to Mitch
ell, but it failed on the third day of the
entertainment.
Two special trains over the MiIwau-
kee road brought in 1900 people, and
| two trains over the Omaha road from
Sioux Falls and intermediate towns
brought in 1900 people, of whom 500
came from Sioux Falls alone.
The audience this afternoon was the
| largest ever gathered together under
one roof in the state and is a record
breaker for a single concert in the his
tory of the palace. The weather has
been the most favorable, and with the
rest of the week as good the palace
will be on the safe side financially, al
though the expense has been unusual
| ly heavy this season.
The crowd at the corn palace Thurs
day exceeded that of the day before
by 500 people, there being 5000 gath
cred in the building when the Banda
Rosa gave its afternoon concert The
Milwaukee road brought in three spe-
cial trains of thirty-two coaches, and
every train was packed to the limit
The regular trains from the north
and east put on extra coaches and the
Omaha regular passenger brought in
a train of ten coaches. The crowd in
the city is estimated at 1880, and the
| streets were crowded from one end
to the other.
Standing room in the palace was at
a premium and many left the building
on account of the lack of seats. 1t was
supposed that when the new building
was erected the seating capacity
would be sufficient, but it has fallen
short