The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-19
The Muddy Track Keeps Dan
Patch Closed in His
Stall
SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR
SCHOOL CHlLDREN'S DAY
Great PAGER Goes Against Record To.
day-lmmense Crowds Yesterday
Vulcan's Arm Broken.
Races Postponed.
Todays Features.

Today's Features.
The big State Fair promises more at
tractive features today than ON any pre-
vious day since its opening. 1t is Biz
mingham day. There will be events of
more than unusual interest gomg on all
the time. Following are some of them
Two free concerts by Kopp's eScerent
military band of Cincinnati
Two flights of Beachey's airship, one
of which will be trip to the city.
Dan Patch, the greatest harness horse
in the world, in an effort to reduce his
worlds record, 90.
A star racing programme, including
three $500 purses and one $1,000 purse, as
follows: 2:21 trot. 2:07 trot, go pace, PA
pace bringing out all the fastest horses
at the Fair in one afternoon Races be-
gin promptly at L O'clock.
Motor cycle races.
Horse show during the races. held in
the arena in front of the grand stand.
All the chief events of last nights show
will be present, of the features of which
will be the contest for the Anderson $500
challenge cup, and $50 in cash, which
will exhibit all the magnificent show
horses that have contested at the horse
shows.
Two exciting running races.
School day.
Merchants day.
Y. NJ. C. A athletic contests.
To take advantage of this programme
the stores of Birmingham will be closed
at l o'clock this afternoon.
The weather man got an under hold on
the State Fair yesterday. and while the
day was pleasant enough from the view
point of the average spectator the main
feature was necessarily cancelled. Dan
Patch could not go against his own re-
cord.
The rain of Wednesday and yesterday
played havoc with the track and yester-
day afternoon the course presented
muddy appearance. Not only was 1t Inn
possible to drive Dan Patch against his
pacing record of :55, but all the races of
the afternoon were postponed. An i'm
mense audience was disappointed. The
wonderful PAGER was led in front of the
grandstand in the afternoon, and the
hundreds of spectators boldly cheered the
beautiful animal. 1t was announced by
President Culpepper Exum that while the
horse could not be driven yesterday the
fair association would fulfil its promise
this afternoon if the track was in condi-
ton.
The Airship's Flight.
In the afternoon, Beachey's airship made
its initial flight After three futile trials,
this great bird of the air gained its
strength of wing, and gracefully scared
above the ground to a height of 500 feet
1t was announced that on account of the
heavy atmosphere the ship could not
float on the air at any considerable eleva-
ton, but the final effort of the aeronaut
received the spontaneous applause of the
spectators.
Fully twenty thousand people visited
the fair grounds yesterday, and when
the Beachey alrship was cleared for its
flight, about twelve thousand souls-men,
women and chiIdren-held it in their gaze.
When the ship gained its wings for the
first time, there was an audible buzz of
excitement but when after rising only
about scventy-6ve feet, II began descend
ing again. there was an unmstakabe
hum of disappointment. When again the
big airship raised itself with a noise that
gave indication of its effort, the specta-
tors held their breath It's motion was
uncertain. and again 1t approached the
ground When for third time this per-
the vast number of people was made
plain. Many left the scene. However,
when after half an hours rest, in which
time certain overhauing was done. the
ship, with a whirring Of its mechanism,
rapidly scared from the ground, those
who had departed FASTENED back with
scurrying foot and expectant face.
Crowd Enthusiastic.
As the ship with certain courage lifted
itself higher and higher. the enthusiasm
of the spectators was almost unbounded.
Wild cheering continued during that
period in which the aeronaut hung in
mid air between the clouds and The
ground.
AS easily and as grcefully as a bird,
the ship foated before the grandstand.
At this time, 1t had reached half thou
sand feet. Again was its course changed,
and again did 1t pass before the large
audience. The ship foated and moved
with no perceptible effort The aeronaut,