Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-09-16
THE 18th ANNUAL FAIR.
All Previous Exhibits Eclipsed. State
Record on Half Mile Track Lowered.
Balloonist Nearly Loses Life.

O0llOOnlSt Weary AOScS AAISs
The 10Th annual Orleans County Fair
at Roaring Brook park closed Friday
with flying colors and was pronounced
by many the best fair ever held by the
association. The weather was ideal
and the entries in all classes very
large, some classes filling that have
never before filled. The dog show
was smaller than usual but this was
the only exception. The ladies called
the floral hall exhibits Exquisite. .
The entries were so large in this de-
partment that the intention of the asso-
citation to award first, second and third
premiums etc., was defeated and the
judges awarded premiums on all meri-
torious articles. The display was
marvellous even to man. And the
judges in the fruit and vegetable de-
partment did some sweating to award
their money to suit themselves. The
entries were so numerous and so ex
ceptionally good that the task was not
an easy one.
There was the usual number of
booths in the floral hall and numerous
exhibits of sugar rigs, farm machin-
cry, carriages, pianos, cream separa-
tors, stoves etc., etc. None possibly
were worthy of mention over another
but the plow and furnace exhibit of J.
w. Murkland Of this place appealed to
the writer as a mark of enterprise by
home manufacturer that might well
be followed by other local manufact-
urers with advantage to themselves
and credit to the town.
The cattle, horse, sheep and swine
exhibit was above par. The Speedwell
farm exhibit of Lyndonville was prob
ably the finest single exhibit ever on
the grounds from one farm. Their ex-
hibit consisted of a herd of Brown
Swiss cattle that were said by many
spectators to be the finest thing ever
seen. Their exhibit also contained a
French coach stallion and several
ponies that were as fine beasts as one
can see anywhere, and the ponies were
the delight of the children. Another
fine exhibit of blooded stock was that
by A. G. Spafford of Compton, Que,
who took all the premiums in Class IA
for Registered Aberdeen Angus cattle.
The racing was all that could be desired
though the heats were not split as
much as in many races. Inasmuch as
the state half mile track race record
was lowered from its recently made
mark of 2 :08a to 2 :081, the track race
record was lowered from 2 IL and the
three heats of the free-for-all were
said to be the fastest ever raced over
a track in Vermont, the, racing must
be called anything but slow.
The baseball games were exciting
beyond words to tell. Wednesday and
Thursdays games were good but Fri.
days game was exasperating. On its
outcome depended the state champion.
ship and the decisive victory between
two rivals, Barton and Barton Land.
ing. When such game runs II inn.
ings and every base is fight one s
nerves begin to get on edge. By lit.
tie streak Of batting luck in the 11tt
Barton Tailed the winning score anc
the baseball season closed. The 1905
pennant was won by Barton and imme
diately run up, and the crowd dropped
away to talk about it. Can itemizee
score of the game appears elsewhere.
The stage attractions were of a higl
order and received considerable ap
plause. The lady champion rifle sho
was wonderful and the other acrobat
and aerial artists pleased. The balloon
ascensions and triple parachute drop
, of Prof. Flower the last three day
were the star. attraction and withou
, doubt the finest thing of its kind eve
seen in this section. Prof. Flowe
: makes a sensational drop with thre
parachutes. The first drop is of seve
raj hundred feet when parachute Nc
! opens, he then casts loose from this
drops again and is held by secon
and another colored umbrella the
= for the last time he drops from thi
: through several hundred feet of spac
and the third parachute of still anothe
y hue takes him to the ground. o
= Thursday Prof. Flower nearly lost hi
life as result Of a poor piece of ron
1 that broke when his first parachut
. opened. He was thrown nearly OF
- of the trapeze and turned completed
over with the parachute, but chance
:. to come out right and made the d.
y ;, scension safely. Otherwise the droI
- were very successful and beautiful, tt
three colored parachutes adding to tt
Is the beauty of the drops. The fair ca
n be called nothing but very successf
It and the attendance was Satisfactol
II to the management. The crowds {