The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-08
BIG DOUBLE BILL
ON CLOSING DAY
AT STA | { FAIR.
Aeroplane and Automo-
bileto Race Five Miles
at 5 O'Clock.
EXTRA FLIGHTS
BY TOMBSTONE
Downpour of Rain Keeps Crowd
Away, but Clear Skies Are
Promised for To-Day-Night
Show to Eclipse All
Others of Week-Spe-
cial Features.
cial Features.

True to prediction. rain yesterday |
morning came down in torrents, but |
hardy. bedraggled 10000 ventured toI
the State Fair Grounds. All the ex-
hibits were open to the public, but !
Ballyhoo Lane, forlorn and deserted
By its camp followers and army OF Z
spielers, with wet. dropping tent flaps /
and few nournful strains OF music
waiting from the more hopeful, pre-
sented no attraction. The race track.
carly in the day, was in mud, the
grandstand empty. Perhaps 1000 or
500 people passed through the gates
and were ticketed by few keepers VINO
had been sent out to care for what
crowd should come.
But however damp and gloomy III
might have been yesterday. fair
weather is promised for to-day, and
assurances were given to the fair
directors over the long distance tete-
phone by the United states Weather
Bureau, in washington, that to-day
Ii would be clear and cold. 1mme-a
dlateiy plaas were laid for to-day. and
tho fair Will go on as II there had
been no cessation on account OK
einptying skies
Greatest Card Yet.
The program will be the double of.
what, under ordinary circumstances,
would have been the case. Ralph
Johnstone WAS ready to fly YESTERDAY,
and would have made an ascension IN
accordance with his contract had not
The directors requested him to post
pone HIS tiignt until to-day. when. IN
stead of the single flight. there viii
he two. at o'clock and at q CLOCK.
and the aeropIane race with ar auto-
mobile at o'clock.
The track Will be rolled and VIII ne
ready for the harnsxs and fiat races and
for the automobile which VIII race
against the air machine. w. ~ 6oraon
VIII pilot the automobile and Will give
Johhstone hard push for the hcnors
The race will be for five miles. five
times around the race course. john
stone VIII fly directly above the track
and will not cut corners. II the air is
calm he will be able to attain the
velocity which has made the acroplane
thing TO be reckoned with and dread
ed in time OF war.
Dallyhoo Lane will arise from us
slough of despond of yesterday and
awaken again TO the noise of the stSens
and to the yells of the takers and the
cries of the spielers. None of the
show owners moved out yesterday, and
A few sheep and swine were taken
away by the owners. with the consent
of the fair management because the
rush of water had backed up In their
stalls and made IL exceedingly un-
healthy for them to remain. But all
other live stock Will remain. and all
the other exhibits will still be on view.
Clear Skies Promised.
The rain will not affect the fair In
~. ~ -
directors held a meeting during the
afternoon and mapped out a program
for to-day. President Fairfax stated
afterwards that the directors had tel
ephoned to Washington to learn the
forecast for to-day, and had been as
sured that the weather would be clear
and cool.
4so.. he said I'VE will double the
racing program. and there will he two
aeroplane lights and a race between
the aeroplane and the AUTOMOBILES. OF
course. we are much disappointed that
the weather should have been SO in
z clement as to cut down the attendance,
but you may assure the public that
q everything will be ready for 1t Satur-
day. We could have a fight to-day
but the crowd Is too small, and we pre-
fer having two flights Tomorrow. ano
Mr.. Johnstone is willing to grant US ou,
request.
The downpour began soon after !,
o'clock. and. with short intermissions
continued until after 2 o'clock. wher
the wind Slowed around to the north.
west. heraldlng fair weather. On the
program yesterday was listed as Chill.
dren's Day. There We're not 100 chill,
dren who entered the grounds, but I'll.
receipts will show that fully 10000
people yentured against the storm,
weather. The Fair Grounds presented
a gloomy sight. Track, field and tn,
lane We're ankle deep In mud ant
water.
Fairfax on the Dob.
Mr.. Fairfax went out at.9:ao O'CLOCK
and remained the greater part of th,
day, with many of the directors, ON
cial business went on as usual. but ex
hibitors and show folks trarnped abou
fora while in the gloom and then wen
home. Takers faxed no more. spicler
ceased their SPELLING; monstrositie
ceased theirshowling, and the twin wo
men and douhle-headed baby Went t
sleep The cattle lowed dismally
4 horses neighed In mournful cadence
Rain came down steadily. and the few
sightseers present remained most o
the time In the main exhibition build
Ing and In tho other buildings. wner
they had shelter from the storm an
opportunity OF viewing the great dis
play, It was surprising to learn tina
hundreds Of people came in from tn
country and from other cities til
crowded condition Of the hotels an
boarding houses being Increased. Man
had great difficulty inTsecurng lodgin
{places. It is believed thas to-day's at
tendance Wlll3he the hammer one of tn
I fair. exceeding that of Richmond iDa,
do, tcfo HALE H. IA.
tContinued on Eighth Page)