The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-14
BIG DAY AT FAIR.
Old Soldiers Have the Right of
Way.
Gates Are Thrown Open to the
Veterans Today.
PEOPLE BY THOUSANDS
Attendance Is All That Has
Been Hoped.
PEOPLE BY THOUSANDS
A1rship and PAINS Fireworks
Pleasing Features.

This is odd Soldiers Day'' at the
1alr- The newspaper men, jobbers and
) manufacturers, and the travelling men
are also receiving a special welcome
i The gloom of the last few days was
as apparent as ever. but notwithstand-
ing this fact the special trains brought
crowds of visitors from all over the
state News of the success of the ex-
i position has reached the country dis
tricts and hundreds of persons who
were not quite decided about taking
i'm tn. fair are now here on the
/ grounds.
| 1t is estimated that the attendance.
/ Topeka day, was at least 10000, and
| everybody is happy among those
who through tireless efforts have made
possible the big show.
! Il think have reason to be proud, :"
said Secretary H. L. Cook. "I am re-
| ceiving a great many compliments
| from visitors from this and other
| states, especially in regard to the live
stock show and the exhibits of agricul-
] tural produce. People are much i'm
4 pressed by the artistic way in which
the displays in the agricultural build
/ ing are arranged"
! Big Crowd in Stand.
| The grandstand during the Derby
Day races was one solid mass of hu-
| We're by no means deserted. There
were hundreds of persons who didn't
care a snap of the finger about the
| sports"
When the big crowd surged out from
| the grandStand a rush was made for
| the exhibits. and for about 45 minutes.
| or until the flight of the Strobel air
ship was made. there was terrific
crush in the cattle pavilion-one almost
had to force his way through the jam
The cattle did not receive all the at
| tention, either. for in fact all the ex-
hibit buildings were crowded. and there
were almost thousands of persons
| standing out in front of the concession
tents watching the free advertising ex-
| hibitions.
/ The space in the cupola, of the agri-
| cultural hall proved entirely too small
to comfortably hold the thre engs OF peo-
ple-the bigger percentage OF Whom
| were Wor,.er-who climbed up the mar
row stairways to view the Ilhe ar's anu
textile displays.
| some rather amusing incidents oc-
| Cured on the aforementioned stairways.
| A women who carried superaDuno.
ance of flesh started up the Stars onIst JUS
as a group of girls began the decent
The result was that there was consld-
erahle hacking up done on the part OF
the fair maids!
Flight of the AirShip.
At 5:26 o'clock Harry Ginter, whose
Strobel airship was surrounded py
thousands of spectators who were eager
10 see the birdman in flight was seated
in his "dirigible." He gave the slgnai
to let go. and for ten minutes encir-
cled the grounds at a great helght:
With the exception of the first two
minutes when the aircraft seemed to
sway considerably with the breeze the
aeronaut had perfect control When
he alighted successfully in the midst
of the thousands just between DIG
farm wagon and some electric nght
wires. without coming into contact Win
either. he again showed his power OF
control. When the feat had been &C
complished the crowd cheered Justify.
For two hours the cars Oh the streel
railway company leaving the ran
grounds were packed, but notwithstand-
ing this fact several thousand people
stsid over for the evening perform
ance. ~,
} eats houses, they were fairly swamp
ed in fact.
Later throngs of pleasure seekers
filed through the entrance gates, ano
the entire evening was given over to
exhibits were by no means deserted.
There were men going around the
grounds laden with all sorts of noise
makers whips and ticklers. The latter
were used freely ana WlInOut cereIHOHy'
but there was little of real rowdylsm
to be seen.
Fireworks Feature.
The Pains fireworks held in entrance
nent the lovers of the beautiful. The
set pieces. marvels of pyrotechnic skill
could be described as wonderful"
First on the evening program in front
of the grandstand was concert by the
American Ladies' Grand Concert band
which was as usual enthusiastically re-
ceived.
There were moving pictures. and
when the fireworks display was In
nrogress the knights and Ladies of Sc
curity band dispensed music. 1t might
be mentioned here that the playing of
this band has greatly improved this
season. and it's work on the fair
grounds has received much favorable
comment.
The spectacular free event of the ev-
ening away from the grandstand was
the drop made by one of the Parker
men from a rs foot net. This perform
ance was twice repeated.
This morning there were great
MANY out of town people on the
grounds. They spent their time re-
viewing the exhibits.