The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-12
PETERSBURGLOOKS
ON FAIR AND
SAYS IT'S GREAT
Mayor Cameron Comes Over
With His Official Family
to Inspect 1t
MORE FINE WEATHER
AND GREAT CROWDS
Big Exposition Will Come to
an End at Midnight To-
night-Program to Run
to Last Minute

9
to Last Minute
1t was Petersburgs time yesterday
to gambol on the States great play
ground and Petersburgians-in large
numbers-took advantage OF the OPP
portunity and many were clamoring at
the big gates for admission even be-
fore they weer fnally opened.
Mayor George Cameron, President
other members of the mayors official
family, came over early in Mayor
Cameron's big automobile. He was
warmly greeted by Mayor George
Ainslie and President Henry w. Fair
fax. of the State Fair association. and
after visit Of inspection around the
grounds. and dinner. was escorted to
a box In the grandstand. where the
two mayors witnessed the splendid
program of free shows presente in the
big oval and the races. There were
no formaIities.
RiderIcss Horse Cheered.
The visitors witnessed. too. an in
!, terestipg and exciting little incident
that was not down on the program
when II. r. kidneys Doctor Heard
spilled hts negro jockey in the steepie-
chase at the first hurdle. An ambu-
lance rushed to the scene and picked
ap the jockey and tie intelligent
horse. rideriess, continued the race,
taking the hurdles with wild abandon,
In dangerous proximity to the heels
- tad
fourth at the finish with as much
pride apparently as though he had
been a winner. the grandstAnd cheer
ing him TO the echo.
Mayor Cameron. before departing.
declared that he had had the TINA II
his life; that the state fair was a win
ner In every department. and un-
doubleday the greatest exposition yir-
ginia ever held. Similar expressions
were heard on all sides yesterday. and
while the Petersburgian were not tag
ged nor labeled. 1t was generally con-
ceded that they were tnthe ascend
ancy, and that the appreciative words
came from Richmond's good neigh
bors.
Crowds Continue.
Drawn by the Irresistible attractions
+, of the fair and the continued fine
ceptibie diminution in the numbers
that attended on the preceding day.
and fair officials estimated the crowd
at 10000 big increase over the Fri
days attendance last year.
1t was unseasonabiy warm. but not
SO uncomfortable as Thursday, for
the piercing rays OF the sun were OBJ
secured for a good part of the day, and
the fair management had beaten me
dust to II and pl1ntiously sprinkied
the thoroughfares before the gates
opened. adding much 10 the comfoa (
OF pedestrians. Everything moved
along in fine shape and without
a hitch, and there was not duh mo-
ment for the throngs of visitors.
The appreciation shown OF the ex-
hibits Is noticeable fact to one who
visits the Virginia State fair for the
first time.
Even when the races and the free
shows are in full blast and the dense
thrnngs are disporting themselves On
the midway. one will and at the same
time that Industrial and horticultural
halls, the farm products building and
the stock and poultry buildings are
equally congested with appreciative
xightseers, SO that the man who en-
tertains the idea that the exhibit fea-
lures are lost. and that the average
fair crowd primarily seeks amuse-
ment. has guessed wrong
Clouds Threaten.
Murky skies last night presaged
showers. but the crowds didn't give the
matter OF the weather a moments
thought. The midway was packed
with merryrevelers. who bucked the
games. congested the teddy bear and
the dog and the other paddle games
and took In the freak shows, while the
great mass Of humanity that packed
the grandstand and the enclosure
fronting 1t enjoyed the program of free
attractions. The fireworks. because OF
darkened skies. were even more beau
tiful. than usual, and the electrical
v. display along the thornnghfxrss and
In the oval transformed the great play
ground into a migic fairyland
Inspired probably by the unfortu-
nate accident Of Thursday night, there
were two ambulances on the grounds
M day yesterday. The wisdom and
IN the case OF the accident to Jockey
McLane. The fast-fying ambulance
reached the PROSTATE man In less time
than It takes to tell 1t. but Fortunate
ly he was not badly hurt. II the fates
continue to favor the fair today 1t
will 60 down in history as really re-
markable in that particular at least
one mishap In the infinite mass OF
detail necessitated In handling crowds
aggregating over 100000 people.
Closes At Midnight.
Taps will be sounded at midnight
tonight for the seventh annual State
exposition, and today offers the las
opportunity to visit the greatest show
Virginia ever had. The free shows in
the oval. the Midway--ev
will 60 on according to the regular
schedule today just As Il did yester-
day. There win be no curtailment Of
the amusements or any other feature
OF the fair, and those who have not
had an opportunity to attend during
the week can 60 out this afternoon
or tonight and see the big show from
just as favorable viewpoint a
those who saw 1t wednesday IN al iii
glory. In fact the racing card fol
this nfternoon--ai running raceS--is
said to be the b@Ht u the week and
krs~. SlArsA1 ThfnA Don.S y