St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-09-18
THE FAIR A SUCCESS
Great Crowd Thursday to See a
Fine Exhibition Some Good
Racing.

In spite of the fact that the
weather man took occasion last Tues
day night and Wednesday to wet
things down and in spite of the fact
that the English aviator, George
Dyott, smashed his monoplane just
in time to prevent him flying here,
the management of the seth an
nual Caledonia County fair put
through their program just as ad-
vertised and made good every
claim. On Tuesday the usual small
| first day attendance was on hand
to look over the stock and get a
glimpse of the midway, but
Wednesday was the date to get
things going. The day opened with
one of the worst showers of the sea-
son which held up the forenoon
program, but which left the track
in good shape for the opening races.
Wednesdays Races
There were two races on the card
and they proved to be the best
! of the entire fair. There were
six starters in the green county race
and although Starr Elm was easily
the bell horse there was lively team
ing to decide how the others would
finish. Trixy, General Rover and
Merrimac each captured a second
but Driver Olcott managed to an
mex enough thirds to land him sec
ond money. Driver Neagle was re-
moved after the second heat and
Pierce substituted, but sixth was the
best the new driver could do.
For real excitement one can point
to the 2.17 pace which was started
Wednesday and finished Thursday.
Out of this race grew the only dis
agreement of the entire fair. The
first heat went to Albert r. of the
Newport Stock farm, with Dart
mouth, owned by E. L. Swan of
Orange, Mass, and driven by M. H.
Spafford, second. Fred Pierce drove
The Builder two fast heats, win
ming, and then Spafford came to the
front with Dartmouth, winning two
before the race was called ut sun
set. 10 the judges it was apparent
that Spafford had not driven his
best in the second and third heats
and before the race was continued
the next day he was fined $25. To
this he objected so strenuously and
in such an offensive manner that on
Friday it was announced from the
stand that he had been suspended
from all national association tracks
until April /, 1913. Between the
heats the crowd was entertained by
the trained seals and the Balton Sex
tette, lady gymnasts, both of which
features were roundly applauded.
The cavalcade of stock also interest
ed the grand stand and the concerts
by the Consolidated Band very hap
niIu fiI1od nm onu in tho dOin
of the day.
Big Crowd on Thursday
Thursday was supposed to be the
banner day but even the most Opti-
mistic did not expect the record
breaking crowd that began to surge
through the gates as early as nine
o'clock. 1t is estimated that nearly
IA, 900 people were on the grounds
during the day and that upwards of
300 automobiles entered the park.
Two bands had been engaged for
this day and music lovers were CIV
en- their fill with the st. JohnsbUry
Consolidated band in their stand
and the Lyndonville band in the
grand stand.
The officers of the association
were smiling again as the aviator.
who was to prove the leading attrac-
tion, had arrived and was getting his
machine into shape.
The racing was called at one
O'Clock and the 2.17 pace finished.
Albert R. was again in shape and
took two straight, winning after
seven heats had been run. The 2.30
trot and pace was taken in heats by
Helen G. Slayton was removed for
carrying a watch and in the 2.22
&rn n eriu hfc
numbers to Spafford. This race was
|captured by Prince Nico after four
hard drives. Besides the cavalcade
and vaudeville the grand stand was
given a treat when G. H. Kenton of
the Speedwell Farms showed some
classy bitches, including pony four,
a pony unicorn, horse unicorn and
Elegant II, the clever ombination
thoroughbred.
Thursdays Ascensions
At about two o'clock Starter Pike
announced that the police were
wanted in the oval and the crowd
were aware that the next event was
to be in the air. Aviator George
Schmitt, and his mechanician, w. r.
Rausenberger, had the red biplane
in readiness and it only remained to
clear the field to show some of the
gloomy ones whether they had been
sold by the management. The wind
was rather lively and veering, but
it was time to fly and the program is
what Schmitt watches rather than
the weather conditions. When the po-
lice and marshals had lined the
crowd up around the inside of the |
track the air craft was rolled down
to the south end and then pointed |
due north. Schmitt, with his boy