Norwich bulletin., 1912-09-12

Rain. torrents of it, in showers that came at short intervals all Wednesday afternoon, spoiled the second day of the WilliInantic fair. No racing What- ever could be run off, the balloon as tension was impossible, and the down. pour disrupted all the rest of the pro- gramme of attractions that the man agement had arranged for the big mid dle day of the fair. It was decided to hold all the horse racing today, ana the five events, including the two s1.000 stake races and the three $500 purse races, will be started at lO o'clock this morning.
 Prospects of Big Day.
 Just before the starter was about to call out the horses for the first heat in the 219 1000 trot, with the stands and the grounds filling with a crowd that seemingly was to make the day record breaker for the fair people, the storm broke. It had been hot and sul- try all the morning, but the sun was out and people from far and near were streaming toward Horseshoe park. The American Thread company and other big factories of the city had given their employees a half holiday. the schools of Windham had closed for the day, many of the business houses of Willimantic had temporarily suspended activities, and from the surrounding towns hundreds of people, by motor cars. carriages, trolley and on foot. were On their way to see the sights of the fair.
 Four Thousand on the Grounds.
 Over four thousand visitors had passed within the gates, the track ln- closure was filled with automobiles, the midway was thriving, and the grandstand was crowded with people who were just settling down to see the fast brushes that the three big races of the afternoon were sure to bring. Then came the rain-and everything was off.
 A few scattering drops gave people a chance to make for the grandstand and the exhibition buildings and to get their automobile tops up, but hum dreds were caught out in the pouring rain. Dozens of piquant holiday hats remained so no longer. after a few minutes of rain. scores of white frocks became bedraggled and muddy as their owners tried more or less successfully to find spot of shelter. It was not Q place for white shoes.
 Crowded Grandstand.
 The grandstand was a particularly inviting place of shelter-at first. Hun dreds of men and women were con- graduating themselves on finding such excellent protection. Then a smart wind blew down from the north and sheets of water deluged the people in the front of the stand. A few minutes later the wind reversed it's direction, and the crowd up in back got their dose Finally it began to leak through the cracks in the roof, and everybody almost was getting share. Some of the more gallant among the men took off their coats and wrapped them around the ladies. Most of the people decided to grin and bear it. A few started to leave the grounds, but be- l fore going far they were caught in 1 another heavy shower. And the show CTS kept coming regularly all the after i noon and evening. It was most dis couraging for the fair management, the midway men. and for the visitors. | Sharp, vivid chain lightning, hash- l ing all around the grounds. added it's terrors- for the more timid of the worn- en in tho audience and many braved the rain to flee from the stands to the exhibition buildings. where. not seeing 1t, they felt much safer. Tn the main exhibition hall the wind drove the rain through the open windows, and tha | midway in general was pretty wei soaked. Some of the showmen made