Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-09-24

iiOoh pdthti luc STOuHuSy duu a
great many took advantage of the
free admission of autos and teams.
Over four hundred automobiles
were here that day, and the supre-
!. 9acy of the auto over the horse
f<. Nwn vehicle was noticeable in the
fs> r.. that the space occupied by
hoh "a. was but small compared to
that tGse autos. 1t is estimated
that the, ~Avere between 5000 and
1000 peol e n the grounds Thurs
day. The re, IS of that day were
approximately 800, and Of the
day before Wednesday $1,1OO.
There were some disappoint-
ments, as usual. Tuesday morning
came amid a drizzling rain, and
the hopes of all were blighted. 1t
was gloomy and wet all day, but
nevertheless in the afternoon the
gates were opened and quite a num-
ber went down. On account of the
weather it was impossible to carry
out the entire program. Friday it
began to rain during the middle of
the afternoon, with downpour
which drove everybody from the
grounds.
The airships fights were a sore
disappointment to the management
as we'll as to all others. A contract
had been made with Max Lille,
one of the famous aviators of
America, for six fights, but on Mon
day afternoon he was killed in a
flight at Galesburg, Ill. His part
ner, Minty Mcclure, was sent here
and made attempts to fly Tuesday
and Wednesday afternoons, both
of which were unsuccessful. Both
times he flew into the air about 100
feet across the grounds and off
toward Trout Run, and when he
tried to make the turn and come
back gusts of wind struck his ma
chine and drove it to the ground in
the corn field in spite of all he
could do. The first day the propel
Ter was broken, but he had sec
ond one with him and the machine
was repaired. The second day the
machine was badly damaged, and
he refused to attempt another
flight. He said that it was a treach-
erous place to fly from on account
of the uncertain and cross currents
of air, and hp doubted If anyone
could get out of the valley. This is
the second year fights have been
attempted here, and it was bitter
disappointment to all, but could not
be avoided.
The comic and scientific acroba-
tic performance Of the Biggare
troupe, and the fancy shooting Of
DR.. Tanner were both much enjoy
ed each day, while the high dive of
Jim Cappersmith from ladder
eighty-fve feet high was one of the
most thrilling feats ever seen on
| the grounds. The balloon ascen-
sions by Charles Skivers were by
long odds the best ever seen here.
Each time he ascended to an enor-
nous height and made beautiful
drop in his parachute. All Of the
attractions were very satisfactory.
Stretched along either side of the
roadway leading from the main
entrance east to the grandstand
were rows of tents containing con-
cessions stands, the Tanner Carni-
val Co., merry-go-round, the Inter
national Harvester Co. machine
tent in charge of j. p. Burns, the
Ford auto tent, veritable Midway
where fair visitors found much to
amuse and entertain. Near the
Floral Hall was large tent In
which the speeches were made, and
which was used for a rest tent for
women and children.
The base ball games attracted
large crowds on Wednesday and
Thursday, when Calmar and Ossian
played for supremacy. Both were
splendid games. Each team was
strengthened with league players
from Dubuque and other places, and
furnished amusement of rare or.
der for the large numbers that wit
messed them. Calmar won both
games, Wednesday by the score OF
7 to and Thursday to 2. Fri
day Burr Oak and Decorah played
the game being called in the thiro
inning on account of rain, the score
being to / in favor of Burr Oak
Friday was Ford Automobile
Day, and a large number of ma
chimes came in to take in the Ford
picnic. There was parade in the
afternoon, in which decorated au
tos and the band in grotesque ant
comic costume participated, and eV
; erybody had fine time. Something
like forty Ford autos participated
in the festivities.
Floral Hall.