The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-09
ATTENDANCE YESTERDAY
SHOWS SLIGHT DECREASE
Figures Of Railway Indicate That
Trolley Cars Hauled Away a1,48S
Persons From Grounds.
BIG CROWD OUT LAST NIGHT
Grand Stand Overfows. While Mid
way Is Thronged With Good-Na-
tured NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Evil
dence of Disorder Reported.

While therc was a huge crowd at the
State Fair yesterday. there was little
gain, II eny, in attendance over Thurs
day OF last year. It Is probable that
there was an increase, but as the asso
citation keeps no record of persons pass
ing through the turnstiles, the only
available figures arc those of tho Vfr-
ginia Railway and Power Company,
which has a complete record OF those
hauled away from the grounds.
During the day the electric cars ac-
commodated 21.43s visitors. which was
313 less than on the corresponding day
of last year, when 21,751 were taken
home on the trolleys. and nearly 1000
less than the same day In 1912, when
25,139 were taken away from the
grounds.
These figures, OF course, do not rep
tered the grounds, but they are the
ones upon which the estimates of each
year are based. Hundreds of persons
walked home from the fair. while hun
conveyances. On Thursday of last year
1t was raining. and tho roads and walk
ways were In terrible condition. It
IS a certainty that the cars were used
in preference to motors or horse-drawn
vehicles during the rain, while 1t is
this year was far D. excess of last SO
1t Ia safe to believe that the attend
ance yesterday was slightly larger.
FUN RUNS RIOT AMONG
GOOD-NATURED CROWD
The crowd last night was n big one.
the grand stand could not begin to &C
commodate those who wished to see
the wonderful limo OF free attractions
and the fireworks, while the Midway
was thronged by good-naturcd crowd
until late In tho night. There was a
noticeable difference over the night be-
fore, but as there were fewer people.
those on hand had great opportunity
to spread out. and fun ran riot.
dark, and "ticklers' were much in
evidence. Girls rivaled boys In their
excess of vari-colored paper. The clear
night added much to tho enjoyment
OF the crowd.
Midway shows reaped harvest dur
ing tho early hours Of the night, both
before and after the 1roworks. From
the viewpoint OF the Snowman and
faker 1t was the best night they have
had on the circuit. while the lunch
counters, charity booths and sandwich
men did thriving trade with their
hungry patrons.
In spite of the large crowds OF yes-
terday and the day before, thcre was
no disorder In the grounds, and less
than a score of arrests were made dur
were few yesterday, although num-
Der of missing articles were believed
by their owners to have been lifted
by the light-fingored gontry who infest
fairs. Ambulance and hospital attaches
likewise had 1t easy yesterday and
last night, while police acted chiefly
as guides, and their hardest work was
to keep the fun-seekers on the move
1t is expected that to-day Will be
the busiest, next to Richmond Day, of
the present fair. Local showers are
forccasted, but these are not expected
Tn hold the attendance. the
majority of the fair patrons Will be
fror, out of town. Manager Warwick
has made arrangements to drain IN
Midway and other roads In case case OK OK
ain and has supply Of dry sand TO
cover up the pools OF water ana 'nuu'