Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-05
Thursdays Heavy Downpour
Prevents Two Events
Being Run OFF
GIVE OUT PREMIUMS n
TO THE EXHIBITORS
Department Secretaries Are
Making Awards to the U
Prize Winners Il

Eldon, Aug. 4.-(Speciaf)- This at
ternoon, the last races Of the Big -Four
fair which has been in session here
since Tuesday, opened with the heav.|S
lest truck schedule that has confrOnt
ed the Judges and performers for
years. M
The heavy downpour Of Thursday
afternoon prevented two Of that day.
events being finished and these With
the four regularly scheduled events
for this afternoon will be run into the
evening to finish. The line up Tor
this afternoon follows:
2:20 trot-Purse $400, four entrisss
(Held over from Thursday.)
2:12 paco-Purse $40O, six entrdess
(Held over from Thursday.) ID
Three-year-old or under trot -Pursoss
$500. "a "a
1855 pace-Purse $500.
2:15 trot-Purse $500. 4
Running three-fourth mile dash
Purse $75.
Grounds are Ftooded. &.
Just as the noon train from Ottum-s
wa arrived about 1880 o'clock Thurs
day afternoon, one Of the heavieat
rains ever experienced In Eldon broke
upon the grounds. Hundreds OF people
ran for the shelter OF stock barns,
ampitheater and concession TENTS
For an hour the steady downpour IN
creased and all activities on the
grounds were stopped. Shortly aftee
3 O'Clock the skies Frightened an1
forty-flve minutes later the first racej
was started, two hours and fiftsen min
utes behind time. The track was wet
and soggy, but the constant runnln9S
of eight or ten automobiles over ios
for half an hour before the hofDAQS
started. smoothed It down consideaS
ably The ampitheater was dry anoS
comfortable, but the midway ofS
concession street" was flooded anAs
during the balance Of the afternoo15
people we're jumping mud holes an1h
lodging the little lakes which ha4a
formed between the buildings.
Carry Out Program.
Although the races were run unfit
after o'clock there were two which
were not finished, each having tive
heats which were left for today l6&
spite Of the damp grounds the regulA1
evening program of flre works wAoa
given in the quarter stretch and those
who had stayed for all the races met
many coming in for the fire works saG#
they were going home after rather
unique day at a fair.
Day Was Unique.
The day was unique from severa9E
standpoints. The program had . mum
Der of features advertised. but theres
were also some given which were not
announced.
In the second heat of the third race
the 2:12 pace, Earl Beisly, Of Ticks
nah, Neb., owner and driver OF Majofi
Hardy, bay stallion, was thrown;
from his sulky directly In front Of the
grand stand The animal ran for rs
mile and three quarters before he stop
ped. All efforts to head him OF fronlS
the quarter stretch. the side lines and
the track failed Mr.. Beizly was nqn5
injured and when he entered the net
heat his horse came out nrst.
Drivers In Quarrel. ss
AS an aftermath of the wreck AZ
the Beizly sulky In front Of tho granH
stand, later in the afternoon, when a1t'
the races were declared to be over t.
the day, Mr.. Belly was struck ovSfs
the head by the butt end OF q whipa
in the hands of H. Woods, Amar1ll0gI
Texas, owner and driver Of 1ka ]. GeGys
a bay .gelding, running In the cams
race which Major Hardy won, afteEs
running around the track severAE
times. Belly struck back 1t woods
and the fight was on while the crowd!
closed in. The presence Of Sheril!
Giltner on the scene soon put STOP
to further hostilities and after : con
ference with the officers the mel|
agreed to forget their troubles.