Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-09
STATE FAIR OPENS
IN BLAZE OF GLORY
Twelfth Annual Exhibition Prom
ises to Be Greatest of
Entire Series.
MANAGEMENT MUCH PLEAS 50
Crowds Exceed Those for Open
ing Day Last Year, and Exhib-
it's Are More Varied.

twelfth annual premier exhibition, yes
terday began tho first day OF what
promises to be the greatest and most
successful week In the history Of the
association. There Is no doubt of the
tact that exhibits are far more extern
siVe. greater In number and moro at
tractively displayed than ever before,
and there remains only one factor to
be reckoned with. That Is atmospheric
conditions. and with ideal weather tho
success Of the show is assured.
When Wahoo Lane and the Ballyhoo,
under the electric arcs and streamers
that illuminate them. sprang into life
last night, they resembled nothing 80
much as a fiery serpent with a forked
tall. and with blare Of trumpets, beat
OF drums and sounds OF hllarity, be-
gan to assert itself. the real spirit of
such exhibitions animated the fair.
PRELIMINARY WORK
IS NOW COMPLETED
Opening early in the morning. with
considerable work yet to be done be-
fore the grounds were In readiness for
the thronss. the fair moved slowly
All large bodies arc not quick In gain
Ing their momentum. because OF tho
inexorable law OF nature, and this was
true OF the fair. Late in the after
noon action became quicker, prelimi.
nary work was completed, and as night
spread its mantle OF darkness over the
grounds and tho thousands of electric
globes sprang into life. the show was
rapidly nearing It's stride.
The thoroughness with which pre-
liminary work had been done. and the
1uickncss with which the fair got
under way was surprising - the hun
dreds counted among the flrst arrivals.
Many people journeyed to the grounds
yesterday morning much in the same
spirit that pervades the small boy
when he stands around a circus ground
for hours to watch the raising of the
big top" They wanted to see the
inside" workings OF the fair, and
were not disappointed In, their desires
The program had caifed for the first
races promptly at ! o'clock, but In the
work OF arranging many minor details
that had escaped attention until the
last moment 1t was shortly after /.
o'clock before the frst race was run.
The track was In fairly good condition,
and with the horses not unduly ner-
vous. the events We're staged In rapid
succession.
DAa FlhEWOhNS AND
VAUDEVILLE AMUsE CROWDS
Vaudeville performances on the two
huge stages In front OF the gran
stand were interposed between the
events. Several Of the acts were we'll
know to Rlchmonders. and were
loudly appiauded by the several hun
dred people in tho stand. With the
races starting later than anticipated.
the grand stand was perhaps one
third filled when the first event began.
Day fireworks also amused the audi
ence. the program including several
patriotic bombs exploded many feet in
the air.
The first real thrill Of the afternoon.
other than the excitement Incident to
the close finishes In two of the running
races. was furnished by Lucille Bel
mont. Fire was built under her cam
vas balloon shortly after o'clock.
and few minutes later 1t sprang into
the air. It's ascent was quick for
few seconds. and then II steadied and
slowly climbed to dizzy height.
Meantime. Miss Belmont appeared
perfectly composed swaying in long
sweeps in her parachute basket and
waving her hands to the hundreds OF
upturned faces on the ground. Just
as the balloon seemed to stop In its
upward flight she cut loose the para
chute, which opened perfectly after a
drop OF only a few feet and then slow
ly descended The canvas bag. its gas
exhausted, Topped over on Its side
and slowly began to fall to earth.
When half down 1t collapsed in
bundle and fell like n plummet while
Miss Belmont was still some distance
in the air. She landed without diff
flculty n short distance outside Of the
fair grounds. She used only one para
chute yesterday. but said that three
or more would be used to-day and the
rest Of the week.
FAIR OFFICIALS
EMPRESS ENTHUSIASM
Officers Of the fair association were
enthusiastic last night over the open
ing. and with good weather this years
show will surpass all previous efforts,
they said. w. Conway Saunders. the
general manager, said the attendance
yesterday was slightly larger than on
opening day last year. and that all in
dications pointed to n fairly large
crowd to-day.
.'Everything has really moved re-
markably WE'LL" he said. and we have
10 complaints whatever to make. The
congested condition OF tho railroads
has caused some little trouble of
course. but they have been unusually
active and have managed to hurry our
shipments through very quickly.
with good weather the success Of
the fair Is assured. Our exhibits are
much larger and moro numerous than
in past years, our racing stable Is far
larger. and the stock Is much better
than ever before. and our Midway Is
the greatest yet. Every effort has
been made to give the public an in
Btructivc and highly entertaining show.
and. we believe. that we have sue
ceeded."
Because OF the congestion on the
railroads one OF the largest shows