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THE BIG EXPOSITION
THE RAIN INTERFERES WITH OPENING DAY
FAIR WEATHER PROMISED FOR TOMORROW

The Coffeyville Daily Journal, 8 Sep 1905


Parade Imposing Spectacle

Cowboy Band is Great and Lucille Mulhall Does Fancy Riding
- Miller Bros.' Fine Outfit Excites Admiration

Big Show Will Be Given Tonight at Grounds Under Canvas
Many Noted Riders and Ropers Here
Big Day Saturday

The advance guard of the exposition visitors has been arriving all week in the shape of friends and relatives of towns' people, who take advantage of this occasion for a visit to the border metropolis. It is estimated that the number of these visitors will reach several hundred.

Friday morning, in spite of the rain during the night and the clouds in the forenoon, the crowds began to arrive. Eight passenger trains each brought in a bunch of "three-day" visitors from various points.

The country people and territory folks are just beginning to arrive. Tomorrow will see them pour into the city by the thousands.

All that is needed for a big success for the exposition and record breaking crowds is sunshine.

The weather prediction for tonight and tomorrow is fair. This is encouraging. While the rain so far has done little damage, another heavy rain will hurt.

With sunshine tomorrow the exposition will have full sway in the city. Montgomery county will be here in force, and a show will gbe given worth while coming to see.

Hundreds of the crack ropers and riders of the west are here and will give a great exhibition.

Lucill Mulhall, the premier horsewoman of the world is the star attraction. She gave some fancy riding stunts with her trick horse "Governor" after the parade this morning that delighted the large crowds on the streets.

Miller Bros. have a big show with them. Over a score of famous Indians and a half hundred cowboys. Their troupe of wonderful trained mules gave an exhibition this morning that was a rare treat.

Mulhall's cowboy band came fully up to expectations and this is saying a good deal. Their wild west unforms are new and picturesque. This aggregation is one of the very best bands in the country and their music is inspiring.

Even this early in the game the hotels and restaurants report a big business.

The Southern - 148.
Eldridge - 160.
Janssen - 150.
Quick Lunch - 432.
Newport - 305.
Mecca - 215.

The opening parade was given this morning and the gay costumes of the cowboys and horsewomen, the bright colors worn by the Indians and the lively music of the bands was in pleasing contrast to the gloomy looking morning. A large party of the Mulhalls rode to the Pacific station to meet the Cowboy band which arrived from St. Louis at ten o'clock. The band is composed of twenty-six pieces, and the uniform of the plains which the members wear is thoroughly in harmony with the dashing spirit of the organization. The first division of the parade was formed with Colonel Mulhall and Miss Lucille riding at the head. Next came the Cowboy Band and immediately following rode Misses Bessie, Georgia and Mildred Mulhall. The Mulhall cowboys and other riders followed and the Coffeyville band brought up the rear of the first division. This division of the parade marched from the station to Ninth street and then to the Plaza where it turned sout and later joined with the division of the parade in which the Miller brothers shows were represented. This division was composed of a large number of riders and Indians under the direction of Joe, George and Zack Miller. The "101" ranch band was a prominent feature of the parade and after the parade it gave a short concert on the Plaza.

This is the day when the man on horseback is very much in evidence. Ri8ders and ropers from far and near have come to attend the great congress of Indians and plainsmen and there promises to be unusual interest in the contest which will be pulled off during the three days of the exposition. Among the ropers who have registered for the contests are the following:

... The contestant who has the most favorites in the crowd of spectators is the daring horsewoman, Miss Lucille Mulhall.

The following have registered for the riding contests: Charles Mulhall, Jim Minnick, of Seymour, Texas; Rene Stone, of Dibble, Texas; Jim Trainor, of Claremont; Frank Schraur, of Colorado; Jack Joyce, of Montana; H. C. Fearman, of New Mexico; O. Barber, of Talala; Jim Talala, of Talala.

The crowd at the grounds this afternoon numbered in the neighborhood of a thousand people in spite of the inclement weather. The grounds were covered with mud but the maangement covered the paths with straw and the crowd has little difficulty in getting around the grounds. Inside the race track where the roping contests were held, the ground is much higher than that outside and it was in much better shape. The track was not in the best of condition and showed the effects of the wet weather. The stands and concessions had only a light busines today, but they are looking for something better the next two days. The Mulhalls have a large tent near the gate to the grounds where they have their headquareters. The Millers are located to the south of this about a hundred yards. They have two shows, the trained animal show and their big show. In the big inclosure they have about seventy Indians in their native costumes. The Indians are living in tepees just as they did on the plains years ago. In addition to the Indians the Millers have with them twenty-five cowboys, who are well known as ropers and riders.

Coffeyville did her best to give the people who came to the big interstate and territorial exposition a good time. The ropers, riders, bands and other attractions which go to make up one of the biggest attractions in the Wedst had been secured and were on the grounds today all ready to start the program. Everything that could add to the comfort of the visitors was arranged for and then the weather was called on to do its part, and hewre is where the first big hindrance to the success of the exposition was found. The drought of two months was broken just in time to soak up the dust on the fair grounds and the break was so large that when the dust was laid, teh rain continued until the grounds were covered with mud. The outlook this afternoon was quite discouraging, but the management is living in hopes that the weather preductions of "fair tonight and Saturday" will be correct and the last two days will make up for the deficiencies of the first.


Exposition Notes
The celebrated Mulhall cowboy band, under the skillfull leadership of Charles Seymour, arrived here this morning over the Missouri Pacific railway. The band is twenty-five strong and is known the world over as the greatest cowboy musical organization ever before the public. The Mulhall cowboy band is the identical band so highly honored by President Roosevelt, in his inauguration as president, after President McKinley's death. The Mulhall band was given the place of honor in the parade and it made a memorable impression by its magnificent playing and spectacular appearance. This band will take a prominent part in the Coffeyville Inter-State and Territorial exposition and the citizens extend to it as they do to all the other bands that visit the city, a hearty welcome. "Le the band play on," is the popular cry.

A novel and interesting feature of the ceremonies at the exposition at the fair grounds this afternoon was the presentation to Miss Lucille Mulhall of a handsome box of bonbons, finely put up, and decorated with a blue ribbon in honor of her splendid achievements as the premier horsewoman of the world. The present is from Col. Charles Wenneker of the Blake-Wenneker Candy Company of St. Louis, and another evidence of her strong popularity throughout the land. Col. Wenneker was formerly collector of the city of St. Louis and a prominent citizen of the World's fair city.

Col. Frank Frost, the celebrated showman of Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill, Barnum's old circus, and other notable shows, is here with Col. Zack Mulhall as his official announcer. Col. Frost is one of the pioneers of the big shows of America, Europe and Australia and is as popular as he is well-known. He has magnificent vocal powers, is an interesting talker, and is a great story teller. He is a man of marked personality, a hustler and makes friends by the score. He is highly pleased with Coffeyville's wonderful strides since his last visit here and says the town is great in everything.


SHOW TONIGHT
In the big tent out to the grounds a full roping and riding exhibition will be given in which all the principal actors will take part. The show will begin at 7:30 o'clock.






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