Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1893 — AT HIGH TIDE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AT HIGH TIDE.

Attendance at the World’s Fair atTfR Maxim-nm FaM Admissions nt Jackson Park Raaoh the Phenomenal Figure of 751,0 M on '‘Chicago Day.” A perfect autumn day and the largest crowd that ever congregated at a like gathering in the world’s history. These are two of the elements that helped to make “Chicago Day,” October 9, at tbe World’s Fair an unprecedented success; that went to make it the biggest*day of the Fair; that made the heart of every Chicagoan swell with pride and filled the souls of all Illinoisans and all Americans with joy. Everything that was on the program went off with perfect success and and a great deal that was not thereon. Everyone at the Fair did all in their pow T er to show to all comers true hospitality, and their success is evidenced by the outspoken deljght of the thousands and hundreds of thtmsands who were present. The crowd was bigger than that which assembled at the Paris Exposition on the banner day of that fair. Tbe crush throughout the grounds was simply inde-

scribable. Around the Administration Building, on the grand plaza, the people were packed together In one Immovable mass. In other portions of the grounds it was the same story. The Midway Plaisance presented a scene of animation unusual even for that attractive feature of the Fair. It was a crowd covering 1,090 acres of ground as compactly almost as If It had been molded. Paris, on its banner day, passed through the gates of its exposition 397,150 people. The admissions at the World’s Columbian Exposition, on Monday, Oct. 9, numbered 751,026. Never before has a holiday been so generally observed in Chicago. Every business house of any consequence was closed and small stores of all descriptions followed suit. In all sections of the city a card bearing the inscription, “We close, Chicago day,” was to be seen in windows of nearly every store. Even the thousands of milkmen caught the fever and notified their patrons long ago that they would make but one trip on Chicago Day. Many large firms, In addition to closing their places, furnished their employes with tickets of admission to the Fair. Withall these people turned loose and added to by the tremendous influx of outsiders during the preceding forty-eight hours, it is not to be wondered at that such a crowd was neyer seen before.

The crowd was all of Monday night getting out of the Park, the transportation facilities being entire!? inadequate. A great many accidents occurred, but comparatively few were fatal. Ambulances were kept busy and fainting women were a noticeable and not especially attractive feature of the occasion. The Exposition was transformed into fairyland at night. Bright lights flashed from every nook and crevice of the buildings. Searchlights cut wide swaths on the sky. Multicolored rockets shot heavenward, showers of fire rained about the grand basin and on the like front. Through it all the floats representing Chicago’s progress were hauled. It was the grand climax of tlqe festival days of the Fair. Never before was there a sight so inspiring at the Fair. The great white structures of the Exposition stood outlined against the heavens and the whole was one superb blaze of glory. The floats were marvels of beauty.

SOUVENIR ADMISSION TICKET USED “CHICAGO DAY.”