1908 - Lively Celebration in Dilworth

The Charlotte News, 5/22/1908, p. 4:

LIVELY CELEBRATION IN PROGRESS AT DILWORTH

Firemen’s Drill Will be Repeated This Evening at 10 O’Clock—The Midway is Unusually Good and Attractive—Some of the Shows.

With clear weather tonight the celebration at Latta Park will surpass that of any other night this week. Rain and damp weather during the first few days cast a damper on the crowd and disappointed the managers, but the crowd in attendance last night was more encouraging and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves to the fullest extent.

The exercises this evening will be unusually attractive as the fire drill by the Charlotte Fire Department will be repeated. The performance will, as before, take place in front of the grand stand, at 10 o’clock. The ticket window will be opened at 9 o’clock. Chief of Fire Department W. S. Orr stated this morning that he expected to make the run around the track, a distance of one-half a mile, in two minutes flat. Arriving at the burning building he will begin the rescue of the children and when the chemical wagon dashes up the hosemen will give their attention to the flames. The fire drill as given night before last was unusually interesting and instructive.

The Midway is one of much activity. The shows, as a whole, are above the average of those which usually follow a carnival company. They are interesting and well worth a visit. Some of those on the Midway are: “The Country Circus,” the Dog and Monkey Circus, “Melba,” the fire dancer, J. H. Shield’s “Lunette,” the flying lady and Shield’s electric theatre, both under one tent, “The Old Plantation,” or Jubilee Minstrels, the small man (22 years old, 29 inches high, weighing 52 pounds) Sampson, the big snake (25 feet and 4 inches long, weighing 229 pounds) a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round. A free trapeze act will be given on the Midway directly after the fire works display.

The Royal Italian band will be on the grounds until midnight.