Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-08-21
First Rally of the Campaign.
AN UNEXPECTED suocEss-1500 PEOPLE
IN COUNCIL!
TORCH LIGHT PROCESSION.

Tuesday evening of this week, posters
were Immediately got out announcing
that fact, and all other preparations
made that could be in so brief time,
and we are sure so much was never done
before in so short time, and it resulted |
in not only complete success, but fairly
surprised the Union republicans them
selves 1t was the largest political gath
ering ever held in Bellows Falls in the
evening. 1t was held under the auspices
of the Grant and Colfax Club of this
village, but so many were present from
the adjoining towns and from the other
side Of the river, that it was called to or
der as mass meeting Of the union free
men of Vermont and New Hampshire.
The meeting was held in the Square,
which was lighted for that purpose by
two engine head lights and the illumina-
tion of nearly all the buildings in that
immediate vicinity, a stand for the speak
er being erected in front of the old Bel
lows Falls Hotel site. AS large num-
Der of our readers will be interested in
the particulars we give some of the de-
tails.
The first business meeting Of the Grant
Club with reference to this meeting was
held only the evening previous to the
mass meeting, though an impromptu
gathering was held Saturday evening.
Two bands were engaged, and invited TO
be present, one from Alstead, n. H., and
another from Grafton. The Alstead
band arrived promptly at s o'clock at
which time also signal gun was fred as
notice to the citizens of this village to as
semble. At half past six salute of
thirty-fv guns was fired, and the Grant
Club headed by the Alstead band, formed
in procession in the Square and marched
down Westminster street to the foot of
Terrace Hill, where they met and receiv-
ed delegation composed Of citizens
from Grafton, Westminster, Athens, Put
ney, Cambridgeport and Saxtoas River,
headed by the Grafton Band under the
Marshalship of Francis Phelps of that
place. The whole then formed a process
sion under the direction Of Capt. Walter
, Taylor and Capt. S. E. Perham as Mar
shals, and marched to the Square where
they were dismissed for twenty minutes
to enable the bands and others who wish
ed, to obtain supper. Seats were place.
: in the Square opposite the speaker
stand, half way across the street for la
: dies and the crowd. Many ladies ais
occupied the stand.
At the end of the twenty minutes ad
iournment, the procession was reformed
o and marched to the Island House to es
{ cort Judge Poland to the stand. .Arriy
( ing at the stand, Mr. Poland was at one
r introduced to the crowd, and receives
i. with three hearty cheers, followed witt
,. music by one of the bands. Mr.. Polan'
i then came forward and proceeded to ad
} dress the audience in most forcible an
G able argument on the political issues O
n the day, dwelling deliberately on the +
d nancial question. He spoke for over tw
e hours, commanding the perfect attentio
and interest of the audience Throughout
No abstract of the speech is needed her
d The people were out and heard it fc
Is themselves. His speech WAS receive
r with great favor, conceded to be fair an
o. candid by the democrats themselves, an
if left most favorable impression.
lie When he had concluded, and attt
II various cheering by the crowd, for Il
speaker, Grant and Colfax, the Unio
Cause, &c, a torch light procession WI
tie formed and escorted the speaker back
al the Island House. The procession the
re marched to Westminster street, but
ar was thought to be too late to attempt Il
Y. parade of the entire village, as there rs
If been no such intention, only so far as
i'll do all that could be done in the sho
DC. space OF time tor preparation
et The number present is variously es
cir mated at 1900 to 1000 The Squa
of was densely packed in front of the spea
er, and all the balconies, piazzas, w
dows, and even tops ofsome OF the pul
' ings we're occupied. The illuminate
90 were also decidedly attractive. Chas
', block was beautifully illuminated. Ii
=: no disparagent to others to say that M
- r. G. Dinsmore & Co.'S store showed
wa most beautifully arranged light OF
evening. E. G. Hooper d Co. finely
M Illuminated their store, and indeed are
the titled at least to second premium, and
I'M. may add the same of M. NJ. Whltne
ov- rooms over Miss Dinsmore's and y.
will Woods store at the south end OF t
building, and all this on a street not
cupied by the crowd. L. r. Dewt
ng. restaurant building was among the
ext lighted and showed finely. johnson