Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1879-08-28
FAT CLANS FOR FAT MEN.
An Enormous Repast for Enormous
EaterS--S0me Of the Heavy
Weights Who We're at
GregOry'S Point.

G%REGoRY's POINT, SOUTH NOR
WALK, August ID, 1S79.-The clam
bakes of the Fat Mems association
have become famous, and deservedly
so. For thirteen years the fat men
have been ~practicing on clambakes,
an" it is safe to say that they have
now reduced the subject to a science.
Gregory's Point. where the bake is
held, is charmingly situated near the
mouth of the harbor. 1t is quite ac-
cessible both by land and water, as
is testified by the numerous boats,
yachts and wagons that are visible.
Just what a fat mems clambake is
may he learned from what is put
over the fire. In the first place, q
parallelogram 9 feet by 20 is formed
by laying stones from 2 10 6 inches
in diameter together until the heap
is Is to IS inches high upon the sur
face of the ground. Cordwood is pill
Ell on the stones to the height Of two
or three feet and set on fire. The
fire is kept briskly burning for two
or three hours until the stones are
thoroughly hot. Then the burning
embers are removed, and iftlie stones
ere too hot they are somewhat cooled
by the application of water. Then
they are swept clean. A slight COW
ering OF rock seawaed is laid upon
them. Then a layer of CLANS is
placed as a foundation for the bake.
Then $50 or 800 square wire baskets,
holding about a peck each and con-
tanning clans, sweet corn and sweet
potatoes, are arranged in order over
the heated stones. In the openings
between the baskets loose CLANS ale
thrown. Carefully pinned cloths
containing halibut, blue fish and cells
are al>o added to the bake, then nor
seaweed is heaped on the pile and a
piece of canvas covers the heap to
keep the steam in. An idea of the
magnitude of the "bake" a be
formed from the fact that IS bushels
of clans, of which GO are round CLAIMS
and Is bushels are the Long Island
s,ft clans; l,500pounds Of fish, 1000
ears of corn, 1000 chickens, l,400
pounds Of lobster and ; barrels Of
sweet potatoes go into the "bake,"
while 5 cords Of wood are consumed
in heating the stones. In each of the
baskets are placed 4 ears of corn, 10
clans, l chicken, 4 sweet potatoes
and | lobster. At l o'clock the
bake" began to cook. 1t was fin
ished at els, and was under the
management of Charles D. Melvin of
Milford Point, who is experimenting
the bake for Mr.. P. Dorian of the
Dorian House, On whose grounds the
festivities are held, a most plononnc-
ell success. By II o'clock large
numbers of visitors began to arrive,
among whom were numerous fat men
and q large sprinkling of ladies, be-
sides throngs who, regardless of size
or looks had come simply to enjoy
the "bake." The larges: man who
has thus far turned up is Hermann
D. Bush, of Iloboken, N. j., who tips
the beam at 407. Mr.. Bush weigh
ed $50 pounds lG months ago, but
by rigid dieting has brought himself
down to 4O7 pounds, his present
weight. AS might be expected, such
a rapid loss of l43 pounds has made
his clothes seem rather large for him.,
and he says that he KEGS a tailor
busy most of the time taking in reefs
in his garments. Among others, are
Hemingway Smith, of New Haven,
who weighs 90; George Petrie, OF
the same place, 200; G. T. Dnrgin,
Bridgeport, 2ls;; P. Murphy, West
port. 1870; j. ~Bartholomey, president
Of the Derby road, 23l Charlie
Bradley, the well-kLown host OF the
Florence House, and president OF the
club, 500; w. H. Risley, Berlin,
22G; Willard Perkins, Waterbury,
400; w. B. Naples, of the Norwalk
Hour, 227; Frank B~yington, Of
southington, 900; Benajah Beadle,
Cheshire, oil; Z. B. Payne, Ches.
hire, 223.
The ceremony of weighing the
monsters is a very interesting one,
and calculated to afford much merri-
ment. The pictures of the leading
candidates for corporeal largeness
were taken by enternris;ng photo.
graphers for future reference and to
adorn the showcase. At 9 p. m. the
Laura M. Starin with 1000 excur-
s%ionists arrived from New York. A
large number of these were bulky in
proportion, but time will not permit
a description Of their merits. The
number of those in attendance is
large ard all are having an exceed
ingly pleasant time. AS compared
with the famons Rhode Island clam
bakes the Connecticut Fat Mems in
stilution beats Rhode Island all to
pieces. TIE grounds about Gregg
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