The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-09
tion. The drum corps furnished good martial
music.
THE CONCERT.

tion. The drum corps furnished good martial
music.
THE CONCERT.
After an half hours rest the Sherman band
appeared upon the lawn adjoining the Pavilion
able to get within ear-shot and we're sufficiently
remote from the distracting noise Of the streets
and the incessant prating Of hucksters, was the
most enjoyable feature of the day. The Sher-
mans title to distinction does not rest alone
upon their brilliant and sonorous street mu-
sic. In the effective execution Of concert
music they rival the best metropolitan bands.
The lateness Of the hour at which they were
enabled to give the concert compelled short
ening OF the programme, but for an hour they
were the center OF a circle OF delighted listen
ers. Each number was received with warm
applause, and Mr.. O'Callaghan's tuba solo was
Justify cheered at every pause and at its con-
clusion greeted with clamorous encore. The
stHrdy musician bore his honors with smiling
courtesy and responded good naturedly, giving
the Concert Polka for tuba. With round Of
hearty applause he was reluctantly allowed to
make wsy for the closing number on the pro-
gramme. The musicians, one and all, ac-
quilted themselves in manner that added new
laurels to the fame they earned here four years
ago. The enthusiasm for the band at that
time was unbounded and 1t Is In the highest
degree creditable to its accomplished leader that
he Is able on a second visit not only to sustain,
but largely to enhance the high reputation his
musicians won on their first appearance here.
Reluctantly the assemblage heard the an
nouncement of the concluding number OF the
programme and hastened to Main street to
witness the novel and exciting
THE BICYCLE RACES.
Owing to the lateness OF the hour, 1t became
necessary to begin these races before the close
of the concert. Many we're therefore deprived
of the privilege of witnessing the first heats.
Previous to the racing fifteen minutes were af-
forded for display Of skill in fancy bicycle
riding. In this contest there were three entrees:
V. o. Whitcomb Of Burlington and E. A. Lowe
and A. j. Locklin of Montpelier. The prize, a
silver medal, presented by Harry Lowe, was
awarded by the judges to V. O. Whitcomb.
Mr.. Whtcomb's exhibition Of skill In the man.
agement Of the bicycle was exceedingly inter-
esting and some OF the feats he performed we're
astonishing for an amateur. Some,fancy riding
was done with superior grace and ease by f.
A. Love- but Mr.. Whitcomb did several things
hitherto untried in this vicinity, and the honors
were very justly bestowed upon him. Immedi-
ately following this exhibition came the slow
race The regulations provided that the bicycle
should pursue straight course, that the ma
chimes should be kept continually in motion,
and that the last to pass the I" line" should re-
ceive the prize, a gold medal, offered by w. II.
Herrick. The following were the competitors
+. W. Sherburne Of Barre, Geo. E. Styles of
A. j. Locklin of Montpelier. Before half the
course was passed all but Lowe had either
tipped over or fallen out for some other reason,
and the medal wasatherefore won by that gen.
teman. The fast race was by far the most ex-
citing Of this portion of the days exercises.
The length of the course was some three rods
less than four-fifths Of mile. There were
eight entries. as follows: L. A. Dodge, E. F.
Wheelock L. A. Averl, F. w. Sherburne, Z.
A. Lowe, Geo. f. Styles, V. Q. Whitcomb and
A. j. Locklin. All participated in the first heat
When near the end Of the heat collision oc-
Cured between Dodge and Locklin, and though
neither was seriously injured, both withdrew
from the contest The heat was won by Lowe
| time, 433; Wheelock, second and Sherburne
| third. Styles withdrew, leaving only five con
| testants In the second heat, having passed
| three-fourths Of the course and when severa
| crossing and he took header" thereby los
| ing the heat. This heat was won by Wheelock
| time, 2,4S; Averill, second; and Sherburne
third. Though somewhat bruised by his fall
Lowe was on the track for the third heat
which he easily won in 242b, with Wheelocl
second, and Averill third. The first prize
$40 was awarded to Mr.. Lowe, the second, $40
| to Mr.. Wheelock, and the third, $5, to Mr.
| Averil. 1t will be seen from this record tina
| Mr.. loves victory was comparatively easy
one, as his time in the first and third heats wa
| much less than that of the winning rider in thu
riding, too, was apparently much less of al
| effort than that OF his rivals. Fifteen minute
were allowed for rest between the heats. Ii
only one instance we're the riders recalled TO
the start The mounted police were kept bus.
| with the crowd in the vicinity of the Capito
grounds till after the concert, and the specta
tors, until the fast race was begun, were il
charge of an efficient corps of foot police, Il
whom much credit is due for their successful
efforts to preserve order.
THE BALLOON ASCENSION.
Professor Grimley and his balloon were tn
great attractions of the day. Mr.. Grimley wa
busy during the week experimenting tn
arrangements for making the gas and film
the balloon, being determined that no effort o
his part should be spared to render the ascen
sion q success. By Thursday afternoon tw
large wooden tanks had been constructed Il
the rear Of the Union school building and file
with water by means of a hose laid from I
w. Bailey e. Co.'S mill. Friday morning re
port was circulated that the balloon was fat o.
the ground and that the whole thing would b
failure. Professor Grimley merely said tha
he would be ready, and he was as good as hi
word Before the bicycle race was over 1t wa
announced that everything was in readiness
and the eronauts were waiting for the crowd
At half-past five the hill and grounds abou
the school building presented a very animate
appearance, thousands OF spectators awaitn
with eager expectancy the beginning Of tn
8rial voyage. About fifteen minutes befOr
six. word was given to let 60 the ropes and tn
air-ship sailed away with the ease and grac
of a bird carrying besides Mr.. Grimley, Georg
! b. Walton and Charles A. Owler of this village
We will let Mr. Grimley tell the story Of tn
} trip in his own words: " In five minutes afte
leaving Montpelier we had assembled to a heigh
of five thousand feet above the sea- and cor
, tinued to rise at the rate of one thousand fee
per minute until the barometer registere
eleven thousand FIVE hundred feet, over tw
J miles The surface wind was very strong, bu
the upper currents much lighter The compas
showed that we were going nearly due north
and the cirrus clouds beneath us northwe
The clouds were moving twice as fast as tn
balloon, in consequence of being in differer
current, which was moving faster than that |
which the balloon was. The situation an
beauty of Montpelier can only be fully apprt
ciated when viewed from a balloon. Ever
house and building, the river, railroads, an
} every prominent object were in view all q
once. The crowd in the school ground, upo
the hill, and surrounding streets and houst
| tops was immense. The balloon ascended yer
, slowly at starting, owing to the strong wind
and considerable ballast had to be thrown ou
to get over the houses. We beg to apologize I
| those persons upon whom the sand descended
and especially to lady and gentleman In
carriage, who received more than fair shar
of It, We could not wait until they had tim
I to get out Of the way, but had to act quickly
! My companions, Mr. Charles A. Owler and M
G. B. Walton, had made up their minds ths
/ they would feel little nervous at starting bv
somehow they seemed TO forget all about 1t III
, til long afterwards, and then they decided
was too late, and that really there was nothing
' ha nervous abOut They were cOmpletely 10,