The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-28

of wood, first hitting one side, then the
other, the ground receding and the sky
above every second growing nearer.
The sensation was rather peculiar, and
it was not long before conversation
seemed to droop, thinking held full
sway, and 1t is safe to assume that the
burden of each individual thought was !:
Where ould we be likely to bring up,
if these cables should suddenly break P
After travelling for what seemed to be a
period Of two hours, but in reality only
as many minutes, a shout was heard,
and looking up, a friendly hand was seen
stretched out to grasp the car and draw
it to the summit station platform.
Alighting on a bridge, the now not quite
so hilarious party were confronted with
25 foot ladder, which had 10 be scaled
before the apex was surmOunted. Gin
gerly they stepped 'aloft, and although
probably there was not one but what
was slightly nervous. they were not to
be beaten when within so short dis
lance of the terminus. Around the very
top extended the platform, and here,
30l feet and IL inches from terra frnld,
an informal, but not to be forgotten, re
ception was held. Each man in turn
rode the cap-stone. Then each one
stood upright without support on the
point and waved his hat to the vacant
air that surrounded all. North, east
south and, west the country could be
seen for miles. bennington and North
Bennington, like Lilliputian villages, lay
below us. The meadows and rivers
the railroads and trains, all seemed like
toy affairs Here and there the smoke
ofsome chimney circled upward, and
directly" beneath us stood the cannon
The smoke when the piece was fired
was plainly apparent but no sound was
heard for three seconds. thenithe report
came clear and distinct. The sight was
one long to be remembered, and as the
stagings are soon to be removed 1t is
not unlikely, that the experience will
never be repeated" ....-- ...,
ljF When the last "car load of passen,
gers had embarked at Station Stewart,
named in honor Of Tom. Stewart, IL
charge, and like their predecessors haC
scaled the ladder mentioned. composed
of Stats and scantling nailed together
and, in turn had stood aloft, as just de.
scribed, the derrick was again attached
to the cap-stone and it was raised TO be
laid IN cement. During the cementinl
process many Of those present threw
into it half aDd quarter dollars, aud 9th
er coin, and Done of the woTkmen were
mole active than Master Jack" Par
sons, with his little silver trowel, pro
cured especially for this occasion. Th'
cement being spread evenly and witt
care The csp-st)ne was lowe red, guided
To it's place by Architect Rim, Contrac
tor Ward, Superintendent Parsons (and
son "Jack'), and M j. Valentine and Fl
G.. Root of the Building Committee.
Just as the stone touched its place
spontaneously as it were, the doxology
was sung, all present j)ining in the no
very Inharmonious volume of tones-tht
wind Blowing u small hurricane. having
doubled its velocity since the platform
had been occl Li d:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly host,
Praise Father. Son, and Holy Ghost"
The bouquet of flowers, composed oil
Ca la lilies, Paris daisies, chrysanthums
geraniums, with green adornments, wal
delivered 10 its custodian Ito grace thu
banquet table Monday evening, spread
at the Centennial House, at which sal
down the superintendent, workmen and
invited guests.) The Masonic flag wal
also handed to the messenger who is tC
present it to Mt. Anthony Lodge as stat
ed above, the derrick was uncouple6
and the WORK, completed, stood ready fol-
the address and the benediction.
The surroundings. the, two immepst
United States fiigs flying from the TOT
/ u the staging poles overhead, wher'
they had floated during the day, all thes,
we're too much for pent-up patriotism Il
come down to earth az yet, so some ont
suggested America" and the tone
rang out in, the crisp autumn air again
in the song -
lt1N my country It's Of thee,
Sweet land Of liberty,
Office sing ;
Land where our fathers died.,
Land of the Pilgrims pride,
81 From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring"
Three cheers with tiger each time
for Our Country" oriSVermont, Mas
sacbuset's and New Hampshire (wh'
built this monument, for THE Associa
tion," the Building Committee" th,
Architect the ''GontractOr," the 'Su
perintendent," the workmen," AM
three cbeers t'for.e very body" ell giveI
with viii, following this song, an
swered BY gsYoung America at tn
base, i1adethe welkir ring as IL proba
bly, never will resound again, under llk
clrcum- tances. Carriages and teams il
the valley were seen to stop, wondering
what was the matter, and it is safe II
add that the extreme inclemency Of thu
climate, and danger, was for The tint
forgotten by % d America" at the apex
The Rev. NJ. L, Severance was intro
duced and spoke as follows:
ADDRESS, PRAYER AND BENEDICTIoN By
THE kEyfM L. SEVERANCE;
Gentlemen The occasion ia worthy
OF a lengthy and finished address; bu
the time of day and the circumstance
under which we are placed forbid any
extended remarks.
The work of our honored fathers
which this structure Is erected to COM
memorate, ia sufficiently recorded IL
history, and 1 leave tito history TO &C
quaint you with the facts.
We are thahkfui to-day for the victory
which our fathers achieved, and which
has given rise to this commemorative
shaft. We are thankful for the spirit o.
Loyalty and patriotism which prompted