St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-17
AFTER A CENTURY.
The Battle Of Bennington Re-
membered by the Sturdy
People Of Vermont.
A Bewildering Array Of
Arches and Electric Lights
on the Streets.
Miles Of Flags and Bunting
Wave a Welcome to the
City's Guests.
Gen. Stark's Famous Remark
Given a Conspicuous Place
Among the Notices.

BENNINGTON, VT, Aug. 16. When
the legislature last fall passed an act
providing for the ceremonies attending
upon the dedication of the Bennington
battle: monument and the celebration
of the admission into the Union of the
state, they probably realized in small
measure the great proportions which
the celebration would assume. To-day
Bennington is decked from its eastern
boundary to the old Bennington on the
hill, and is one complete wave of bunt-
ing and flags. Midway in this panor-
anna stands the triumphal arch, lighted
tonight with more than 200 electric
lights. The a1ch bears on its
eastern side the motto crop
the best legacy of VermOnt's first
century is her sons and daughters
1891" On the opposite side are the fol-
lowing: "1777-You see the red coats :;
they are ours or Mollie Stark sleeps a
widow tonight" being the historic
words uttered by Gen. Stark as he
rallied his men on to fight on the field
of Bennington. The other half of the
same side of the arch has these words:
Peace hath her victories; no less re-
noWned than war-199l." These are
the notices that were used on the arch
of 1877. This is living arch, and will
represent on both sides the thirteen
original states by young ladies in cos
tune. The arch is built to repre-
sent the stone of the monument
in coloring and generg >ppearance.
AS the president passes II this arch
in the great prOcessfGl ii Aug. 10 i"
choir of 200 voices viii .ng America,
"Hail Columbia" "Stof-Spangled Ban
ner," an Jlher patriotic songs. Pre-
pairing the great celebration, the
Vernon militia are now in camp
named 'Veriaont," III honor of the
finish OF the first
Century of Statehood.
Prominent guests of the state are ex-
pected to begin to arrive tomorrow.
Gov. Page and staff arrived this morn
ing and went into camp with the Yer
mont National guard. 1t IS expected
the states guests will number fully
1,500. Vermont has never seen celebra-
ton arranged upon such a grand and
magnificent scale. This celebration
events covering a century. The 10Th
of August, the anniversary of the bat
tie of Bennington. is TO the people of
South Vermont what the Fourth of
July is to the nation. For nearly fifty
years there has been more or less pre-
paratiOn for the building of suitable
monument, and the dedication of this
will take place this week. The first
organized effort was in 1858. The cost
of the monument and site has been
100000. Massachusetts contributed
$4,000; New Hampshire $500; the
national government $4,000 and Yer
mont $4,000. The balance has been
raised by private subscriptions. The
monument stands on a commanding
site 2S3 feet above the WallonSac river.
The foundation of the monument is the
solid rock Of the mountain, on the top
of which was situated the Bennington
of the Revolution. The structure is an
obelisk built of native stone and faced
with sandy hill dolomite. The height
from base to capstone is 301 feet. The
monument at the base is 81 feet inches
by 81 feet inches, running to point
at the top. The lookout room is 1SS feet
above the foundation, and is reached by
an iron staircase. From this lookout
IuC UdIGlCllCIu 10 pIolulJ NlolUlO; SOfOu
miles away. In front of this mOnu-
ment, commanding fine view of Mon
ument avenue and the old First church,
has been erected the grand stand,
where the dedication services will take
place.
Union memorial servi ces this after
noon were held at the Old First church
which had been profusely decorated
for the occasion with the flags of
all nations. A feature of the service
was the exhibition OF the sword
captured from Col. Baum at the battle
of Bennington. The memorial sermon
was by Rev. Severance, of the First
church, his subject being, "The Provi-
dence of God in History" The speaker
referred to the battle of Bennington as
being one of the seventeen decisive con-
flicts of the world.