The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-08-14
THE BENNINGTON BANNER, FRIDAY, AUGUST a. 1891.

Above the whole shines an arc of thirteen
stars, emblematical of the thirteen origi-
nal states, while in clear field springing
from the head of the eagle and flashing
| in the silvery majesty of dazzling cleo
trio glory appears the fourteenth star.
| AS this design stands clearly revealed, it
is suddenly surrounded by symphony
of golden glory whose cadences pulsate
to the steps with which the Green
Mountain State has kept pace with the
spirit of the 10Th century.
Preceding the fourth9 section of
this display, superb magnetic illumin-
alton will take place from an extended
arc of hanging prismatic lights. A line
of 800 feet in length producing a rainbow
of changeable colors of long duration
and magnificent effect, and as it expires,
star-sown bombs turn fthe darkness of
night into a parterre of more than royal
|. splendor, introducing the grand climax
Of the Centennial Celebration, ga His
torical Pageant" causing to live again in
the rich and vivid pictures of the pyro-
technic art, the interesting and heroic
scenes long Swallowed by the dim past.
On the canvas of night rise the green
hills and theforest primeval, while roll
ing down from the mountains, ripples
and laughs crystal stream; meander-
ing through the lowlands, and over its
waves glidesa canoe padded by an In
dian, whose war paint can be distinctly
seen as he drives his bark through the
foaming rapids. Then appears the tab
leau of Ethan Allen, as he stood with his
Green Mountain boys at the gates of the
citidel of TicOnIeroga.
There will be seen in motto MAY 10th,
1775," while the renowned warrior is
portrayed in that critical moment when
the Tory commander has demanded TBy
whose authority do you call upon me to
surrender2' Allen is raising his sword
as if to strike. while he replies in the
words of the accompanying legend, 'In
the name of the Great Jehovah and the
Continental Congress-"
The next scene enacted in the pageant
is taken from the authentic incidents of
the decisive Battle of Bennington, whose
influence in shaping the destinies of
America were so potent. A colossal
likeness of ''Parson Allen" the fighting
parson of the Revolution, rises to view.
He is in the Continental dress.
In the distance appears the Hessians,
The scene represented is the Parsons
famous appeal to the enemy to quietly
surrender and avoid bloodshed. For his
pains the man of God received a volley
of musketry, which so aroused his indig
nation that he fastened back to Gen.
Stark and Seth Warner and babe them
join battle at once.
Then appears ON the scene another
tableau, General Stark himself, in that
never-tO-be-forgotten event. The tow
ering form of the General points to the
distant foe, while with stentorian voice
he cries: 'Boys, there is your enemies,
the red coats, we must conquer them or
tonight Molly Stark sleeps widow"
The statue is a life-like representation,
while every eye will be able to read the
mammoth legend.
Then instantly follows the fierce can
nonading of the Battle of Bennington,
Aug. 10Th, It'll, of which Stark said in his
official report, ct was the hottest ever
saw" Then salvos on salvos of artillery
announce the victory and fen de joie of
bombs and rockets and photospheric
batteries fill the upper and lower ether
with their enumerable erubescent and
irridescent hues. Out of this serenely
shines facsimile, wrought by the pyro-
technic art the State seal of Vermont,
with the legend, Vermont, Freedom
and Unity"
The central attraction is flarked on
either side by an olio. dedicated to the
forests of the Green mountains, and ex-
tending, when in action, one hundred
and twenty-1ve feet right and left. and
setting the seal Of the commonwealth in
a halo of resplendent glory. Again ma
rooned bombs reverberate from hill to
hill, rockets burst in air, shells dissolve in
meteoric showers, and bouquets of
lovely tints, parachutes drift in the
starry radiance through the tranquil
spaces of upper air, and Roman and Gre
clan batteries make the earth fairy
bower and fittingly concludes the dedi-
cation of the Battle Monument and the
Centennial of Vermont's Statehood.
This grand finale consists of twelve
separate and distinct pieces, any one of
which would adorn the proudest festi-
val.