The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-08-19
THE SIXTEENTH OF AUGUST.
BENNINGTON CELEBRATEs.
Not u Formal Celebration, but an Elect
Sarfaa of Ewarcfaaa

Series OF Exercises.
The celebrations advertised came off
as anticipated Thursday. The day
opened fair and cool and at an early
hour the streets were full of people. A
large number of passengers came in on
the early trains, and from the surround
ing towns whole families drove in in
private carriages to pass the day in Ben
nington, as has. been the custom for
many years.
THE s. A. r.
The outgoing early train took the Ben
nington delegation to Burlington to at
tend the annual meeting, an account of
which appears elsewhere.
THE METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Methodist children and their
teachers gathered at the church early,
and between and o'clock loaded into
teams and started for Thompson's grove,
situated about two miles north of the
village. These proceedings were watched
with interest by large number of peo-
pie. We understand that the day was
pleasantly spent and the happy faces
that returned in the early evening bore
record to the enjoyment afforded by the
outing.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The annual parade of the department
and inspection took place at 8 o'clock.
The whole department, each company
with its apparatus, formed procession
at the Hook and Ladder house, East
Main street, in the following order:
Platoon Of Police
Bennington City Band, % pieces, R. o. Gold
smith, leader.
Chief Engineer Frank NJ Tiffany, Assistants G
W. II. Bradford Hook and Ladder Company,
No. l, % men, IL. 2. Woodman, foreman.
Stark Hose. No. 1, Is men,. c. F. Van Week,
foreman.
Tiffany Hose, No. 2. 2Omen, Geo. Jepson, foreman
Putnam Hose, No. g. % men, M. j. Guiltinan.
foreman.
Stark steamer, drawn by horses, George Har-
wood, engineer.
The Putnams wore their new uniforms
of blue and gold, with a button hole
bouquet on the left lapel of their frock
coats. The line of march was down
Main to Depot street, thence to River,
up River to North; then to Pleasant and
to the Stark Hose house where the pa
rade was dismissed. The alarm was
rung, as advertised, from box 45. and the
hustling made to reach the corner
was an inspiring spectacle. In just five
minutes from the time the alarm was
pulled in the Companies were on the
ground, the Hooks had raised a ladder
to the top of Ayres's building, and line
of hose was laid to that point ready to
work. Will some other department
show better record taking distance in
to account.
THE F. NJ. 7. A. b. SOCIETY.
At 11.30 o'clock the Father Matthew
cadets of North Adams, Mass, Al men,
arrived on the regular train. They were
commanded by Capt. Patrick Mcmahon.
They were met at the depot by the Faith
er Matthew Committee accompanied by
the band and escorted to their quarters,
marching through the principal streets.
Their marching was first-class and the
different movements executed by them
were heartily applauded by the crowds.
In the evening they gave an exhibition
drill in Library hall which was witnessed
by large number.
The principal attraction of the day
was the 14th annual picnic of the Father
Matthew T. A. B. society. 1t was held
in the upper grove of the Soldiers Home
and was attended by over 5000 people.
In point of numbers this picnic was one
of the largest ever held here and in fact
probably in the State. People from out
of town remarked the orde.ly conduct
and the fine arrangements made and car
ried out. We think the Father Matthew
"boys'' deserving of the high compli-
ments paid them. At the grove there
was an exhibition drill by the Benning-
ton rifles; a running race of 100 yards
for purse of $40 to the winner and So
to the second. For this there were
seven entries. The race was easily won
by William Daley of North Adams,
Mass, William Hynes from the same
place getting second money. There was
a large platform on which those who
wished could dance, and refreshment
tables, etc. The ladies served the eata-
bles in their usual pleasant manner.
The picnic closed with balloon as
cension by Prof. J. LaRoux. During
the ascension ne did various feats in the
air on a trapeze, and at dizzy height
dropped down from the balloon, landing
safely, after being up ten minutes and
was back on the ground soon after he
touched ground over towards the
second voyage in his new air ship. The
balloon was found near Camp Comfort.
The exercises of the day closed with
dance in Library hall, and the proceeds
were $3.50. The society wish in this
connection to extend thanks to the la
dies who assisted, to the citizens who
patronized them and to all who contrib
uted to make the affair an unqualified
success.
The local Father Matthew society is
the only one in Vermont. Its pledge of
total abstinence is iron-clad-not even
sweet cider being allowed. The men,
bers can have nothing whatever to do
with Intoxicating liquors. The society
was organized in November, 1878, and
NJ. j. WEIGH was the principal mover in
the enterprise. Mr.. WEIGH was a total
abstainer and is so still. He was sec
onded in the movement by number of
young men, largely workmen in our
mills. December 18th, 1878, the Father
Matthew To'al Abstinence Society was
organized as detached branch No. 52S of
the American Catholic Temperance
union, with 26 members. The original |
charter of the society now hangs in its
reception room, on it being picture of |
Rev. Theobald Matthew, founder of the |
order which now bears his name, Rev. |
James Cleary, then President of the A.
G. Temperance union, and Rev. H. r. |
an ex-President of the |
same.
The charter came from Rome, is dated |
January 10th, 1879, and is signed by Car
dinal Carafa de Tralto per D. Jacobine,
sub. Two of the principal aims of the
union are abstinence and berevolence.
OF the 20 original members only three |
now belong to it and they live here.