St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-09-11
FISH AND GAME LEAGUE
BANQUET.
A Notable Occasion with a Tragic
Ending.

A Notable Occasion with Tragic
Ending.
President Titcomb may well feel ex-
tremely happy over the midsummer
meeting of this notable organization,
which was held at the home of Lieut.
Gov. Fisk at Isle La Motto last Friday.
1t was the largest gathering the league
ever held, nearly 1000 sitting down to
tables in the big tent. DR.. Webb's pala-
tial steam yacht, the Elfrida, brought
the invited guests across the lake in the
forenoon and early in the afternoon the
Chateaugay arrived with about 700
guests. Dinner was served by the Ladies
Aid society of the island and the interest
of the occasion was all centred in the
vice president OF the United States, who
was the most distinguished guest OF the
league. When President Titcomb and
Vice President Roosevelt entered the tent
it was the signal for wild outburst of
applause, which the hero OF San Juan
hill gracefully acknow ledged. Then turn
ing to the press table where 25 members
OF the fraternity sat in outing costume,
Mr.. Roosevelt said, members of the
press wish l could wear a shirt waist
with you" This trite reference to the
extreme heat was we'll received and was
only one Of the bright bits of table talk
that fell from Mr.. Roosevelt's lips.
Seated at the head table were the
speakers and number of distinguished
Vermonters, including Bishop Michaud,
Gen. W. w. Grout, Hon. Carroll 5. Page,
Gen. !. G. Mccullough, Hon. John Bar
rett, ex-ninister to Siam, and Others.
President Titcomb welcomed the mem
bers and guests in graceful little speech
and emphasized the necessity OF having a
public sentiment that would see that our
laws were enforced. He then introduced
Congressman Foster, who made
splendid POSTMASTER and had merited
tribute to each speaker as he was intro
duced.
Judge Charles H. Darling of Benning-
ton was the first speaker and he was
followed by Raymond U. Smith of Wells
River, who, next to the vice president,
make the finest speech of the day and the
most finished and eloquent address of
luC ON(dSIOns WluOIOA Shul(AIll1 LhS
author OF The Crisis" received tre-
mendous ovation and was well received.
He entertained the audience with several
good stories and closed with a tribute to
Senator Proctor, who, he said was the
youngest man there. Senator Proctor
followed with good story on Congress
man Foster. The address of jeremiah
Curtin, the translator of Quo Vadis,"
was almost entirely an eulogy upon the
vice. president and closed with a tribute
to Vermont and its sturdy citizens.
Vice President Roosevelt was the last
speaker and received prolonged applause
as he rose to speak. He spoke for Is or
20 minutes in chatty manner and re-
lated number of interesting experiences
of ranch life and municipal life while he
was police commissioner. Before he clos
ed he paid splendid tribute to Senator
Proctor. The last part of his address
was fine plea for the spread of the Cos
pei of work and also of outdoor sports
and the preservation Of fish and game
and our forests.
The St. Adams glee club rendered three
selections during the dinner, the last be
ing a welcome to the vice-president and
composed by Stephen Royce of the club.
1t was sung to the tune of "There'll be a
hot time" and greatly touched the vice
president.
After the banquet it was planned to
give the vice president an informal re-
ception on the lawn. Just as this was
about to be given the most dramatic in
cident OF the year occurred. In the hear
ing of the vice-presdent and to the 1000
or more people assembled, Senator Proc,
tor announced that the President had
been shot. The news cast a gloom on
the vast assembly and the people hasten
ed to the Chateaugay and the return trip
to Burlington was made quietly and in
profound sorrow.
St. Johnsbury was represented at this
notable gathering by the folio owing gen
tlemen Harry Blodgett, George Fl
Cross, George W. Cree, DIR. E. w. Hitch
cock, T. Nd. Howard, George Ranney
Charles W. Ruiter, A. B. Noyes, Arthur
F. Stone, DR.. T. r. Stiles, E. M. TAFT
President 7. w. Titcomb.