New-York tribune., 1904-10-02
FAT MEMS CLUB Has FUN.
The annual Dinner at Lake Com
pOunce, Connecticut


Hartford, Conn. Oct. 1-Once each year there
is a heavy day ~ Lake Compounce- That is
when the Fat Mems Club Of Connecticut holds
its yearly dinner there From years end 10
years end this beautiful lake which lies like
a saucer between the hills about, IS placid
as a mirror, except for one day. That dag is
when the Fat Mems Club Of Connecticut goes
in bathing. Then there is tidal wave Ac-
conpanying this tidal wave there are often
rumblngs which suggest earthquakes 10 The
natives. but the rumblings are the combined
laughs OF the tons Of avoirdupois Of the Fat
Mems Club enjoying the Jokes told around The
festive board Of baked sheep and fried corn
The great yearly feast OF the Fat Mems Club
Of Connecticut was held the other day. and the
folks around Lake Compounce are not yet
through talking about It. for it surpassed any
Of the five preceding banquets in point Of num-
bers present and IN point OF aggregate weight
There were ninety-four who paid 81 each for
the privilege OF sitting down TO the sheep bake
and fried corn feast Figured up by the official
geigher OF the hefty organization, who is
Thomas Scott an undertaken. the combined
weight Of the banqueters said 70 be D..
800 pounds, averaging the weight 10 4 man AZ
go pounds, though the heaviest tipped the
scales at 3s4 pounds, and the hghtest II 2Oo
pounds. Not man under 200 pounds could
buy a seat - the table Of heavyweights Some
tried to work their way in 10 the festive board
by smuggling weights in their pockets. When
this was discovered an Official searcher was ap-
pointed in the person Of W Il. NoOnan, OF
Springfield, Mass. and that ended the trick
At the entrance to the banquet board a scale
was set and the marker was placed at the 200
point As each man passed through TO the table
he stepped on the scale and Il the beam tipped
he was allowed to pass on. The unfortunates
to sit on the hotel veranda and breathe the
delicious odor Of baked sheep and the other
delicacies provided for the feast
The members Of the Fat Mems Club believe
IN comfort so the cut Of their clothes is not al
ways according 10 the rules laid down in the
books of the tailors. Comfort" says Dan"
Wadsworth who is the sage Of the Fatiles,
els the chief end Of life. Be comfortable"
The "Fatties" began 10 arrive at the lake
about II O'Clock in the morning. Some came
on trolley cars and many arrived in vehicles
built specially for the loads they were intended
TO carry. The springs on the wagons creaked
and bent with the weight they carried. and the
blacksmiths round about had plenty TO DO to
repair the wagons when the great men had re-
turned from their annual-feast.
BY reason Of experience the games and sports
of the fat men are held before the dinner. The
reason for this is obvious The 1OO-yard dash
which has as much right TO be called a dash
as q freight train has 10 be called the Empire
State express-always affords great sport only
those in Class A-which includes those weigh
ing over 800 pounds-are eligible This year
James safey, Daniel Wadsworth and Thomas
Scott OF Hartford, were the only entries in the
lOO-yard dash There were l,l2O pounds in
three human packages 10 dash over the green
grass for 100 yards 10 win blue ribbon. When
C. E Beers Of Terryville. who was starter.
clapped his hands as the signal TO start, Dan
Wadsworth. who was trying TO get start from
a bent over position, ike professional sprinter.
slipped and fel his rotundity and i'm
rlediately began to strike out with his hands
and kick with his feet like . swimmer His
slip settled his goose for winning the race