The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-08-17
GREAT CAMBRIDGE FAIR
August 80, 81. September I, 2 and g.
Five Bio Days

tive Dig lays
When the gates were opened for the
Great Cambridge fair of 1908 one Of
the first sights that met the earliest
visitors was large tent in the enclo-
sure, across the face of which was
printed in large black letters-The
Air Ship is Here.
On Thursday of the week before the
fair a telegram was received from Mr.
Strobel stating that the ship would
leave Butler, Pa, by express at mid
night Friday and Saturday evenings
train dropped off an express car
which contained the complete appara-
tus. Early Monday morning a score
of workmen were at work erecting
the tent, installing the plant for man
ufacturing gas and doing the many
things wnich must be done for such
an undertaking. Pipes had already
been laid from the village water main
one third of mile away so that a
constant stream of water would be at
hand for making gas. Great casks
containing thousands of pounds of
iron filings and steel shayings. car
boys by the score containing Sulphur
c Acid were at hand, but while the
getting ready involved a lot of work
yet soon after noon on Monday Mr..
Strobel reported ready for the trial
flight as per contract. The Fair Man
ayers were all ready and waiting
with bated breath; the ship was
brought from the tent out into the
open, the navigator took his position
testing the delicate engine and when
the word was given the moving of a
lever set the machinery in motion.
The great nose was pointed upward
and the ship sailed away like some
huge bird. During the next few min
utes business was at standstill;
gatemen took tickets without looking
at them; exhibitors forgot their ex-
hibits. even the genial secretary so
far forgot himself as to stop work and
turn his face skyward and the side
show barker varied the monotony of
his vocation by crying See the air
snip" Just at this time passenger
train which had stopped at the gates
nearly lost its load; some one had
seen the ship from the window and
when the conductor stepped to the
platform the passengers all crowded
behind him; every face was turned
upward; the call "all aboard" repeat
ed several times attracted no atten-
ton and when tne conductor having
in mind the Importance of being on
time waved to the engineer there was
no response for the engineer was at
his post of duty with his hand on the
lever, but his eyes, on the air ship.
Probably no man, woman or child
on the train or on the fair grounds
nad ever seen an air ship before, but
while the manager reported the flight
as one of the best he had ever made,
yet il was no better than was made
twice on every other day of the fair
AS a special attraction the air ship
was a decided success for it drew an
immense crowd and pleased every
body; even those who saw it every
day were as much interested in the
last as i'm the first flight. Some years
ago the fair management established
the precedent of re-engaging special
attractions which prove unusually
good. The Alabama Troupadours
were repeated; next the Diving Hor-
ses were here twice and in each case
the attendance was even larged on
the second year than on the first II
was not the intention to repeat the
air ship on account of tne heavy cost
but the act was so satisfactory and
pleasing TO all, and navigation of the
air is so much in the public mind at
the present time that another engage
ment has been made for this year.
The ship will be an entirely new one
larger than that of last year with up
to-date machinery and the very lat
est thing in the air ship line. When
the Cambridge fair repeats an act il
is a good evidence of its value but
when they repeat an act that actually
cost them $4,000 in cash you may de-
pend that it is worth spending time
and money to see.
You cannot afford to miss seeing the
Air Ship this year. it is the very lat
est thing. Nearly every government
in the world is spending money to in
the same. Every daily pa
per and every magazine is devoting
space to show its progress and 1t is as
near success today as the automobile
was a dozen years ago. Without
doubt in the wars of the future the
air ship will play as prominent
part as the battle shops and not only
in war but in peace they promise to
be the worlds next great achievement
An agricultural fair is intended as
an educational institution as well as
a place to meet your friends and have
a good time It is not often that
special attraction can be called edu
cational but the air ship is an eXcep-
ton. The Cambridge Fair manage
ment is doing only its duty in bring
ing II before the people and the PEG
pie will be doing a most pleasant du-
ty by their patronage of the fair.