The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-08-17
THUNDERSTORM
BROWNS OUT
ANNUALP PICNIC
Biggest Crowd in Years Was
in Attendance
SULlIVAN'S ADDRESS
Former Worlds Champion Pugilst
Tells of His Long and Spectacular
Fight with John Barleycorn.

A series of heavy thunder storms
early Thursday afternoon disrupted
what had started out to be the most
entertaining and successful Benning-
ton battle anniversary picnic and
field day in the history of the local
Father Mathew Temperance and Ben
nevolent society
The event, the 39th of its kind in
the history of the society, had been
planned with more than usual care
and the extra features, the presence
of John l.. Sullivan, former worlds
heavyweight champion boxer and the
Bennington county boys of the first
Vermont regiment, drew one of the
largest crowds ever gathered at
Hunts upper grove.
People began to gather at the
grove early in the afternoon and
shortly after 2 o'clock the soldiers
and Mr.. Sullivan, escorted by the
Bennington city band, arrived on the
grounds. Hurley's orchestra was on
hand early for dancing at the open
air pavilion and furnished excellent
music for several figures before the
platform was cleared for the address
by Mr.. Sullivan. During the speech
of the former worlds champion
clouds began to obscure the sun and
as he concluded the rain drops began
to patter on the leaves of the ma
pies. People began to hurry from the
ground, but many of them waited too
long before leaving and were drench.
ed to the skin. The storm was one
of the most severe of the present
summer.
Mr., Sullivan was introduced by VIII
| liam j. LOnergan, one of the officers
of the Temperance society, In a few
| well chosen words The great boxer
was given round of applause when
| he arose to address the crowd and
his remarks were frequently interrupt
ed by shouts of approval from his au
| diencc.
| Mr.. Sullivan spoke slowly and de
| liberately and his voice carried to all
parts of the grove. In opening his
remarks he referred to the part taker
| by Bennington in the nations first
war and made an appeal for a united
front in the struggle in which the
country is now engaged The war IN
Europe, he said. must be brought tC
a close by the United States and tn,
boys who were going across the wateI
from this country had the punch
to end il.
The main theme of Mr.. Sullivan,
address was devoted to the subjec
of Temperance and was largely a re
cital of his own experience. In tn,
beginning he said that. although h,
had not used Intoxicating liquor TO
lS years, he was not believer in pre-
hibition which did not and never ha,
prohibited. He did believe. however
that his own experience had demon
'strated that drink never did anyon
any good, only injury. He had bee
the heavyweight champion of tn
world, he said, but John Barleycor
was the champion of all classes read
to meet all comers and had never me
defeat. when | was knocked on
by Charlie MITCHELL said Mr.. Sull
van, "it was not Mitchell, who pr
me out, but my second adversary
the ring" He has spent millio
dollars, he said in the fight wit
John Barleycorn and he couldn't sc
wherein his opponent wasn't Just q
I, able as ever to battle with those VII
opposed him.
The speaker made an urgent plea
the young men of his audience, WI
drank to quit the practice for the
own benefit and the benefit of the
families. Drink, he said, robb,
otherwise well-meaning young m,
y of their self respect, their honor al
4 the respect of their friends. MIR. ST
i livan closed with recital of sever
a funny stories obtained during one
:, his visits in ireland.