The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-10-03

GIVEN BOYS
OFF FOR WAR
Bennington's Sendoff to Sol
dier Sons
WENT TODAY TO AVER
WENT TODAY TO AVER
Several Thousand People Gathered
This Morning to Bid Fond Fare
we'll to Recruits.

Bennington people turned out in
good numbers this morning to bid
farewell to the second contigent Of
selected draft men for the national
army. With the experience gained
from the sendoff given the first con-
tingent that entrained here Septem-
Der 10, the arrangements were car
ried out little more smoothly than
on the first occasion. While the
crowd at the station was not so large,
1t was a representative demonstration
that reflected credit upon the COM
munity and those who had an active
part in the program.
Every day brings the war closer to
the people of Bennington, as of
course, is the case throughout the
country. AS the young men are call
ed to the service and leave their
homes the tragedy of the big world
crisis makes deeper impression up
on all, as plainly evidenced by the
fearful farewells this morning.
The county interest in the welfare
of the young men who are going into
the national army was shown by the
manner in which they have been sup
piled with the necessaries of camp
life. Each one of the contingent that
left today was supplied with pair
OF pajamas, a comfort kit and house
wife. The Bennington Red Cross out
fitted 23 of the men from this village
and the adjoining towns. The COM
fort lyifC nup rlxr
and will be of much service to the
men. The Red Cross in other towns
provided for the remainder OF the
contingent.
Bountiful lunches for each man
were furnished by the women OF the
village, who also distributed two box
es of cigars among the soldiers. A
highly appreciated luxury were the
neat boxes of home made candy pro.
vided by the Camp Fire girls.
There were So men in the contin.
gent, one more than required by the
call, as some Of the alternates ex-
pressed desire to go at this time in
stead of waiting for a later call. At
ter registering for the second time at
5 O'Clock yesterday afternoon, the men
had their time to themselves until the
final roll call this morning at the
soldiers home, where those from the
north county towns passed the night.
1t was generally expressed opinion
that the men who left today were a
more rugged lot than those who made
up the first contingent. The men
were larger and looked like the ma
terial out of which good soldiers will
be made
The parade formed at the home at
1880 and headed by the village police
and the Bennington city band and
with about thirty veterans of the
civil war and company A of the first
Vermont volunteer militia as escort
marched over North street to Main,
east over Main to Depot to the Rut-
land railroad station. Both sides of
North street were lined with people
and the area about the station was
thronged while the men entertained
Maj. l.. d. Taylor of the adjutant
generals Office, who took the first
contingent to Aver. was in charge of
the men. The men left on the regular
morning train over the Chatham di-
vision of the Rutland railroad for
Petersburgh Junction, where they
were shifted to the Boston & Maine.
The sendoff was in keeping with
the efficiency and spirit of service
that has characterized Bennington's at
titude in every department of war
work. Every one who had even the
smallest part in the work appeared
not willing, but eager to do his or her
part in the emergency.