The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-26
'TAND DAY WAS SOME DAY IN
 PUTNEY TOWN
Exclusive Story of Happen ings is Sent to Bridgeport
 Times-F Farmer.

How did they celebrate Tank Day in Putney? It was some affair Just read the story from our Putney core spondent, published just as he sent it to the editor of The Times-F Farmer.
 Special to The T1mes.)
 Stratford, April 26
 yesterday was TANK DAY in Stratford. Besides the wonderful performance of HflI-clim ping given at the Center before a large portion of the Towns-people, another TANK was detailed to the PUTNET District to give a Special Demonstration on the spacious grounds of the BOOTHE HOMESTEAD at PUTNEY GAR DENIS This Was ir recognition of the Patriotic interest taken by the BOOT1E family in the Liberty Loans ana Drives throughout the war The
 Messrs. BOOTHES have been most enthusiastic and generous in a quiet
 way in forwarding the activities of
 the war, either by subscribing or do-
 hating as occasion required.
 The TANK DEMONSTRATION was conducted by Lieut. HAYWARD or GENERAL PERSHING'S ARMY in France The Lieutenant proved to be a very courteous and obIiging officer of quiet and unostentatious ! signs given by him were sufficient to effect the unloading of the TANK by his corps of Veterans, from the mammOuth Motor truck upon which It was transported to the Grounds directed many times around the Plaza in front of the Historical Building and Museum maintained at private expense by the BOOTHE family on the OLD HOMESTEAD, and back again onto the truck The Demonstration showed quite clearly how Orders are given and | understood amid the uproar of ac- | tual battle.
 Lieut.. Hayward extended to MT Boothe the privilege of enjoying the | thrilling experience of riding in a real HUN destroyer during the ex- H1bition.
 After this demonstration of the most modern piece of War-machinery in the world, the Boothes entertained Lieutenant Hayward and his Corps, l by showing them q collection of prim- l itive weapons in their Museum | which was an old hand-forged Sword i carried by an ancestor through the | French and Indian War; a, double 1 barrel fInt-Iock shot gun with which l their forefaLners guarded their home | l A most Interesting weapon was
 n three -barreIled- -flint-locked pistol ! 90 constructed as to fire the THRE FEE | barrels simultaneously.
 Lieutenant Hayward thought that ' the LEWIS GUN had nothing on that 1 Another F'ire-arm worthy of note was a Rifle (and the only one of it's i kind) whose long steel barrel of 45 ! caIibre measures three inches in dia- meter.
 1 This ponderous Rifle requires one man at the stock to sight it and two | to hold up the muz5le.
 After the mutual exhibition, Lieu l tenant Hayward and his boys return
 ed to Bridgeport, taking with them
 a substantial subscription for the l Credit of the TANK beside the where ] with-au for a pocket-fuH of smokes
 for the Heroes.
 This affair was indeed unique, it
 being the Only private demonstrate
 of a Tanks Maneuvers given in
 America.
 l The Demonstration was planned primarily as a surprise for the Messrs. 1 Boothe and their mother, an elderly 1 lady of one of the oldest New England
 families, but it quickly drew a large | crowd including prominent officials ! of the town and county and represen- | tatives of several Of the local banks,
 beside a multitude from the passing autos which soon lined the road-sides
 as far as the eye could reach. As the | gathering broke up and the Tank roll 1 ed away down the long hill leading
 from the Boothe Homestead to the i Big City, the Chimes in the Historical 1 Tower struck up My Country, Iris | of Thee" producing an impression | long to be rem mem bered.'