Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-09-08
LABOR DAY CROWD
NOT FAR FROM 5000
Belated Sunshine Turns Defeat
Into Victory for Legion
Decorated Automobile Parade Restricted
-Throng at Mardi Gras in Evening
Dimes Given Automobile.

Dimes Given Automobile.
Defeat was turned into victory about
noon Monday when the warm rays of
the sun pierced through the heavy clouds
that provided downpOur of rain on
Brattleboro all through the morning, and
what seemed like sure failure to the pro-
gram of BrattlebOro Post, American
Legion. gave way to n success that al
most paralleled the achievement won by
the post on Labor day last year.
The storm was unusually dilatory in
making up its mind and its deliberation
resulted in n decision by the general
committee to proceed with the parade
regardless of the rain and soon word
was passed along to those who had
gathered on Main street that the parade
would be held at II o'clock and the ac-
tivities brought to fruition rs far as
possible. SO at 11.20 the parade
started and led the way to the fair
grounds. Soon afterwards the storm
ceased and from then on things began to
move lively, people began to arrive ON
the grounds until by 2 in the afternoon
nearly 5000 persons were present TO see
what proved to be one of the most sue
cessful events of its kind ever held in
this section.
As the days program had to be staged
in the six hours between noon and 6 at
night things were in full swing every
minute. An endless procession of pedes
TRANS and automobiles soon was enter
ing the fair ground gates concession
aires lost no time in preparing their
stands the track, which at noon could
easily have gone on record as the wet
test in New England. soon bowed to the
warming influence of the sun and with
the aid of the motor brushdrag, was
soon in condition for the horses and the
creased pigs; the grandstand became
spotted with humanity; bags of we'll
butt prp1 shortly Omui-
present: everywhere the frowns and de-
preston gave way to smiles and happi-
ness and everybody settled down and
joined together in making and having
n real. successful outdoor holiday. Not
until the sun had gone below the horizon
did the merriment at the fair grounds
cease, and then the cessation was only
of short duration, for at o'clock the
festivities on Main street started and in
short time Il veritpble COney Island
mardi gras took place, continuing two
hours. ending in the popular dance at
o'clock. During the intermission the
long-awated announcement regarding
the Ford automobile was given out, the
winner being Leslie w. Dimes of sc
Clark street. Mr.. Dimes is bookkeeper
for the Hooker. Corser & Mitchell Co..
number was 2G13. In addition to the
Ford, Mr.. Dimes also won a prize Of
S25 which was given by the Legion to
the man who sold the winning Ford
ticket. Mr.. Dimes sold several tickets
for the Legion and number 2613 was one
that he sold to himself.
Tie heavy downpour of rain prevented
what otherwise would have proven one
of the best parades of its kind ever held
in Brattleboro. AS it was, it proved
creditable and showed the courage OF !
the general committee and those who |
To-, t,ih tin,, or mt
to the celebration.
BY 40 o'clock in the afternoon.
an audience of over 1000 was on the
grounds and it kept increasing every
minute. The crowd was divided into
three sections, the ball game being the
center attraction for great number of
fans. the horse racing and events on the
track forming another nucleus. and the
remaining number grouped around the
various barkers and concesslonaires on
the midway.
The program called for q creased pig
chase at 3 o'clock. and the crowd had
double for its money as two pigs were
released during the afternoon. The first
porker was released on the track at
800. but he had no chance at all. y
crowd of 80 boys, men and clowns were
soon at his hoofs, and after a few
turns, grunts and squeals, he was caught
and pinned TO the ground. The chase
was wen by Harvey Martell, who was
the rube in the parade. Martell dis
tnguishcd himself again an hour later
when another creased pig was released
to the multitude. This porker was $50
pounds heavy and it was some little
time before thumbs were turned down.
The hog was brought on the track in a
truck. n runway was let down in back
md Mr.. Hog urged to go down. He
was reluctant at first, but gentle and
firm shove with the toe end of a boot
helped him to decide
Early in the afternoon some anus
ing novelty athletic stunts We're run off
on the track under the direction of +
X. Brown of Community Service. a BIZ
cycle tire rolling contest was won by
Robert Hildreth of IIinsdale, n. II. :
I'd, Roland Brown; 3D. Edward Robin
son. a wild wave obstacle race came
next, won by Lyle Amsden of South
Vernon; I'd, Robert Hildreth Sd, Ray
Watson. The contestants had to crawl
under n blanket and then go through
-four sacks that were not entirely free
from their original contents. An auto
mobile tre-rollng contest was won by
Gordon Buffum of East Mortified
Mass. I'd, Lawrence Brown; Sd, Lyle
Amsden. A second wild wave obstacle
race was won by Kenneth Longueil
I'd. Stanley Martin; Sd, Gordon Bnffum
Shortly after o'clock. people began
leaving the grounds in order to have sup
per over by the time the festivities or
Main street started. The evening enter
tainmcnt opened with a band concert
on the Brooks House balcony, whict
also gave concert in the morning dur
ing the rain storm. The street wa'
crowded with people who were throwinl
confetti and paper strings, of whicl
there was a great supply. Legionaire'
went through the crowd with large has
kets of confetti cones and these were
scooped up rapidly by the gay throng
The theory that energy is indestructibl
was we'll illustrated by Il little shave
who apparently was without funds t.
buy confetti but had just as much AM
even more to throw about because h
scraped up several piles from the lit
tered sidewalks. The gaiety kept VI
until o o'clock when the dance started il
Festival hall During the Main stree
pandemonium several chickens wer
thrown from second story window
but the hens had no chance at all. Tn
martyrs thrown to the hungry lions il
the arena in ancient times had bet
ter chance of escaping. A quick descen
to the mob a flying of feathers, fey