VICTORY LOAN MEETING MAY 5

Meeting Made Necessary Because of Non-Arrival of Whippet Tank, Which Became Stuck in Mud at Sharon

Hundreds of people who were looking forward eagerly to the visit of the whippet tank to Altamont last Sunday were greatly disappointed at its failure to appear. The non-arrival of the machine, which was scheduled to visit places in Schoharie county before coming here, is explained as follows in the Middleburgh Gazette of yesterday:

“Bad roads near Sharon Friday caused the big Mack truck which was carrying the tank to swerve into the ditch, causing an upset and injuring one of the men accompanying it. That is why the fighting machine did not reach Middleburgh Saturday, according to information received by local chairman Sullivan. It was not until Saturday that the machine could get out of the famous Schoharie county mud.

“The tank went back to Canajoharie and eliminated its visit to the places in this county.”

The local Victory Loan committee had planned to hold a mass meeting in connection with the visit of the tank to Altamont, at which they hoped to raise our quota of subscriptions: but it was a case of “no tank — no subscriptions.” For that reason the committee has arranged for a grand patriotic Victory Loan rally which will be held Monday evening at Masonic hall in Altamont at 8 o’clock.

ANOTHER BIG LOSS BY FIRE AT CLARKSVILLE

The village of Clarksville experienced another disastrous fire Monday afternoon, when Joslin hall and a garage owned by Gardner Wright were destroyed with contents at about six o’clock. The loss is estimated at $10,000. The fire started in the garage at the rear of the hall and there being no fire fighting apparatus, spread rapidly in spite of efforts of residents who fought valiantly with bucket brigades, bringing water from nearby wells. Augustus Ingraham, a blacksmith, suffered serious cuts on one of his hands while working in the burning buildings.

Joslin hall was owned by Elmer Josin, who conducted a feed and hardware business. The upper floor was used as a hall for public entertainments, well furnished and equipped. Mr. Joslin carried insurance of $2,500 on the hall and $1,000 on his stock, which will cover only part of the loss. Gardner Wright lost a new sedan automobile in the garage.

Last August seventeen buildings in the village were destroyed by fire, and soon after the subject of fire protection was agitated, but nothing was done toward securing adequate protection.

VILLAGE NOTES.

— Every one who is interested in baseball for the village of Altamont is urged to attend a meeting which will be held at the fair ground Saturday afternoon to see what can be done in the way of organizing a baseball team here. If the weather proves stormy, the meeting will be held at Enterprise hall Saturday evening. Baseball has been dead in Altamont for two years, and it is time that it was revived. Let every fan do his part and we will see baseball flourishing once more in our village.