Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 139, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1918 — REMINGTON RED CROSS SALE [ARTICLE]

REMINGTON RED CROSS SALE

GROSS SALES OVER $7,000.00, —NET SALE CLOSE TO $5,000.00. a . The Remington Press gives the following interesting account of the great Red Cross sale held in that wide awake town, Saturday, June 15th: They say that whenever Remington people start in to do a thing that it is always done right and especially is this true when the movement is one of public interest in which every mother’s son and daughter of us have it in our hearts to do the very best that is in us. Saturday was no exception to the rule, unless the exception was that it was exceedingly well done. Saturday was Red Cross Day in Remington when everything was for the interest of that association. The weather was all that could be desired and the crowd in attendance was equal to the weather. They came from all parts of this section in such numbers that the success of the day was assured long before the sale actually opened. Many articles had been brought* in during the, few days preceding Friday, but on that day they commenced to come in* right and the committee had about all it could do to receive, number, tag, and place to the credit of the proper township from whence it came. Gilboa township, Benton county people were in this sale up to their necks and the success of the day is largely accredited to their help and donations; therefore each article to be sold had to be numbered and listed so that credit could be properly given.

Numerous tents and booths had been prepared which contained refreshments and amusements . for the crowd, such as “Kill , the Kaiser” museum, wheel of fortunte, and various other devices calculated to act as a separator of men and money and from the crowds continually around these places they certainly performed that function to the queen’s taste. Bahler’s truck had been arranged for a selling stand and the various articles to be sold were lined along the street on both sides and the selling stand containing the five auctioneers, the clerk and treasurer was driven along by these, and the stuff offered for sale. There was an immense quantity of this and nearly the whole blessed day was needed to cry it off. A great many things did not bring much as in such cases the auctioneers did not have time to dwell on any one piece very long, but there were some really good things among the list and these brought good prices without any haggling. The pens for the hogs were arranged along the north side of Braner’s hitch barn and these were all filled. There was also a dozen or more crates full of poultry and any number of individual birds and in pairs in small boxes. These were knocked off to Bogan and Co. in a lump and brought a top price. The hogs sold as though people were hog hungry and many a small pig brought a price that was entirely surprising. Some calves and sheep were among the lot and these were sold at prices way up there. Old buggies, wagons, farm implements, load of wood, loads of hay, loads of corn, were also lined up this street and sold out .readily. Some canary birds were also among the livestock and brought fair prices. During the first part of the afternoon quite a bunch of cattle were sold at the stock yards and a per cent of the purchase price turned over to the Red Cross. Towards evening a number of horses were sold in the same manner, as were also several automobiles.

The one thing above all others that brought a big lot of money to the organization was one billy goat donated by Ed. Sutherland. This was beautifully decorated with red painted horns, red cross painted on each side, and a red tail. He made a very startling appearance. He was sold for two dollars and sold n.early two hundred times, finally being sold for a dollar and a half to the small Sutherland boy, who has quite an attachment for his nibs and wanted to keep him in the family. But he brought the Red Cross nearly S4OO and that is "considered an all-fired good price for even as highly decorated a billy goat as he was. Early in the. day the Camp Fire Girls under the leadership of Miss Little, and ably seconded by a number of other lassies began the work of “tagging” the people before their small change had been exhausted. They found a ready market for their wares and next to the billy goat probably (brought to the Red Cross the largest single piece of money of the day. They were on the job all day and if any one escaped their vision they were either out of town or shut up in a vault. Their work was very efficient and to the point, ahd the Red Cross organization should be very thankful to these girls and their assistants.

The Liberty Guards are also not to be missed in this writeup. They rendered valuable assistance all the day through in various ways and seemed to be on call wherever needed. It would have been hard, indeed, to have pulled off a stunt like this Saturday affair without their able assistance. The Gordon Players; who were here all last week, gave a Red Cross benefit performance Saturday afternoon which was well attended. The Red Cross ladies held a bazaar and market at the Hascall building and their wares sold at good prices. They also served dinner and supper at the M. E. church basement, and at the dinner there was

such a jam that many were unable to get in at all. As it was nearly an hour’s wait in line to get the eats at all, which were served in cafeteria style. But there was plenty when once a person got to them and they were very choice too. No one went away from that feed hungry, if they had the price—and they all seemed to have it. Supper hour was not so rushed as many had gone home. What was left after supper and after the hungry auctioneers had been filled up was sold at auction at the church, which was not over until after ten o’clock that night. Personally, we do not believe that there has been a stunt of this kind pulled off anywhere within fifty miles of Remington, which has come anywhere near (being such a howling success as was the one on Saturday. Good spirits and an earnest desire to be separated from their money seemed to be the ruling sentiments of the day, and when it was over every one was tired but perfectly satisfied to be so. The five auctioneers worked in relays, two or three at a time, and if there was anything one did not think of the others were sure to remember it. They had a hard day of it inspite of their numbers and to them more perhaps than to any others depended the success or failure to raise money for the Red Cross movement.

The gross total of the sale amounted to approximately $7,000.00 of which the following figures are an estimate only: Concessions, $425.00. Dinner and supper, $425.00. Tag girls, $250.00. Goat sale over $400.00. Contributions, cash, over SI,OOO. Among the large contributors to the cash donations were: State Bank, $250.00. Washburn Grain Co., SIOO.OO. Farmers Elevator, SIOO.OO C. B. Johnston & Son, SIOO.OO. It is requested that those who did not pay up on the goat sale will please' call at the bank and settle the same. The day’s net receipts cannot be had in time for this week’s publication, but from all appearances it will be a very gratifying result, and it is estimated at $5,000.00 clear. The auctioneers were: Williams and Kenyon, of Remington; Hawkins, of Fowler; Wright, of Wolcott, and Eastbum, of Brookston. W. C. Smalley, clerk. J. A. Washburn and F. L. Lough, cashiers. Will Geier and others rendered valuable assistance on the grounds.