The New York herald., 1869-03-20
RAID ON THE FLAG POLES.

RAID ON THE FLAG POLES.
~~c-,~~~~~~~~>~~~~~~~ IN t.
Ne Moro Banners % b Hang ssOn the Out-
ward WaIls's-Aisdlrecsed Zeal Of the Street
Csnmissisners-Dsisss Of the Crowbar
Brigade. -
The Street Commissioners have covered them
selves with glory. they have gained bloodess
triumph and captured banner poles II not nags, IN
numsrable, In gallant charge Of about four hours
duration. At eleven O'Clock yesterday morning
they marshalIed their. small but heroic band on
Broadway the OF White street. At that hour
the passing stranger, and any observing individual
who was not stranger, might have beheld at the
place designated magnificent chariot in the shape
Of a blue lumber wagon, which bore the ominous
name Jacobus'' In bold letters. Beside this appur
tenance or glorious war stood five men, one OF them
the superintendent Of Streets and the other four be-
longing to that badly paid and oully malignant class
OF city officials known street nspectors-a class OF
individuals whom 80 many citizens accuse OF doing
nothing and being spendidly paid for doing it. II
any OF the maligners OF these worthy officals had
beheld them as they stood by that blue chariot AZ
the corner Of White street for past unchar
liable remarks about them would have overwhelmed
the soul OF any but the most hardened
OF such traducers. True. the countenances
OF the heroes were not bronzed by the
burning sun or weather beaten with the bitter cold
and wet that some unsophistica ted individuals
may imagine to be incidental to the duties OF .
street inspector. They were q fat wellpreserved
party with that noble expression Of feature peculiar
TO SO many city officials, particularly to the men,
bers OF the Board OF Aldermen. Each face betrayed
the utmost resolution, and every rugged counte-
contest in which he was evidently about to engage.
In the cart Tor rather chario We're i've or SIX stall
u ers s be wa cbe 70
From time to time the whole band would cast their
eyes, with look half menacing half covetous along
CHANGING up Broadway, above the line marked by
the tops OF the lnnumerable vehicles that thronged
the thor91ghiare the spectator might behold very
some OF these fagstafls gay banners streamed In
the breeze, but the majority OF them had no ensign
hung out on this fatal occasion From the tops OF
the houses vast array OF tall nagstafs stretched
away far as the eye could reach. But it was at
outward walls,n that the heroic band at the cor
ner Of White street looked 80 omin0usy. The
te Of ne TEN or
warlike individuals in and around the blue war
chariot are about to attempt the capture OF every
OF those banner poles and banners that project
on Broadway between White and Thirty first streets.
The street commissioners have recently betrayed
spirit Of antiquarian inquiry worthy of Mr. Pick
wick and have discovered. says one of the wariike
band referred to IN o previous paragraph. an old
that no poes or signs Shall be-
allowed to project over the street. There are
two reasons at least why the street commits
soners should seize the opportunity Of enforcing this
enactment 1rst-hecause they can dispr0ye in the
face thousands and to the chagrin OF hundreds the
oirepeated statement that they display no zeal in
the Of their duties; and In the second
place they can prove their possession OF that aesthetic
ana beauty 90 have signs and sestas proeens
over broadway. That the banner poles in question
were an obstruction to business could not be pre-
tended, seeing that IN hardly any do they pro-
ect below the second story. The Commissioners
dered then, the enforcement Of the obsolete and OBJ
noxiols statute, and assembled their warriors Tor
| that purpose.
The order 10 march being given tpe blue chariot OF
ders and various Implements such as burglars use
when they would remove distractions that will not
| yield to gentle means. The banner poles were hung
out. Their owners had IN some cases been notified
TO remove them. but had refused to do so. alleging
that every mans house is his castle, ana that they
| would hang whatever they pleased out OF their win
| dows, their looks and tones indicating in many
cases that they would very much like to hang
their minions. The heroic party that accompanies
the blue cart believing that deeds not words beft
sS e 9asS
the frst banner pole. Up went the ladder, bang,
i bang went the hammer, and down came the OBJ
noxlous stan, which triumphantly placed in the
blue chariot amid the curses, mot loud but
that that ne E could ii hang I ont his own banner
/ in front Of his own house. Between Canal
brigade found considerable scope for the exhibition
of their peculiar Skill In many cases the complains
even the Courageous band with the blue chariot
kept at Day by the torrent or angry expostuia-
ton that assailed them Their hesitation however,
did not last long; the spirit OF 'gorlous war; soon
/ resumed its sway in their martial breasts; once
more up went the ladder and down came
| banner pole. Arrived at the Museum OF
| Anatomy projecting banner arrested the
| attention OF the Iynx-eyed skirmislers. That
physiognoniies OF the band that was about to scale
the walls OF the museum told the proprietor OF that
establishment that any appeal to their feelings would
t.a .ooyoc Thov ron moi m N
| my wax fggersn or daunted by the head OF
| Probst, the murderer. The museum was in a snort
warriors continued their captures. Arriving near
| Great Jones street another pole was seen
docrway' and to the pole was attached a small
| piece OF canvas informing the passcrs by that
an auction sale was going on there. Here was an
obstacle that suddenly arrests the career OF band
| who have marched in triumph for nearly me,
capturing every offending pole and sign that met
| their dauntess gaze. But this aucfIoneer's sign
| arrests for time their victorious career. The
chiefs were in doubt as to the wisdom Of numbering
each other .among the trophies allowed by the
orders from the potent street ComIiIssonersr,' ~ ,
Sonnc, ooK tnoorhn b%s having In little ir Reasoning a
power TO bring to their aid, concluded that prudence
was ssthe better part OF valor,'' and regre fully
passed on, leaving the auctioneer's pole aud sign
unscathed. The Pavilion. IN Broadway, next ar
rested their attention. but after some reflection they
discovered what any one else would have seen at a
gance--that the nag poles spranp from the roof Of
the building (which is Of one story and are there
fore. not OBNOXIOUS TO the statute Numerous cap
lures with repetition OF the angry scenes already
| detailed. were made between Eighth aud Twenty
second streets.
Having passed Twentieth street the band deserted
| what seemed 10 be very long and defiant pole
stretching from the corner OF rwenty-second street
| over Broadway. Here was trophy. The naggng
spirit Of the warike band at once rose to the war
pitch, and they marched In quick time to the spot
but as they neared It, 10 what looked much like
splendid nagstan turned out 70 be the projecting
| limb OF q large tree. whose trunk II had
been impossible previously to discern. AT No. las
| Broadway, near Twenty-seventh street, capture
| was made or the sign OF real estate agent, who
complained loudly OF the tyranny OF the "cr0wbaI
| brigadc.n Not satisfied with pulling down his sign
which was attached to the ratings In 'front.' OF his
ONCE, and did interfere In the least with the
rights Of any one nor with the appearance Of that