The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-07-15
,t;rrod nm overv natriotic emotion in the

stirred up every patriotic emoaon IN the
breasts of our waking citi1ens--epery |
heart was filed with admiration for our
glorious institutions, and every pulse beat
high with conscious pridein the strength
and freedom of our country. The city
being thus aroused. preparations imme
diately commenced for general and con-
s,itutiona! celebration Of the anniversary
Of the memorable year OF rs.
The Star Spangled Banner-long may
she wave" was speedily run up on the
southeast corner Of the old packing
house No sooner did "the broad stripes
and bright stars" unfurl to the gentle
breezes, than another salute from the old
musket woke the morning echoes among
the hills and valleys, and the patriotic
spirit of the now thronging multitude
gave response in three rousing, ringing
cheers for the American Eagle and G,
Washington.
A procession was formed at precisely'6
O'Clock at the head of Marietta street,
with the band, old Billy Patterson and the
indispensable musket in front The
band, which had been organized for the
Morgan raid, consisted of pie pan, a
lineup and a dinner bell, struck up
brilliant military air, and the procession
moved on down Marietta street to the
mouth of Straight Fork alley. where the
line halted, and again the welkin rang
with three cheers, this time for the "Bon
ny Blue Flag and American 1ndepend-
ence." The procession then moved on
down'the alley to GAINESVILLE street, then
up the street and across to Sistersville
street where halt was again called
The band now struck up that National
air, yankee Doodle" and such was the
thrilling effect of the music, &c, that
many were seen to weep with pure patri-
otism. Another salute would have been
fred from the old musket at this point,
but the powder was all gone, and the
Journals wouldn't 60 off. 'Tis said that
then end there some enthusiast, in his
chagrin and madness, again struck Billy
Patterson, but it was mere rumor. The
Grafton being next in order, a silver.
tongued orator stepped up on the head OF
an empty salt barrel, and hegun, in stem
torian voice, discourse on the character
Of Julius Cesar and the decline and fall
of the Roman Empire, and was slowly
vending his way on toward the Declare
ton Of Independence, when an unlocked
for accident stopped him, and his oratior
was never finished. This unfortunate
circumstance is explained by the fact thai
when the orator turned toward the place
where the American flag was supposed
to be, to illustrate some grand and lofty
/ sentiment, the flag ,oas not there! Sol
emn thought The indignation Of thu
multitude was intense. The question
was not ..who struck Billy Patterson ?
but "who tore down the American flag ?
And the cry Of "shoot him on the spot
John A. Dix" ran like wildfre through
the crowd. But the man was not found
although the flag was. A gentle zephyl
had broken the flag staff, and the banner
was found among the weeds behind tht
packing house. The recovery Of the
standard was the signal for more cheers
a smile Of happiness was again soor
spread overy every countenance, aud the
.hroug too much fatigued with the excite
ment Of the past few hours to endure any
more oration, marched away to breakfast
serene and calm as June morning.
The further proceedings during the day
were no doubt equally as appropriate ant
soul stirring as were the exercises in tht
morning. But am unable to give then
in detail. Owing to peculiar foible o.
my informant, his memory is rendered st
vague and uncertain at times that it is
quite impossible to get clear statemen
Of facts out Of him. His memory was
very lucid until breakfast was called, and
after that he remembered nothing further
of the days proceedings.
Ihave since learned that he engaged il
a series of experiments to test the relative
strength of the lemonades at breakfast
and that he became 80 patriotic, and insis
ted so strongly on the question, "What'
the use of rep-i-nins2" that the Marsha
escorted him down to the old photo
graphic car, where he was still insisting
on the main question
"When
A big red chunk Of sandstone took him in th
abdomen
He Just smiled kind Of siokly smile and cur
ed upon the aoor,
And the subsequent proceedings interested hir
no more"