The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-05
AN INSULT TO THE NATION.
Mormon Leaders Order the National Flag
lOisted at lIalfMast on independence Day.

SALT LAKE, July 4.-When the sun rose this
morning the national flag hung at half mast on
the City Hail. the county court house, the Deseret
News office. the Mormon Tabernacle, the Church
Tithing Office John Taylor's residence, the Nor
man Church Offices and the Salt Lake Theater.
That on the last-named building was put at full
mast as as w. Rossiter the present man
ager saw it, but those on the other buildings hung
limp and deiectedly against their masts. No one
could be found to explain the reason About
noon the committee composed of United States
Marshal Ireland, G. L, Haines, Major Wilkes,
and Captain Evans tine last two named ex con-
federates) went to the City Hall to find
out the reason. City Marshal Philips
said it was the result of personal whim The
committee demanded that the flag be raised to
full-mast which demand was met with refusal,
whereupon Captain Evans jumped up and start
ed out TO raise it himself. The door was shut
and locked by the policeman before he reached
it. All present including a dozen of police
officers, made a rush for Evans. Constable
Charles Grow raised his club to strike, and drew
his pistol, and the other officers reached for
their guns Quiet was restored by the United
States marshal, and the conference went OH.
The city officials said the Fourth of July was
day of mourning to them and this people
whose best men were in the peniter tary by virtue
of federal official action perversive of all princi-
plies Of law and liberty; that the flag over the
City Hall did not belong to any ring of socalled
loyal Americans, and intimated that any man
who undertook to disturb the flag at halfmast
would be shot. the officers and the
committee of citizens then went into the
street. where small crowd had gathered.
numbers of whom wanted to raise the flag at all
hazards, but they were warned by the police
not to attempt it on pain of being dropped In
private consultation with United States Mar
shall Ireland the city marshal consented either
to raise it to full mast or take it
down within thirty minutes In the
meantime Constable Crow had mustered IN
n small squad to clean the mob out" The city
marshal consulted with Mayor Sharp, who
attending asMormon priesthood meeting. In less
than thirty minutes the flag was run down amid
the jeers and sneers of the city officials
The G. A. Il. Post which celebrating
near the city, was informed of the difficulty,
and came in, after passing resolutions to run
the flags to their proper places. They met a
crowd Of angry citizens at the Walker House.
The crowd wanted to go and, by force, put the
flags where they belonged, but the counsel of
Governor Murray prevailed. Finally, com
mittee of five was sent to demand OF the
mayor that it should be done, and
few minutes later the flag at the City Hall
run up to the masthead. The citizens
committee made demand on Sheriff Groes6eck,
and hoisted the flag at the county courthouse
from half to full mast, without demurrer.
The flag on the cooperative store was also
run from half to full mast at about O'Clock
this evening, but the others hung out in
defiance till sun down, and are yet at
half mast All who are Immediately re-
sponsible for this reasonable piece of business
disclaim knowing anything about it, but it has
Nation at large and the government of Utah
came direct from the head OF the church.