The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-08-30
REPUBLICAN OUTRAGE.
The Republicans OfNOrth Carolina Dis.
grace Themselves by Destroying
Democratic Flag at BakersvilIe.

Democratic Flag at BAkefSVllle.
Bakersyille N. c., Democrat,
On Saturday last the Cleveland
Fowle Club, of Bakersville, attempted
to raise flag, the "Stars and Stripes"
the National Flag, and Banner with
the names of Cleveland and Fowle up
on the same, but were notified by re-
publicans that they would not be al
lowed to do so. The club had procur-
ed hickory pole which they proceed
ed to place in position with rope fas-
tened to the top, from which were sus-
pended the National Flag and the ban
ner bearing the names OF our candl-
dates for President and Governor, No
active opposition was offered to the
raising of the pole, although insults
and gibes were continuously hurled at
the democrats during the whole time
the pole was being raised, but it was
soon in position and the rope sustain
ing the flag and banner fastened to one
corner of the cupola Of the Court House
amidst much confusion. The excite
ment soon died out and all difficulty
seemed passed when several men, who
were terribly enraged, rode into town
and we're received by the encouraging
cheers of their friends, and then en-
sued one Of those terrible scenes which
beggar all description. Cries OF "down
with rebel flag" "we'll cut her down
or Gle in the attempt" and like cpl,
l thets were heard on every side, and
; for a long time it seemed that blood
{ shed must ensue. The Democrats
were calm but determined, and felt
called upon to defend their flag to the
g death, while the republicans seemed
t equally determined that the flag
: should come down. The masses
around the pole surged back and forth
in the excitement of the time. Tit
+ fact that it was the National ensign
g they we're seeking to destroy seemed
e to haye no weight with them, and, il
spite OF the protestations of the coole
headed republicans and their effort
n to suppress the instruction, the ex
i element increased until the scene o
!. the disaster became a perfect pande
monium. Cries of an axe to demolisl
the pole were frequent, and, in his ex
4 element, one man attempted to elm
+. the pole, but his failure to do so seem
# ed the turning point in the insured
6 ton. 1t was now becoming dark, an
W the republicans seemed TO mass thei
forces and q most reckless firing upo
the Flag Of our Union" and the Bar
! ner commenced which must have las
n ed from one to two minutes. Their
Y. must have been one hundred shot
10 fired at the flag and banner. TIL
~. next morning three bullet holes wei
,v easily seen in the "Stars and Stripes
the common flag OF every citizen
the United States-and five holes
the banner. This ended the onslaugl
VI for Saturday. On Sunday threats
W cutting down the flag came
AZ throughout the day accompanied /
III reports that men were arming to pu
ne down the "rebel flag" on Mondf
10 morning. Sunday passed withol
up other incident Monday morning +
IL vealed the fact that the rope attachC
10 the Court House had been cut al
the Banner cut into strings and left
lar the street, while the National Fla
'et and portion of the rope had BET
III taken away by parties at present Il
wv known, except to Him who knows {
no things, and to the one who did Il
'e' deed. Many reports, some ridiculo
las and some sensible ale afoat, but =
me have nothing to do with mere rumo
lie Monday morning soon the masses /
ap- gan again to assemble and the stree
were full Of people discussing t
events OF the previous Saturday, al
re- the disappearance of the flag. AbO
ck eleven o'clock company of about
for ty horsemen rode into town and aft
las parading the streets for an hour or tV
IN, they quietly withdrew to their hom
Oil With the exception Of two or thr
nd personal quarrels, no insult was off
to ed to any citizen of Bakersville, ar
to could one divest himself OF the thong
au- OF the business which brought the
to here, there could be no possible {
wn lection to the parade of Monday. '
to are one of those who believe that b
to the United States Commissioner
en- this District come out and told the
oters of the risk they ran in taking t
action they did, the disgraceful seer
ing of last Saturday would never ha
ort had to be chronicled ...
ef-
ted All in a Flutter.