The evening world., 1890-02-26
van COLTS DISTRESS SIGNAL.
Flag Raised On the Post Office
with Union Jack Down.
Il Was an Accident, Say the Tired
and Worn Omcials.

The Stars and Stripes we're hoisted on
the flagstaff on the Federal Building con-
tanning the Post Office and United States
courts this morning.
It was upside down! A sign Of distress,
surrender or death!
People who measure everybody else by
q standard of their own say that New
York isn't patriotic. They say that her
patriotism was too slow and conservative
to get the Worlds Fair; that the Grant
Monument 10 unbuilt; that the money
does not flow rs freely as ii ought for the
Washington Memorial Arch.
That Liberty's Statue would still lie
with unlighted torch on the banks of Lib
erty Island but for The WoRLD's heroic
and successful efforts TO raise the 800, 900
necessary to build a pedestal for her to
stand on.
These people should have been in the
Federal Building this morning.
=" Rattle, rattle, rattle.
II was the telephone bell In the clerks
room of the Custodian's Office in the top
Aeiio! What is it asked Clerk
Hutcut mildly.
This is Telephone Central. Say !"
ON your aagl Who has captured us I?
Are the British in the harbor, or has there
been q revolution I"
Hufcut hung up the receiver, but was
called again q moment later.
Great Scott! Who's dead? Harrison
been assassinated? Your big flags mp
side down. and o military man says -
Hufcut hung up the receiver. The bell
ratified again.
What = fool hung up the starry
banner bottom upp Don't you know
Hufcut hung up the phone, so that the
bell could ring no more, and hurriedly
despatched q messenger TO the Office OF
Assistant Custodian vohn II. Grimes.
An EVENING WORLD reporter visited the
Federal Building bent ON CLEANING news.
What's the matter with the flag ?" he
asked Of the man in the elevator, whereat
the o~pen-faced holster laughed and adj
vised the scribe to inquire of the powers
that be. The old man who guards the
door to the Postmaster's room looked
solemn and said the Postmaster alone
was authorized to answer questions.
Postmaster VanCott was entertaining q
line OF callers in turn when the reporter
dropped in. He waved o finger ct the re-
porter as the latter approached, saying
"Mr. Postmaster. the beloved flag of q
"Chestnuts I've heard that abou,
forty times. I'm awfully sorry that the
accident happened, and II will not happen
again. It was only an accident, however.
"Oh. of course there was no intention
of expressing mourning at the loss of the
Worlds Fair. The flag was wrong only
about FIVE minutes. II was late. owing to
Al. g. oa ,atsAa "a ASar tka kaIav11na
by q dozen different people and 1t was
righted."
Deputy Postmaster Gilon. when asked
about it, replied: II have been in this
Office thirty-fve years, and the flag was
never inverted on our staff before.
venture to say that 1t will never occur
again. It was moi four minutes after II
was up before 1t was let down and righted.
We have been hearing from people about
Down in Johnny Grimes's Office his
one-handed clerk. Francis Ryan, was ap.
Now look O. here" he expostulated.
1--WE don't put the flag out on wet days.
but Il got damp yesterday and the colored
man hung 1t up that way to dry. 1t WASN'T
up SO more'n thirty seconds."
docs the flag dry better upside down
than when floating free and proudly IN
Ilo uiCcEO NASN "o "ASSAe AZ
porter. 49,.
MT: Ryan blushed and shrugged his
shoulders.
Did it get thoroughly dried out in
those thirty seconds? ""
Say. now, don't you give US such a
roast. Let q man on. demonstrated Mr.;
Ryan. 1.-The colored man who has had
charge of the flag for years. old AL
Wilkes, is sick with the grip, and Walter
Brown, q younger and less experienced
man, put i up to-day. He's frightened
What time did the flag &C up this
morning ?"
Just as soon as it cleared of. It was
about 10. %, " replied Mr.. Ryan.
II was exactly Till by The EVENING
WORLD electric clock when the inverted
flag Of our country was hauled down and
The reporter descended TO the Post
Office corridors. and approaching the
Park Row stamp window began, What
about the Stars and Stripes on -
six hundred and forty.one." replied
the dispenser Of postal adhesiyes, solemnly
and family, al he made a mark on a big
Around on the Broadway side the re-
porter repeated the question.
~ don't know anything about II, " re-
piled the man inside; A" but you follow
the procession that I've started upstairs
10 John Grimes's room. You'll nnd out
there"
The man who directs the uhinitiated on
the Post-Ofics floor showed signs OF
apoplexy. and the reporter considerably