The morning call., 1890-07-04

had increased to twenty, and bill was in
troduced in Congress for a further modif-
cation Of the flag to suit the altered eondi-
tions. hot discussion ensued, and vari-
Gus designs were suggested only to be re-
jected, until it was finally decided to fix the
number of stripes at thirteen, and the stars
equal in number to the States. This act is
still in effect. Among the designs sug-
gested was one to have the stars and stripes
together equal to the number of States,
while another proposed to increase both as
the new States were admitted. One which
met with much favor, but was finally re-
Jected, was to adopt standard, distinct
from the flag, which should be hoiSted over
Congress and over all navy-yardS and ar
senas when visited by the President. II
was to De divided into four quarters, one
bearing stars equal in number to the States,
another thirteen stripes. another the Amer
lean eagle ana the fourth the Goddess OF
Liberty.
AN AWKWARD OMISSION.
An omission, however, was made which
has given rise to much confusion. No pro-
vision was made for the arrangement OF the
stars, and 1t is still impossible 10 state just
what the flag is. In some flags the stars are
arranged III parallel lines, while in others
they are grouped in one large star. The
former has been adopted by the army and
navy. This will probably be remedied
soon, and 10y far the most artistic design
proposed is one submitted by Charles
Niesse, of Hamburg, Berks County, Pa, to
President Harrison. His suggestion is to
arrange twelve of the stars i'll Il circle upon
the blue fed, and upon the circumference
OF this circle TO rest six points of five stars
each. In this arrangement the stars are
made to form one handsome star of six
points. MI. Mlesse's idea is that the CEN
tral circle shall represent the Territories
not yet admitted to the Union as States,
new star TO be placed in the field for each
new State as it shall be admitted.
GLANCE AT THE DESIGNER.
The first flag such as now in use, accord
ing TO the best authorities, was made by
Captain Samuel Chester Reid, who had the
honor and extreme pleasure OF administer
ing to the British the last tbraShing it was
theirs TO receive at the hands of our jolly
and matchless tars. He at that time COM
manded the brig General Armstrong. carry
Ing seven guns and crew OF ninety ofli-
GERS and men. On September 70. 1914. he
anchored in the neutral port of Fayal The
same afternoon three large English war
ships entered the port under command OF
Commodore Lloyd, and the latter when
night came on sought to capture the saucy
Yankee. In the battle that followed Com
modoTe Lloyd was seriously wounded and
lost 40 men killed and 100 wounded, or
nearly three times the number of the entire
crew under Captain Reds command. The
gallant Reid, finding escape impossible and
determined not to be captured, ordered the
gunner to point the Long Tom down the
man hatch and send three shots through
The bottom of his gallant little ship. The
crew escaped in their boats to the shore,
and the English TO show their spite set fire
to the General Armstrong as she was sink
ing. She went down, however. III a blaze OF
glory.
1his was the man who, at the request of
Congress, drew the plan and his wife made
ia flo. n wit hnr 10
to say that pay for making the flag was de-
clined.