Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-09-24
A RARE FLAG.
The Colors Of the Bay State Produced
After Much Searching.


Those who scanned Commodore Gerry's
handsome steam yacht, the Electra, to ad-
mire her beautiful appearance, could not
fail to have noticed that a white flag bear
ing the state coat of arms moved in the
breeze at the foretopmast head.
That signified that his excellency Gov
ernor Russell was on board the flagship.
The flag, however, is one that but few
have seen. Commodore Gerry, who has
about everything nautical and otherwise
upon his wonderful craft, did not have a
Massachusetts, flag
Thereby hangs tale.
According to yachting etiquette, as de-
termined by the gallant commodore, the
state colors should occupy the position of
honor aloft. The trouble was where to
find such flag.
1t was not considered a difficult thing to
find one, and Commodore Gerry dispatched
Mr.. Ronolds, his aid, to Boston on the
mission to secure one Monday. That
gentleman visited the various yacht out
fitting and flagmakers' stores where such
things might be found, but with no sue
cess. No one had such flag or knew
where one could be obtained.
In perplexity Mr. Ronolds reported his
i'll success to the commodore. That dis
tinguished yachtsman, who is great
stickler for perfect form, determined that
one must be secured at the expenditure of
any amount of cost and trouble. He even
went SO far as to devote his personal at
tention to the matter.
He sent his aid to the city again, and
that gentleman in the progress of his
search came across Governor Russell. He
explained what he was after. He had
previously ascertained that it would take
two days to make a flag. The governor
and the semifiag officer put their two
heads together am, thOurht
Wasn't there state flag somewhere in
the whole commonwealth? was the mo-
mentous question, and if So where was its
The governor grasped an idea first.
why, Adiutant General Dalton must
have one at the statehouse of course" So
off they trctted for the statei~Ise to con-
fer with Dalton. To their surprise and
discom fture they found that the adjutant
genera die not have one, and couldn't
think o. where there was one
The ro!nmodore's aid was in a pretty
fix. Be returned TO Marblehead, where
some one suggest that possibly ex-Gov-
ernor benjamin +. Butler, on the famous
Amerioa, might have one; so the Electra's
launch vas sent over TO find out. When
the doughty general was asked if he had
state flag he would lend he turned to his
skipper and said:
See # such flag is on board.'
A search proved that there was not
Then General Butler said:
Tel Commodore Gerry that l Will have
one on the Electra at $50 tomorrow morn
ing"
His answer was reported to Commodore
Gerry, who wondt red where in thunder he
would discover one, knowing that his own
search had been unsuccessful.
General Butler got there" as he always
does.
He wrote Il letter to Adjutant General
Dalton asking him by all the love and re-
spect which he had for him TO get a state
flag somewhere and somehow and deliver
it to him not later than o'clock the next
morning.
The adjutant general who had corsid-
cred the same subject before, now put
double duty upon his thinker.
"Ha, ha! / have it," was his exclama-
ton, for it just struck him that there was
one at Fort Warren. He sent messenger
in post haste to the fort secured the flag,
and at just o'clock it was delivered
aboard the America.
General Butler sent it promptly at $50
O'Clock, as he had promised, to the Electra,
with his compliments, and up it went to
the foretop.
Commodore Gerry was surprised and
happy and so was Governor Russell The
former sent n letter of thanks Co General
Butler, and Governor Russell after the
regatta was over steamed all about Mar
blehead harbor to thank him personally,
but the America had departed.-Boston
Herald.