The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-10-22
A RARE FLAG.
The Colors of the Bay State Produced
After Much Searching by Gen. Butler.

After Much Searching by Gen. Butler.
Those who have scanned Commodore
Gefly's handsome steam yacht, the
Electra, to admire her beautiful ap-
pearance, could not fail to have no.
ticed that a white flag, bearing the
State coat of arms, moved in the breeze
at the foretopmast head.
That signited that his EXcellency
Gov. Russell was on board the flag
ship. The flag, however, is one that
but few have seen. Commodore Ger
ry, who has about everything nautical
and otherwise upon his wonderful
craft, did not have Massachusetts
flag.
Thereby hangs tale.
According to yachting etiquette as
determined by the gallant Commo-
dcre, 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 Ger
ry despatched Mr.. Ronolds, his aide,
to Boston on the mission to secure one
Monday. That gentleman visited the
various yacht Quitting and flag
makers stores where such things
might be found, but with no success.
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 distinguished yachtsman, who is
a great stickler for perfect form, de-
termined 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 attention
te the matter.
He sent his aide to the city again,
and that gentleman, in the progress of
his search, came across Gov. Russell
He explained what he was after. He
had previously ascertained that it
would take two days to make flag
The Governor and the ssmi-hag Of
ticer put their two heads together and
thought.
Wasn't there State flag somewhere
IN the whole commonwealth? Was the
momentous question, and, if so, where
was it?
The Governor grasped an idea first.
one at the State House, of course" So
ptl tllCS tlObtcu lOi llS otdLt l1OuSC 10
confer with Dalton. 10 their sur
prise and discontinue they found
that the Acknowledgement did not have
one, and coulun't think of where there
was one.
The Commodore's aide was in a
pretty fix. He returned to Marble
head, where some one suggested that
possibly eX-Gov. Beniam F. Butler,
on the famous America, might have
one; so the Electra's launch was sent
over to find out. When the doughty
General was asked if he had State
flag he would loan he turned to his
skipper and said:
'See if such flag is on board"
A search proved that there was not.
Then Gen. Butler said:
Tell Commodore Gerry that | will
have one on the Electra at 9:3J to-mor-
row morning.
His answer was reported to Commo-
dore Gerry, who wondered where in
thunder he would discover one. know
ing that his own search had been I'M
successful.
Gen. Butler got there" as he al
wavs does.
He wrote a letter to Adit-Gen. Dali
ton, asking him by all the love and re-
spec5 which he had for him to Get Il
State flag somewhere and somehow
and deliver it TO him not later than 8
o clock the next morning.
The Adjutant-General, who had con-
sidered the same subject before, now
put double duty upon his thinker
"Ha. ha' | have it," was his ex-
clamation. for it struck him that there
was one at Fort Warren He sent a
messenger in post haste to the fort, Sc
cured the flag, and at just o'clock it
was delivered aboard the America.
Gen. Butler sent it promptly at $50
O'Clock, as he had promised to the
Electra, with his compliments, and up
1t went to the foretop.
Commodore Gerry was surprised
and happy, and 50 was Gov. Russell.
The former sent letter of thanks to
Gen. Butler, and Gov. Russell, after
the regatta was over, steamed all
about Marblehead harbor to thank him
personally. but the America had de-
parted. .-BOStOn Herald.