Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-05

the flowers and picking up Il sword with
magnificent glide i scabbard he contin-
ned with increased dramatic effect as he
waved it around his head Here is the
sword of another great defender of Amer
lea, Andrew Jackson" A great shout
went up from the throng. 1.-THE supreme
moment is at hand" continued the mayor
whose watch denoted that it was within
minute of noon.
Mrs. Stafford's Hoists the Flag.
Fora moment the multitude stood breath
less. Venerable Mrs. Stafford, shaking
and trembling in every limb rose and
grasped the cord of the flag pole.
1.-THE moment is here" shouted the
mayor. A roar of cannon; and then with
palsied fingers the old lady drew the cord
toward her, and Paul Jones' flag, old and
faded, but still priceless emblem of lib
erty, went up to the top of the pole in full
view of the throng. simultaneously Mayor
Harrison again grasped the jackson sword,
and brandishing it over his head shouted
above the roar of cheers: MEN and women
of America. Let every American swear at
this moment and by this sword that he
stands ready to draw his sword in the de-
tense OF MS country.
~ Swore Devotion to the Ensign.
Forward to the stand like the roar of a
tidal wave sweeping inland, came the
voices of tens of thousands of resolute
men, and the weaker voices of thousands
of the gentler sex. eyes, yes. We swear,
we swear" From the balconies of the
structures behind and before, to the north
to the south, down from the dome of the
Administration building came like an
echo the deep earnest roar, Yes, yes We
swear, we swear" Still the mayor stood
with sword pointed toward the flag like
Ajax defying the lightning The moment
was intense with feeling; one of those
moments that are experienced but once in
lifetime. Then the scene changed
With preliminary burst of melody the
combined bands commenced the strains OF
the Star Spangled Banner and the chorus
was 100000 voices.
God Bless You for This Day"
AS the final notes of the Star Spangled
Banner died away Mayor Harrison crossed
the platform and grasped the shaking
hands of Mrs. Stafford, who still chung tc
the cord that held her precious flag. "God
bless YOU for this day." he said, and tears
coursed down the wrinkled features of the
octogenarian. The throng could not hear
the remark, but it cheered the meeting OF
the city's executive and it's guest with re-
newed vigor.
AS the enthusiasm created by Mayor
Harrison subsidized a telegram was read
which had been clicking over the wire tc
the stand. At exactly noon the same wire
had flashed to Troy, n. Y, the order tc
ring the Columbian Liberty Bell and this
was the reply from the Office of the Menee
ly Bell company:
"The Colunl ban Liberty Bell was sound
ed at the instant you closed the circuit al
noon of this grand Independence Day, and
this ringing was followed by the playing
OF national and patriotic airs on the grand
chime made by US for St. Patrick's Cathe
dral, New York City. Thousands upon
thousands of patriotic citizens have called
to see this historic bell, many coming LONG
distances. The glorious day, bright and
clear, seems to have been granted as a spe
cial favor to liberty lovers. ffYou can an