Omaha daily bee., 1893-10-01
lRELAND'S DAY AT THE FAIR
Thousands of the Sons Of the Emerald Isle
Throng the Grounds,
IT WAS MARRIED BY BUT ONE INCIDENT
Ireland Could Not utave ner Colors on the
FingstaT-An Omciars Omcious-
People Who
Were I'm Attendance.

WORLDS FAIR GRoUNDs, Sept. 30.-Irist
day at the Worlds fair opened with a bit oil
a shindv. While the rain was pouring down
this morning James Hunt, one of f.. ID. Mil
let's men. hauled down the Irish flag on one
OF the fagstaffs on the Electricity building,
where the colors of all nations are grouped
This was the sequel to a difference of opiu.
ion on the part of Mr.. Miilct and Chief
Barrett OF the department of electricity re.
garding the proprlety of hosting the green
flag of Ireland on the great day at the fair.
Chief Barrett, who is something of an Irish
man himself, impressed with the
spirit of patriotism, ordered the
nag strung up on the Electricity building
Mr., Mtllet has charge of the colors at the ex-
position. He was standing in his oaico
when the flag of Erin was run up, and he
ordered James Hunt, one of his subordi-
mates, TO pull it down.
Mr.. Hunt was quick to obey orders and the
nag OF Ireland was Immediately haulcd
down. When Mr.. Hunt left Chief Barrett
again ran up the colors. Then Chief Millet
ana three of his men ran to the Electricity
building, Hunt cut the halyards aud the flag
Tell Jump and wet Mt the feet of the crowd
which had gathered about the building, re-
gardless of the rain.
Called Out the Guards.
A company of guards, fearing trouble,
were dispatched to the scene. Chief
Barrett withdrew his men until President
Higinbotham should arrive and issue spe-
citic orders regarding the affair. Mr.. Mil
lett explained that no iigs were run up at
the exposition whose nation WAS not recoy.
nlzeu as a nation. He said that it would be
fully as appropriate to faunt an anarchist
flag as that of Ireland.
line irish flag has been usel for deco
rative purposes" slid Mr.. Mtllet, but il
has never been hoisted on any of the flag
staffs. This department will not put up n
flag unless it is ordered to do so by the ex-
position.n
Chlef Barrett was a very indignant man.
u ordered my men to run up the flag" SAID
he, I'm honor of Irish day. We have so
many citizens here / thought
IL was nothing more than a courteous rec og-
milton that their colors be given them"
Nothing could be done for the restoration
OF the flag, as Director General Davis and
president Higinbotham are in supreme con
troll OF the department. The question of hv-
ing the Irish flag on Irish day was considered
recently by The council of administration.
director General Davis asked to be allowed
to run up the flag today, pursuant to n re-
quest or the local committee having the
festivities in charge. The council left il to
the discretion of Director General Davis,
who discussed the matter with MIR. Millet,
ana they decided the matter adversely.
Didn't Want to Offend England.
1t was then decided, so Mr.. Millet sovs
that it would be inadvisable to violate n
standing rlle to the effect that the colors
of a nation should not be run uD unless that
nation was recognized as n nation by their
position. Hungary aud Poland and othnr
| GOllntllpH had pSlkn1 thar THAN n,ar;,.z- =
honored by flying their national emblems
and this favor had been emphatically denied.
as 1t was thought it would be discourteous,
II not an actual arfront, to the countries bv
whom they were ruled. Mr.. Millet insists
that Great Britain would regard the recop-
milton OF the Irish flag as q uiscourtesy to
them. "
1t was rather an inauspicious opening of
irish day, and in addition the weather
started in horribly, and along about midday
there was no prospect OF IA clearance
more disagreeable day for a celebration
could not be imagined. The sky was heavy
! there was n driz2ling rain, the air was cold
and the ground was sticky and flooded. Ii
must have had a discouraeing effect on the
great crowds that were expected here for
Irish day. But the White City was by no
means deserted and the gaieties went on.
Chief Barrett carried the matter before
the council of administration A meeting
was Immediately called. Directors Schwab,
General St. Clair, and Acting Di-
rector beheral burhham constituted
n quorum. AS the council learned that
Sir Henry Truman Wood, British commits
sloner, did not object to The Irish flag, they
sent for a letter which had been written by
Sir Henry, saying that England would take
no otfense. Chief Millet was obliged to sus-
pend hostllitlcs and cease interference with
the raising of green flags.
Had n Military Dignity.
Thu parade was a big one. The PRINCIPAL
feature OF 1t was the number of broad-
shouldered, brawny, and athletic. looking
men who participated. These were not
only in the ranks of the Gaelic athletic
associations, which were assigned a prom
inent position in the line, but also in the
ranks Of all the well drilled Irish military
associations, that gave the necessary mill
tary dignity to the leading columns of the
procession. The Irish Seventh OF Chicago,
n crack regiment in appearance and dlsci-
pline, led the first division. and behind
them came distinctive Irish military organ
izations from different parts OF the country.
Timothy Il. Ryan at the head of the line ia
bright regalia, thanked by aids, brandishhd
the precious sword which had belonged to
General jackson,
In the divisions that followed the militia
were the various Catholic civic societies. in
GLIDING the Catholic Order of Foresters.
temperance and church societies, and liter.
AIRY organizations Behind them all, in
great tallyho coaches, with streamers and
banners of green flying to the breeze, and
uniformed buglers wearing the Irish colors,
were the distinguished guests of the day,
Among them were the lord mayor of Dublin,
james Shanis, and the lady mayoress, his
wife. They were the particular guests of
honor, though Edward Blake of Canada and
Fitzgerald of Boston received the marked
attention due the visitors from beyond state
and national boundaries.
Cheers for the Ilonored Guests.
These three men were well known by
reputation TO the crowds, particularly those
of IRISH blood, that gathered along the line
of march, and the people tIptoed and craned
their necks TO get "A look at them. The lord
mayor was, of course, the cynosure of all
eyes. Everybody, whether Irish or not, APP
peared from his talk and actions TO be anx-
ious to see what a real live lord mayor looked
like anyway. They saw in Nh. Shanks an
unpreJentious looking gentleman, habited in
n Prince Albert coat of ordinary length, a
silk hat, and a dark four-in-hand necktie.
lie wore a green rOsetJe in his buttonhole.
The lord mayor IS tall. of medium build.
wears n mustache and sideburns, and "A
pleasing expression of counteuance. In re-
Spouse TO cheers, he bowed smilingly and
doeed his hat with a graceful gesture. The
procession fromed in the Midway and
marched through the principal avenues of
the fair grounds,
There was a flow Of oratory in Festival
hail rarely equallet. Seldom has that great