The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-07-06

guests OF the occasion. Below the
platform were the members OF the
Columbian chorus, men and women
fifteen hundred of them, each with a.
big flag that later on was to be waved
In triumph to signalize the touch OF
the electric button that was to dedicate
the new Liberty Bell thousand miles
across the continent. While the guests
were being seated on the platform re-
newed enthusiasm was created by the
appearance of the venerable but
sprightly woman from Martha's Vine
yard, Mass, Mrs. Stafford, who carried
in cardboard box her precious pos
session
The First American Flag.
She kept 1t close to her as she smiled
and bowed her acknowledgements to
the cheering multitude. She was given
seat underneath the small fagpole
erected for the purpose of receiving the
flag which was fastened to the line
ready for the hosting by Mrs. Staffords
infrm hand at the stroke of 10 o'clock.
When the last of the guests had been
seated Director General Davis brought
his gavel down on the table and called
the multitude to order. Rev. DR.. John
Henry Barrows had been announced to
deliver the opening prayer, but he was
absent, and in his place Rev. DIR. Can
field of the Universalist church was in
troduced.
Vice President Stevenson was now in
troduced. As he stepped to the front
of the platform he was greeted with a
rousing cheer. as spoke in stentorian
tones, with considerable emphasis and
gesticulation and succeeded in getting
his statements to the hearing Of the
great majority of those before and
about him. Brief and to the point, the
address was frequently interrupted
with applause and it decreased ten-fold
as the vice president retired.
Sang Columbia.
Then S. c. Pratt, of New York, came
to the edge of the platform and at
wave of his baton the chorus rose and
commenced the opening stanzas of
columbia the Gem of the Ocean,"
By the time that the chorus
was reached the audience was
wild with enthusiasm and
it joined in the refrain with vim and
vigor, tens of thousands Of arms wav-
ing the stars and stripes overhead. It
was stirring spectacle, but it was to
be intensified later on. When the sing
ing had ceased it was the turn Of Mayor
Carter Harrison to speak in behalf of
the Worlds Fair City.
Mayor Harrison continued to speak
till within a minute of noon. Then he
paused an instant, after which he said;
''rhe supreme moment is at hand"
For a moment the multitude stood
breathless. Venerable Mrs. Stafford,
shaking and trembling in every limb,
uprose and grasped the cord of the flag.
pole.
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 liberty, went up to the top
Of the pole in full view of the throng.
simultaneously Mayor Harrison grasped
the sword Of Andrew jackson 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 defense of his country"
Forward to the stand, like the roar
of tidal wave sweeping inland, came
the voices of tens of thousands of reso-
Lutte men, and the weaker voices of
thousands of the gentler sex, s'yes, yes,
we swear, we swear" From the bal
comics Of the structures behind and be.
fore, to the North and South, down
from the dome of the Administratio
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 dramatic, intense;
one Of those moments that are exper-
fenced but once in lifetime. There
was not man or woman in the vast
throng but at a call from the country
would have marched at the moment to
the defense of the flag. Then the scene
changed. With preliminary burst of
melody the combined bands COM
menced the strains of the ssStar
Spangled Banner" and the chorus fol-
lowed in unison.
'sSing, Sing, all sing" shouted Mayor
| Harrison as the refrain was reached
and flags were waved and hats waved
and handkerchiefs waved. Never be-
fore, never again will jackson park re-
sound with such burst of song as
came at the word of command: "And
| the Star Spangled Banner in triumph
shall wave DER the land of the free and
the home of the brave"
Meanwhile, almost unnoticed amid
the frenzy of enthusiasm that had
seized upon the assemblage, another in
teresting feature of the programme had
been in progress. Just as the flag was
hoisted Mrs. Madge Morris Wagner OF
San Diego, CAL, and then Miss Minnie
F. Mickly pressed the electric button
which was connected with the new
| Liberty Bell at Buffalo.
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