Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-07
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
Paul Jones' Flag Swung to the Breeze
on Worlds Fair Grounds.
TAs cAssriss nsltits1s Svsars b Ever D.
isad tAs Stars aas stripss.

CHIrAGo. July G.-Dunag the Fourth oi
July xsrci.es At the Worlds Fair the mos
dramatic event ever Witnessed here tool
plsc. when Hon. Carter II. Harrison aross
10 speak.
He As given greeting by the multitude
tina, w.s quite rs hearty and enthusiastic n
that accorded Vlce-Presiient Stevenson
aud the crowd listened atteniiyely TO all be
had to say. He welcomed the tens of thou
sands of visitors from every state in the
Union and every country on the face of the
earth, and told of the unriring energy Chi
esgo had displayed in building the great
Exposition. He dwelt At length on the
celebration of the Fourth of July, and
spoke of the reasons for observing it.
AT this point in his address the mayor
paused for a moment. Stepping to the
table he picked up bunch of red and
white carnations, and, waving them in the
face of the multitude he exclaimed "Here
are flowers from the grave Of Thomas JEFF
ferson, mighty hero, of the days of Amer
ian independence.
Then, lsying down the flowers and pick
ing up sword with magnificent gilded
scabbard, he continued, with increased
dramatic effect as he waved il around his
head: Here is is sword of another de-
fender of America. Andrew Jackson" A
great shout went up from the throng, and
at this moment big rAindraps commenced
To fall, the sky having been'grsdually over
casting since the commencement of the ex-
ercises.
lit is going TO rain shouted the mayor,
but do you think that our forefsihers.
who died for you, cared for the rain:"
A mighty shout Of No came in re-
sponse.
THE supreme moment is at hand" con-
tinued the mayor, whose watch denoted
that 1t WAS within minute of noon. For
a moment the multitude stood breathless.
Venerable Mrs. Stafford, shaking and
trembling in every limb. uprose and
yrasped the cord of the iagpole.
The moment is here" shouted the may
or. A roar of caunon, and then with pal
sled fingers the old lady drew the cord
toward her, and Paul Jones' flag, old and
faded, but still priceless emblem of lb-
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 ii over his head, shouted,
above the roar of cheers Men and wo
men of America: Let every American
swear at this moment, and by this sword,
that he stands ready to draw his sword in
the defence of this country"
Forward to the stand, like the roar of
a tiial wave sweeping inland, came the
voices of tens of thousands Of resOlute men
AMI the weaker voices of thousands of the
gertler sex, Yes, yes. we swear" from
the balconies of the structures behind and
before, 10 the north and south, down from
the dome of the Administration building,
came like an echo the deep earnest roar,
Yes. yes" we swear
Stll the mayor stood with sword pointed
tos ard the flag. The moment was dra-
matte, lntense-one of those moments that
are experienced seldom in lifetime. Then
the scene changed. With preliminary
burst Of melody the combined bands con-
menced the strains of the Star Spangled
Banner" and the chorus followed in un-
l.on.
Sing, sing. all sing" shouted Mayor
Harrison, as the refrain was reached, and
Il ,g- AMI hats and handerchiefs were waved
Never before. never again will Jackson
Park r.sound with such burst of song As
came at the w0rI of commaiid.
And he Star -spangled Banner in triumph shall
Def the land of the free and the home OF the
brave"
Almost unnoticed amid the frenzy of en-
thusiasm that had seized upon the assem-
blage caused by the raising of the Paul
Jones flag, another interesting feature OF
the programme hal been in progress.
Ju.t as the flag was hoistcd, Ma lge Nor
rrs Wagner of San Diego, Cal. and Miss
Minnie +. Mickl,y pressed the electric hut
ton upon the presidents table. The West
ern Union had connected wire from the
stand to the foundry in Troy, n. Y, where
the new Liberty Bell was recently east and
afterward the following mes
sage was read:
OrrIcE or CLISIoS IL. MESEELY,
Bell CoMrAsY, TBor, N. Y.
To William q. Mcdowell, Chicago.
The Columbian Liberty Bell was sounded
at the instant you closed the circuit At noon
of this grsnd Independence day. and this
ringing was followed by the playing Of
national and patriotic airs on the grand
chime made by MS for st. Patricks cattle
Diral, New York city. Thousands ur IN
thousands of patriotic citizens have called
10 see uiis btstotic oeh' man. '"h'"S -
distances. The glorious day, bright and
clear, seems to have been granted as
special favor to liberty lovers You can an
nounce to the $50 600 friends who i re
made such splendid offering. TO this bell
that their gifts have crystalized into grand
form and that the new liberty bell has b en-
set ringing to aid peace and good will
the whole world.
CLISrox II. MESEKIY.
As the fna. notes of THE Star 81 IN
plcd Banner" died away Mayor Iiarri on
crn-sed the platform an' grasped th' shak-
ing hands of Mrs. Stafford, who still clung
To the cord that held the precious flag.
God bless you for this day he said,
AMI tears coursed down the wriukled fca-
tures of the octogenariau.