The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-26

to see the stars and stripes again, which
represented TO him liberty. n home R1d
manhood, even though he had been q con-
federate officer during the rebellion. Mr..
Mcdowell asked him where he had frss
seen the stars and stripes as he approached
New York. and, after a moments thought.
the Engllshman concluded that be had
merely used 8 figure of speech. h Idea
of erecting a national flag pole on the high
est point OF land first sighted on approach
ing New York harbor at once suggested
itself, and Mr.. Mcdowell started the move
ment which has to-day been contaminated.
1t was the contamination of tins plan
which formed the purpose of those who. as
stated, were gathering about the national
flagstaff while the caraveis were being
towed up the harbor and river. A com-
mittee. of which J. w. Scott was chair
man, has arranged she plan of ceremonies.
Among those about the base of the tag-
staff was o woman eighty years of age.
who had been especially escorted from her
home in Rhode leland. In her possession
she trough the original stars and stripes
known as the Paul Jones flag" Mrs Il:
X. p. Stafford is the owner of the flag, and
she it was who. seated and carefully at
tended, held with careful hands the little
square of bunting so precious TO her as the
descendant of Lieutenant Stafford, of the
navy. Congress had presented this valued
relic for his gallant resoue OF the Tag,
when during the engagement between the
BonhomDe Richard and Scraps. is was
shot away into the sea, he being obliged 10
jump overheard to get il. LII is understood
that Mrs. Stafford has bequeathed this dag
to the Nation in her will.
At 1l:45 a. NJ. a detail of the naval reserve,
drawn up In line. fired a volley out over the
still waters of the bay. This was q signal
to the waiting Miantonomoh to prepare TO
salute the original dag. Then Chairman
Scott briefly stated the purpose of the
gathering and presented the father of "the
national dag pole" William q. Mcdowell:
James y. Upham. of Boston, In behalf OF
the Lyoeum League of America. next pre-
sented the first three ensigns TO be used by
the lighthouse keepers on the flagstaff.
Again q volley was tired from the High
lands. and almost simultaneously the guns
Of the MiantOnomoh began their thunder.
Gus applause. At the moment. too. the
aged Mre. Stafford advanced Go the base of
the pole with Capt. David II. Caulkins, of
the Sandy Hook light-ship. The original
stars and stripes were quickly caught on
the halyards; and alternating hand over
hand with Captain Caulklns. the time
honOred ensign fiuttered up l35 feet to
the top. while the grns Murdered and the
people cheered. Only q moment the frail
and precious bunting was allowed to Hut
ter. Then it was lowered, and its place
was taken by q United States standard
stars and stripes forty feet long. At the
lines. standing by the base of the pole, was
the Vice Presidents wife. Mrs. Adlai +.
Stevenson, president-general of the daugh-
ters of the American R~evolution. Assist
ed by Captain Caulkins. she raised the
great banner. while a return sa.nte by q
detachment of the Third Regiment of the
New Jersey National Guard mingled its
rattle with the thunderous booming of the
twenty.one guns of the Miantonomoh on
the bay below. An invocation by Rev.
William Lloyd. ID. d., was followed by q
patriotic address from Assistant Secretary
of the Navy McAdo0. an Grafton by Albert
Shaw. the reading oil a poem. a benedic-
ton. n closing with the singing Of
America