The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-05-06
OLD GLORY.
Raising CT the American Flag on the
Navesink Highlands.
A Splendid Fiagstar with Trucks 1875 Feet
High-It Ia n New Institution and Was
Erected by subscriptions From Pa
triotic Societies and individuals.

Erected by subscriptions From Pa.
trlotic Societies and individuals.
| New YORK, April 26.-The first cere
monies of a formal character marking
the great celebration took place Tues.
day. Away down on the Highlands OF
the Navesinls, looking out upon the
ocean and up through the Narrows,
people were gathering by train and by
| boat near the twin lighthouses, in view
of the Spanish men-of-war and the
| Miantonomoh.
The central point of the gathering
was splendid flagstaff with trucks 13e
feet high. This flagstaff is a new in
stitution, and had been erected by sub
scriptions from patriotic societies and
individuals.
On this staff hereafter will fly by
daylight the national ensign. This
will be in conformity with orders is.
sued by the treasury department
through Secretary Window to the light
house board. The keepers of the Nave
sink light will be instructed to hoist
the flag each morning when the lights
are extinguished, and to lower it at
night when the lights are lit. The
flag is intended always to fly from the
pole until the end of time or the disso-
luton of the government.
The idea of erecting n national flag
pole at the NavesinlS Highlands origi
mated about three years ago with Will
liam Mcdowell, of Newark, N. j., who,
when travelling about that time met an
Englishman who was just returning
from a trip to England. The English.
man finally spoke of his pleasure in re-
turning to America, saying it had given
him the liveliest satisfaction to see the
Stars and Stripes again, which repre-
sented to him liberty and home and
manhood, even though he had been
confederate officer during the rebel.
lion.
The idea of erecting n national flag
pole on the highes point of land first
sighted on approaching New York har-
Dor at once suggested itself, and Mr..
Mcdowell started the movement which
was on Tuesday consummated.
1t was the consummation of this plan
which formed the purpose of those who,
as stated, were gathering about the
national flagstaff while the caravels
were being towed up the harbor and
river. A committee, of which j. w.
Scott was chairman. had arranged the
plan of ceremonies. Among those about
the base of the flagstaff was woman
eighty years of age, who had been es-
pecially escorted from her home in
Rhode Island. In her possession she
brought the original stars and stripes
known as the paul Jones flag"
Mrs. III. r. p. Stafford is the owner of
the flag. and she it was who. seated
and carefully attended, held with care
full hands the little square of bunting
so precious to her as the descendant of
Lieut.. Stafford, of the navy Congress
gallant rescue of the flag when, during
the engagement between the Bon
lIomme Richard and Serapis. it was
shot into the sea, he being obliged to
jump overheard to get it. 1t is under
stood that Mrs. Stafford has beaueat thed
this flag 10 the nation in her win.
At l:45 Il. m.. Il detail Of the naval
reserve. drawn up in line, fred volley
out over the still waters of the bay.
This was signal to the waiting Muin-
touoinoh to prepare to salute the orig
inal flag
Then Chairman Scott briefly stated
the purpose of the gathering and pre-
sentcd the father of "the national flag
pole Mr.. Vim. C. Mcdowell. James j.
upharn, of Boston, in behalf of the
Lyceum League of America, next pre-
sented the fest three ensigns to be used
by the lighthouse keepers on the flag
staff.
Again vo.ley was fred from the
highlands, and almost simultaneously
the guns of the Miantonomoh began
their thunderous applause. At the mo-
ment, too, the aged Mrs. Stafford ad-
vanccd to the base of the pole with
Capt David II. Caulllins, of the
Sandy Hook lightship, the original
stars and stripes We're quickly caught
on the halyards, and alternating hand
over hand with Capt. Caulkins the
time-honored ensign futtered up, up.
135 feet to the top, while the guns
thundered and the people cheered.
Only moment the frail and precious
bunting was allowed to flutter. Tf.u
it was lowered and it's place was taken
by Il U. S. standard stars and stripes,
40 feet long. At the lines standing by
the base of the pole, was the vice
presidents wife, Mrs. Adlai Il. Steven.
son. president general of the daughters
of the American revolution. Assisted
by Captain Caulllins she raised the
great banner, while return salute by
detachment of the third regiment OF
the New Jersey national guard min
gled its rattle with the thunderous
booming of the 21 guns of the Mianto-
nomoh on the bay below.
An invocation by Rev. Vim. Lloyd.
DID,, was followed by patriotic ati.
dress from Assistant Secretary of the
Navy McAdoo. an orution by Alber,
Shaw, the reading Of poem a bcne
diction and closing with the singing OF
America"
Al "On" Day.
New YORK, April aG.-luesday was