The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-19
Mr.. WHITNEY AND THE IRISH.
BE, FLIES mrs FLAe UPSIDE down
ON ST. PNTRTCK's DAI

Rsvoiver-The Iri-h Retire fror the Field,
Tho tvo-story frame house 1873 Fiity-second
street. Brooklyn. commands a beautiful ma
rine view Tho harbor OF New York curves in
almost to its doorstep. and when Liberty lights
her lamp tho rays CLEAN on it's windows Mr..
o. r. whitney lives in this house.
When read In the newspapers" said he
Yesterday. that Irishmen had raised the
green nag upon the now Court House in New
York II made my blood boil. I determined to
show them what thought OF them and their
81. Patrick. There 10 one spot in this country
where the Irish flag IL not recognized. and
that is my house"
Early on st. Patrickr day Mr.. whitney went
out 10 an iron flaRpole which stands In the lit
tie garden in front OF his house and began to
run q rope through the ring at the top. The
pole was nearly twenty-five feet high. and he
had to use ladder to reach the top
Mamma" he called to his wife. who was
sitting at the window. bring mo out the flag"
Mrs. Whitney lie one OF the most dutiful
wives In the world. Some women might have
expostulated with their husbands before obey
ing an order which they were unwilling to full
III. Mrs whitney obeyed frst and expostu-
lated aiterward.
Here 1t is" she said. handing him the Stars
and Stripes. but you're not gong to fly 1t on
st. Patrick's day. are you 2"
Yes; I'm going to show my contempt for
those Irishmen who think they own the
earth"
Turning the Gag upside down he raised Il
to half mast.
"Ob. dear. you're not going to leave Il like
that are you 2" Mrs. whitney asked. laugh
ing. in spite OF herself You'll have every
Irlshman in the neighborhood around here II
you do
Mr.. whitney looked at his wife for moment
and then calmly mounted the ladder and
tod the ends OF the flag halliards above the
flag.
There" he said. Now you won't try to
tako it down"
At o o'clock Mr.. whitney went to his ONCE In
New York. Lot Mrs. Whitney tell Whit hap
pcned afterward.
My daughter-in.law and were alone ia
the house" she said. and wo had forgotten
all about the nag. when the bell rang. went
to the door. and there was man, who saw
at once was Irish. found out afterward that
he was motorman on the trolley road. He
had been drinking q little and looked pretty
desperate.
Arc you the lady OF tho housep he asked.
I am said. Well. would you mind taking
that flag down and putting It up right?'
Now. hadn't any real objection to taking
the flag down. and had objected to it's being
put up. but my husband had told me no want
ed It up. and wasn't going to interfere. Be-
sides. didn't like the mans way.
II you please l said. that flag Is mono OF
your business. and 1t will stay Just where II
ia Madam he said, L am an American
citizen. and It hurts my feelings to see that
flag at half mast. upside down. Nobody's dead.
is therep I'm IN Irishman and a Catholic.
and don't like to see that flag the way It Is
"'Iknow you're an Irishman and Catho-
10 I 'Nnur aho q n,,t{
you don't clear out OF here you will GET your
self into trouble 1 suppose you'll call q
policeman. he said. No won't told him.
I've got som cthing better than a policeman
right UP stairs Oh. amt afraid OF your re-
yolvers.' he said. That flags got to como
down. can't stand it
He went down into the garden and before |
could stop him no climbed up the pole and
took the flag down. Then he fixed IT, right |
side up and raised It clear TO the top.
There he said. That's the way to treat !
st. Patrick My daughter-in-lsw went right |
straight down into the yard. Lulled the flag !
down. andnxed il Just as It was before -upside |
down. Say. madam the man said. ~ 1t stays |
like that lose my heart II you don't clear
out pretty quickly said. you'll lose some
thing else
back AGAIN and rang the bell When opened
lady @ sSa taxa HaS s 'hss yfs sss a
strongly a,I could; Very well, then I'll do
it as before. and my daughter in law took it
down again and placed it upside down OF half
/ appealed to him for protection. lie said /
hal right to raise the flag any way pleased
T6s man to
II we1t up stairs to dress. then. intending TO
take tho flag down before 1 went out because
couldn't trust the Irlshmen who might pass
Ing, down the street stop and look at the nag
WHAT do you wnpt3' asked, although knew
right away what he wantod. Would ron mind
THAT nag is going to stay Just where il is until
the. young man began to climb the pole.
,ut oil the house. could stop him, had hauled IT.
n-lav took it out of his hands and hung 1t up
herself, Inst as my husband had Elaced It, only
Young man said to me: All risht. iii iir 10 back
:, In a little while he came back with two
9thsr yonng Ren' and they pulled the dag
nappened TO come out Of his house Just then
ind saw them, lie i'm ediately jumped over
,ions in the house. ana won't allow them Ht 10
% molestsd | thought that was real nice OF
on H the sHce ann ooe tss lag his saSd
o raise Il ! saw the three young men walk
Day! They're coming behind you.'
thought they we're going 20 try and pull
him on the fence, but instead OF doing that |
me OF them took out a knife aud cut the eye
lole out OF the flag. Another one OF them
grabbed the flag and ran across the street with
I, rope and all. In y second tho haRpola.
Witch was made up OF two hollow iron pipes
oined together in the middle. snapped in two
nd the upper half fell on the Sidewalk.
Dir. Day ran after the young men and
aught up with them. and they began 10 eight
took out my husbands revolver and held IL
nt Of the window Here. Mr. Day, I said.
Here's a revolver for you. Do you 1
want itY ! guess he didn't hear me,
ecause Just then one Of the young men grab
ed him BY the throat and began to choke him.
iy dAuRhter-in-law ran out Into the street
nd tried to get hold OF the flag. which the =
Their two young men were tramplng under !
heir feet. One OF them struck her on the !
hest; but she got the dag. There was big
Towd standing around. many Of them little | I
hildTen, and was AFRAID tn shoot for fear I'd !
IL one oi them: wouldn't like to kill any
been / i |