Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-09
WNWITH THEFLAG


close Of tho Revolution, they left flying one
royal flag which ns they had nailed IL To
the 1agpolc, they fondly hoped would con
tinuc To kiss the breczes for somo time 10
come.
Sir Guy Carleton had set apart IA day for
the evacuation of New York, and IL fell on
the 25th OF November The Americans,
led by some Of their famous officers were
ready 30 march In and take possession OF
New York tho moment the last rcdcoat
had vanished, and on tho 25th there was IA
great deal OF excitement which could not
Do wholly subduod
At the foot of famous Broadway stood
Fort George, named for the British king,
and from its tall staff foatcd tho flag
which the enemy had left behind.
II tapped In the breeze of that Novem-
ber day In manner quite distasteful to
the Americans who had seen 1t waving
there for almost seven years.
1t must come down, but howr The pa
triots did not want TO destroy tho tall flag
staff, for they wished to hoist upon 1t an
other flag which should represent the new
est republic on tho face of the globe, and
80 they gathered about tho staff as they
suggested means for lowering the British
flag.
The English vessels were vanishing
down the narrows, and their white sails
would soon disappear, but there In the
wind waved the flag they had left behind,
bidding defiance to their conqucrors, and
sayingSn mute language that, though the
colonies were free, the emblem OF a king
still remained to disturb them.
II believe could climb that pole, said
a boy who stood looking at the flag.
An American officer, overhearing these
"A I....Ir -
tonishment.
"You dor" said the officer. "Do you
really think you could climb that flagstaff
and tear the banner looscf"
81 could try anyhow"
Here sergeant, take this boy over to
General Knox and let him tell him what
he thinks he can do"
The sergeant took Johnny Van Arsdall
TO the generals headquarters and saluted.
"This boy says he can climb the flagstaff
and remove the British flag"
The kind face of Knox was illumined by
a smile. He looked the boy over from
head to foot and said:
"You look agile, boy You have climbed
before, have your"
Eyes, sir" replied Johnny, blushing.
"If you would let me try to take the flag
down, / would do my best"
You shall try, and you look capable OF
doing it," and with another salute the
sergeant withdrew and marched the de-
lighted boy back to the parade ground.
The crowd gathered about the Flagstaff
looked at the boy and soon understood
what was up. A great many of them knew
him, and not few knew how agile he
was.
Not only had the departing British
Oh thair flo fn ha hrt md
knocked off the cleats and creased the staff
80 as to make 1t hard to climb.
Johnny Van Arsdale went to work. He
had brought with him lot of sand, and
by mailing back the cleats and applying
the sand to the slick pole he managed to
climb up hand over hand amid the cheers
of the people.
AS he neared the top OF the tall flag pole
strange hush seemed to fall over the
crowd below. 1t was expectation not alto
gether unmingled with fear.
There were those who feared that even
should he reach the top his hands would
not be strong enough to tear the flag loose,
but the little patriot persevered until he
could touch the ensign.
"Look, he is up now" sold a voice far
beneath him. "He has caught hold Of the
flag. He is tearing 1t loose! There, see
how it yields! He will accomplish his pur-
poseP'
He worked with a will, watched all the
time by those on the ground, and when
they saw that he had wrapped the standard
around his body and had started upon his
descent, great cheer arose from every
throat
Louder than ever was the cheer that rent
the air when the triumphant boy reached
the ground and unwrapped from his body
the wind torn banner which he had Sc
cured.
II told the general thought could
bring it down." he said to tho officer who
stepped forward to take the captured BAN
ner.
In another moment he was hemmcd in
by wildly shouting crowd, and strong
men took him upon their shoulders and
carried him in ecstasy across the parade
ground.
In little while another flag floated
from the Flagstaff of Fort George, but 1t
was not the standard of the king. 1t was
the stars and stripes of the young nation
which had secured its right to have flag
by seven years OF war.
And while it floated there the last Brit
ish vessel vanished, and New York held no
soldiers but those who would henceforth
occupy IL.
Johnny Van Arsdale lived coed many
years after his daring act in lowering the
last British flag, and moro than once he
was compelled to relate to groups OF chill
dren how he took 1t down from It's lofty
height and saw the banner Of freedom take
It's place.-Boston Globe.
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