The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-18

slowly across the river, approaching the
great audience that had expressed SO much
pleasure at the coming of the royal
parsonage, and when her barge ar
rived at the landing the people saw that
she carried a distinguished visitor who
had been invited by her Majesty to speak
to the people upon historical event
which was celebrated tonight by the
mimic battle of Bunker Hill. This dis
tinguished visitor was Irving M. Scott OF
San Francisco. Mr.. Scott said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: In our Imagination
we behold the represen tation of Bunker Hill
Monument. 1t reflects honor upon all con-
cerned in its design ana obstruction for this
occasion. The spectacle seems to eliminate
distance and enable us to view the veritable
monument standing on Bunker Hill as the glo-
rious beacon of American liberty-a liberty un-
like that of the Democracy of ancient Greece,
or that of the red republicanism of France, or
that OF hydra-headed modern anarchism: IN
deed, American liberty is OF a kind peculiar to
itself-a liberty restricted in practice as well
as in theory by the maxim, "To so use your
own as not to iniure another"
The initial battles of the Revolutionary War
were fought April 10, 1775; one at Lexington
and the other at Concord. AS to Lexington
and the Americans that fell in combat there,
Kossuth said in 1852:
Lexington is the birthplace of American lib
erty. 1t is the sacrificed blood Of the fallen
heroes with which is written the preface OF your
Nations history. Their death was and ever will
be the first bloody revelation of Americas des-
tiny, and Lexington the opening scene of revo-
luton that is destined TO change the character OF
human governments and the condition OF the n u
man race.
The battles of Lexington and Concord,
though of themselves inconsiderable in mag
snitude, were most potent In inspiring the peo-
pie to take up the sword against British tyr
amy. Blood-Americsn martyr blood-had
been wantonly spilled. Boston ana Its envir-
ons calling for succor; the cry, ITO arms TO
armsP' rang in clarion tones through the
country.
The response was prompt. Putnam. leaving
his pillow midway in the field, se1Z1ng MS arms
and squirting his horse to full speed on the
road to Bosto is an incident illustrative of
the promptness of that response In general.
The American army. consisting OF 10000 vol
unteers, its line extending from Roxbury to
Cambridge, was under command of General
Artemus Ward. General Gage, reinforced by
the army divisions of Generals Howe, Bur-
goyne and Clinton, was In comm and OF the
British. The enemy had powerful battery on
Cops Hill and a str ng naval force in Boston
harbor.
The American officers, having learned June
16, 1878, that General Gage would begin forti.
flying Bunker Hill the 18th, sent the night of
the 18th Colonel Prescott with 1000 men to
forestall the British generals plans. Colonel
Prescott and his command during the night
lost no time in converting fences, stone walls,
new-mown hay and thrown-up earth
into American breastworks. Gag per-
ceiving these at daylight in the morn
ing OF the 18th, ordered the Copp's
Hill battery and the navy to attack
them, and called the troops to arms STILL
amid that storm of iron balls and bursting
shells, Prescott and his sterling band did not
falter, but pressed on in their tortifying work
with increased vigor.
Generals Howe ana Pigot with 1000 troops,
covered by the guns of the men-of-war, effected
q landing in boats and advanced to attack the
American forces amounting to 1900. Colonel
Prescott. in command, gave the order, "Re-
serve fire on the enemy until the whites of the
mems eyes can be SEEM
The British opened fire when within gun
shot. But on the American side all was silent
as the tomb until the forces-of the enemy were
within close range, when along the crest OF the
redoubt storm of fire burst hurting volley
after volley of leaden hail into their ranks,
causing them to rush pellmell back to their
boats.
They were, however, soon reinforced by 400
marines, and provided with artillery. In
making the second attack, Howe sought to
turn to his advantage the dense volumes of