New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-27
FORBES WINS HIS FIGHT.
THE PARK BOARD SETTLES THE fhA"
RAISING CONTROVERSY.
ASA r1RD GARDINER AND HIS PRETENsioNS

As, ptRD GARDNER AND HIS PRETENsioNs
KNOCKED ot,r-REvIEw OF THE soUABBl-h'
The BOARD OF Park Commissioners has refuseu 'iie
anncatton of Asa Bird Gardiner for the prNioe
OF raising the flag the morning OF Wasii'Ns , ~.
Birthday for the Society OF the war OF i'i-' -,
issued the pc init usual to Christopher II. ,rh
This confirmation of a previous decision In WHEN
Mr. Forbes's hereditary right to raise the mas
upheld will probably determine the cohu ,sr'
Prior TO the performance Of the historic ana me
esting ceremony of raising the Stars ana '''
the Battery on Evacuation Day last year |'s
Gardiner on behalf Of the Society OF 'he W."
1872 challenged the claims of Mr.. Forbes, the gfea'
grandson of John Van Arsda.e. to the pri'"'e
raising the flag. The matter was brought gu.
fore the Park Commissioners and decided IN laNo' =.
Mr. Forbes. There many interesting ieA'u
surrounding the dispute which are worth '"e -
calling s.,
The nicturesoue incident OF the tearing down py
John Van Arsdale Of the flag which the pi
troops left flying when they evacuated TINS Guy "
17ss was In the first place questioned by Mt ua'''
ner on the contention that the departing "oop'
did not leave flag. But Appleton Morgan -,
acted as counsel for Mr. Forbes. said last h'sn' ~
a Tribune reporter that historians were uNai''' 49,
in asserting that the British not only did leave 'ei
flag flying at he Battery, but nailed 1t to the poe
which they also creased 1t was equally supporter
as a true fact added Mr.. Morgan. that !ou"s
sailor named John Van Arsdale succeeded III 80,
ing the mast and, after tearing down the Eils"s"
flag substituted the American colors III us p
For this service Van Arsdale was intrusteu WIN "
duty OF raising the flag upon each ahhlNeis"''
the day and since his death his descendants 10 sd
claimed and down TO the present day nave Ie0''
the right perform this ceremony. ...,od In
In the early part OF 1892 Mr.. Gardiner orSahiHu ~
this city a society which was called tne SUI rS
the War of 1872 Then. finding that John an ~, la
dale had been a member OF an organlIatitU,l e,dsd
the Veteran Corps OF Artillery when wa to Mir
many wears ago, Mr.. Gardiner according 10 ~
Morgari's statement. discovered five ola men W.
bers Of his society claimed in consequence ina arssd
Veteran Corps had been resusctateI anu = "a,
into the Society OF the War OF lSl2 linen Gfi ~,
went TO the Board OF Aldermen ana colleiiu' =, ~
the exclusive jurisdiction the ceremony % AZ, ,
raising belonged TO the veteran So,ps ac,ed
tiliery and that Van Arsdale had mercy 49, ~
under the instruction OF this oody Al sIS Mr.
Gardiner urged his right 10 the honor AZ IL. 10
ing where these representations were torina ma
Mr.. Morgan appearing as counsel ior a,,rs2sie
showed that the family had continued plaai. -
without interruption regularly ana excua'' ia
perform the duty The British nag neu sI ahund.
and John Van Arsdale's climbing feat were ANN
anty proved by references TO authoritative H, 10
and Il was also conclusvely demonstrated tha i.S
organization OF veterans had jurisdieilonn ~ ~
the raising but that the right DeIohsed e"'"''
to the Van Arsdale descendants , .
The matter was carried 10 the PARK board a'u u
authorizing him 10 conduct the time honored cere
mony at the Battery. The traditional ana hritHl
tary honor OF raising the flag on February - an,
Ju.v In addition TO November = also pttOiEs 20
him and has just been officially recognise ny the
Park Board by the granting OF his Application anu
the rejection Of Gardeners for the raising on WASH
ington's Birthday. .
Mr Morgan said last night that the controversy
might be looked upon As formally settled A'll
that the investigation had fully shown that there
basis for Mr. Gardeners preiensions'