The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-27
FLAG rs INSULTED
OLD GLORY SEIZED AND D @STROYeD
LAST SATURDAY NIGHT.
Unknown Man Wrests Flag From an Old
Several Men Rush Upon Him But He
Retreats Through the Crowd, Tearing
Up the Flag as He Goes-Oaiy Few
Persons See il. Because OF the Quick
ness With W hich 1t WAS Done-Cuiprit
Gets Away Without Scratch.

In last Saturday nights uarade oc-
CURED one of the most dastardly acts
which any man has had the treason 10
attempt for years within the boundary
of the United States. There is scarcely
a Populist or a Democrat, no matter how
radical upon the subject OF the political
encounter now on hand, but what viii
roundly condemn the act OF the being,
who was either terribly ignorant of what
he did or was simply insane or otherwise
is nothing better than an anarchist in
the terms Of the dictionary.
The parade was turning the corner of
Douglas avenue and Main street when
a man appeared in the crowd with a
rope in his hand. The rope was tied N a
sorry imita ton of hangman's knot, and
holding the rope aloft ne yelled, ''Hur-
rah for Mckinley. and here's rope 30
hang him, G. d. him. Mr.. Osborne of
6l4 North Emporia avenue stated yes
terday that he heard the man make the
remarks three or four times. all each
time twas louder and bolder than be-
fore. No one seemed to pay particular
attention to him at first, but finally he
Republican candidate with the most vio-
lent oaths he could call to his lips. ire
spective of the fact that there were a
large number of ladies and children all
around him who could plainly hear ev-
cry word he uttered.
The action OF the man and his display
of the rope appeared to the bystanders
simply as piece or grossly exaggerated
r1baldI-y and no one fnterferred with
him. His actions became moro violent
when the Old soldiers delegation, who
carried the flags, began to pass. He con-
tinUed his actions in this manner until
about half the delegation had passed,
when he suddenly with a spring into the
line Of men, seized an old man. snatched
the flag he was carrying away from him
and tore 1t from the staff. His action
was wonderfully quick and after tearing
it from the staff he darted into the crowd
tearing the flag in ribbons as he went.
Three or four young men who Were
near by made a grab for him, but his
action was as unexpected as it was sud
den, and each struck him not more than
once as he darted through the crowd
He continued to demofsh the flag as he
went, and it was torn to bits before he
reached the outside of the crowd which
was composed chiefly of women and
children. He plunged through the COM
pact mass without caring who he run
over, and it was perhaps only for this
fact that he got away. as his pursuers
perhaps had little more care for whom
they endangered. 1t all happened 50
quickly that but few knew of it until it
was all over.
Mr.. j. H. Mccullough, one OF the old
soldiers who was walking beside the
man from whom the flag was taken,
stated yesterday substantially as above
He also said that he did not know who
either of the men were. The old soldier
was In his opinion from outside the city,
and was not by any means a strong man
who could defend himself. The man who
snatched the flag was about six feet
tall, and was Of comparatively slender
build, but beyond this he could give no
description. MIR. Osborne had told what
he knew about il to several of his ac-
quaintances, but he had gone TO the
country himself and could not be seen to
obtain any description of the man.
The action of man in this country
tearing down Old Glory. no matter how
small or large, is an act which any of
her citizens are ready to avenge most
terribly upon the instant, be he of what
ever pOiitical party, and the Indignation
was great among those who had learn
ed of it yesterday.
Another happening occurred during
the parade which needs only be mention
ed. Ex-Coroner McCollister was struck
upon the mouth by rocket thrown from
some unknown point. Mr. McCollister
was among the delegation of old sol
diers and at the time was passing near
Ford & Fordis grocery on North Main
street. The force Of the blow loosened
one or two teeth but did not cut his lips
but little. By whom these extreme &C
lions are taken cannot be stated. Ger
tain it is that no Republican did it, and
any clear-Ininded man of whatever poll
teal affiliation would openly condemn Ii
and use his influence 10 prevent IL. but
two or more such demonstrations during
the same evening show a number of
things that need not be enumerated