The sun., 1898-02-19
Young Americans Show Their
Patriotism.
SPON FAMOUS ACT Of BOYS.
The Match Applied to Spain's Proud
Emblem. Caused by the Blowing
Up Of the Maine.

America" "Span is no gmd" "rhcrc
will be a hot time in Spain tonight"
The ,bNe were shouts which made
the neighborhood Of Fifth and jefferson
streets ring, and which aroused the
auirt people there few minutes after
7o'clock last night.
The shouts cmanated from the throats
of crowd OF bows ranging in ages from
nine to thirnen years The OCCASION
which prompted their shouts was the
b,rning OF Il small Spanish flag.
All the toys of the crowd reside in the
vicinity of Second and jefferson streets
Early last night when they had congrc
gated on IL corner in the neighborhouI
one of them exhibited flag
The exhibition of the flag was Il signal
for the kindling Of Il flame Of hot patriot
ism in the breasts Of the young Ameri-
cans. As Young as they were they all
knew everything about the war between
Spain and Cuba and were none too
youthful to have little of the patriotism
characteristic of Americans. Undoubtedly
too, read their actions showed that they
had or had been taught that it was t heir
duty as American boys to side with the
struggling patriots of Cuba and it vas
also apparent that they had read
"r heard something about the dcStruc-
tion If the American battleShip Maine in
the IIarbor Of Havana, and of the slls-
picion that Spanards had blown up the
vessel is revenge upon Americans for
sympathzing with Cuba.
ooh that is Spanish flag, amt it "'
exclaimed one of the little fellows.
Let's burn it? Who's got a match ~
These ordinations and questions stir.
red up the other boys, and soon there
was an impulse on the part OF the crowd
to burn the flag on the spot.
The lad who held the flag,
however, suggested that before
burning it, the crowd should make a
short parade. This was agreed to, and
the boys walked up jefferson street and
around Fourth to Washington and
thence to Fifth and jefferson A. they
paraded the, shouted in juvenile tones:
"Burn the S,anish flag Down witt,
Spain Tlcre'll be hot time in Spa II,
etc. etc.
BY the time they reached the north.
east corner Of Fifth and Jefferson thei'
enthusiasm reached it's highest pitch.
'IHt's burn it here " two or three cried
The crowd halted and after little par
leving it was agreed to set the flag atir'.
The leader OF the crowd struck Il match
and applied it to the flag, which was 8
genuine Spanish emblem. As the flame
grad ally eat it be waved it high up in
the air, while the other boys shouted
"Down with SPAIN "IIurrah for Cuba"'
W'p with America"
When the flag had been consumed by
the flames, the small staff which held il
and which had become charred was
thrown t",he grourd Tam the b yspn
crrde' o le after another to tread upol
the ashes Of the flag, at the same time
giving shouts Of ''I'own with Spain
After tn y had finished til, part "I
'hr celebration they moved down on
the East side Of jefferson street renew
ing their anti Spanish shouts. and max
ing tie ncighbrII," ring with theil
cheers.
Tn" pr"n'" "i tlc m.ighhorhood whc
heard the demonstration lnaIe ty the
boys went to the front doors Of their
houses tu ascertain the cause Of it,
Many others WHO heard the Ornl"nstra
ton. however. .aid they paid no attpn.
non /" II. Think z that IT was one OF
the cve' ydav q, monstations made by
noisy b IS Of the neighhorh"nd.
The pro mirtres., Mrs. $. X. Strain, o
the lnl.l,ncr" st"'" at the nnrl heast cornr'
o Fifth md } # rIpn. when seen l. 81
night abMu the n.attrr. $ I'D she saw tlIt
boys cong" gated in front Of lt = store and
hrar' their Shot $ II threats of burning
the Spanish flag, oul did not investigate
the demonstration.
One "f the boys nv ire crowd was seer
last night and said tint cy all had /:
good a Of iun burning the flag
The ashes nI HE ilag and the broker
staff still lie on the Pavement near thu
northeast ccr,er Of Fifth and jefferson
streets
Before Superior Court.