The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-06-03
An Unfortunate Incident.

Passengers arriving on the Northern
Pacific train to-day, report that at Penn
blna, N. D., yesterday, the British flag
was grossly insulted, being pulled down,
trampled upon and torn to shreds. Not
very full particulars could be obtained,
but from what has been gathered. it
seems that it being a holiday in the states
several people drove over from Emerson
to celebrate with their American friends.
On their rigs they had the British and
American flags flying, thinking, no doubt
to pay their friends across the line com
pliment. But it was not so taken as the
citizens in order to show their good will,
Immediately proceeded to lay the British
lion in the dust. The people on the Can
adam side of the line are very bitter over
the reception given them. Winnipeg
Nor Wester.
The substance ofthe above paragraph
with some variations was telegraphed
to the associated press papers and pub
lished in the St. Paul Pioneer Press and
Grand Forks Herald and other daily
papers. The following corrected and
true version of the affair was published
in yesterday mornings Herald. Wecan
add to the explanation only this fact, that
there was no provocation offered by the
boys who had the flags to Mr.. Conmy,
other than the mere possession and dis
play of them, and that was not done Of
fensively.
To the Editor: In yesterdays edition
of The Herald a special telegram dated
at Winnipeg contained several mistakes
and gave entirely wrong impressions as
to the tearing down the English flag here
on Memorial Day. AS briefly as posi-
BILE the facts are these: In the process.
sion was two-seated carriage drawn by
a Shetland pony in which were seated
two girls and two boys, pupils Of the
public schools here. The team belong.
ed 10 Attorney w. ]. Kneeshaw and was
driven by his son, a lad Of about IS; his
companion aged l6, is son of +. A,
Wardwell, editor of the PIONEER Elk.
PRESS. While the procession was wait
ing at the train for the arrival of the ora
tor of the day, Father Conaty of Grand
Forks, Mr.. E. w. Conmy, who has oc
cupied the position of county judge for {
number of terms in the county, caugh
sight of small printed English Unior
Jack in the hands of the eldest boy. He
went to the carriage, tore the flag from
the boys hands with curses and tore i
into fragments. He then said, "Yo,
don't deserve to carry the American
flag" and then after struggle pulled al
American flag away from the lad and al
SO destroyed that. No other motive OF
the part Of Mr.. Conmy for this behavio
is known except that he is an Irishmal
and hates anything English. tits scarce
ly necessary to add that his act is univer
sally condemned by the citizens Of Penn
bina who have always had the kindes
of relations with their neighbors over tn,
border, and that the display of the flag
of the two countries together is com
mon occurrence on holiday occasions OF
both sides of the line. On the las
Queens birthday the English Nag wa.
hoisted over the Pembina county cour
house, in conjunction with the Stars ans
Stripes, and that same evening in Elmer
son at musical concert, the principa
features Of the evening were songs ans
tableaux in honor Of the United State.
and the present amicable relations of thl
two countries. Every official who ha.
Office in the court house was born sub
ject Of Queen Victoria, and fve-eighth.
Of the population ofthe county were born
in Canada. IT.
! Pembina, June 1, 1898.