El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-02
LONE STAR III
In THE HEAVENS
Made Its Appearance In FL
Paso In Broad Daylight.
VIEWED BY THOUSANDS

VIEWED BY THOUSANDS
Wonderful To Relate 1t Was First Seen
Beyond the Dome Of the Courthouse
Just AS the Flag OF the Lone Star
State Was Lowered By Accident
Its Appearance On Independence
Day Is Regarded AS An Omen By
Many.
happened in this city this morn
ing.
Today is Texas Independence day
being the sixty-third anniversary of
the signing of the declaration of in
dependence by the representatives of
the republic of Texas, whose glorious
blem was and is a4loue star.
1t is customary to raise above the
high dome of the Ell Paso county court
house on such days the flag of the lone
star state.
Some men endeavored to run it up at
O'Clock this morning. It was attach
ed to q rope and the hauling begun.
Attorney Richard F. Burgess was stand
ing in the court house grounds watch
ing the interesting operation. His
eyes we're lifted aloft toward the cloud
less sky. The rope broke and the lone
star flag fell. His startled vision
the folds of the flag, another star blaz-
ing brightly. 1t was perfectly distinct
and shining brightly, although the
sun shone in another part of the
heavens, some two hours up.
Attorney Burgess was not long in
calling attention to his remarkable
discovery and soon dozen persons
with expressions of profound astonish-
ment, were gazing in the direction of
the star.
The news soon spread and in an In
credlbly short time throngs of persons
on all the principal streets of the city
were gain at the star or having it
pointed out to them by those who were
able to locate it. Its location was a
little west of south at about forty five
degrees above the horizon and was
plainly visible to the naked eye at the
time of this writing, at noon
The remarkable phenomenon was re-
garded with feelings of superstitious
awe by many. 1t was asserted by per-
sons of a visionary disposition that ma
ture had taken cOgnizsuce OF the an
niversary of Texas independence by
setting blazing ''Lone Star" in the
sky in broad daylight. Others looked
upon it as q protest against the i'm
possible annexation scheme and were
ju bilant.
AN AFFIDAVIT.
In order that outsiders might not
discredit the strange story. q HERA LID
reporter requested q number OF cltl-
zens to go before a notary and max e
affidavit to the fact that hundreds of
fhnrnEalUnl
seen the star during broad daylight.
The affidavit follows:
The State of Texas,
County of Ell Paso.
Before me, the undersigned author
ity, on this day personally appeared
Richard F. Burgess, L. M. Kemp, G.. G.
Win berly, and w. D. Howe, personal
ly known 20 me, 'whO being by me first
duly sworn. depose and say and each
for himself deposes and says, that on
this day, and at about 1880 u. NJ they
SOW in the heavens about due south
and about As degrees above the horl-
ION. the sun being shining brightly at
the time and there being no clouds in
the sky, star which was plainly vi
sible to the naked eye.
This star was soen by us aud each OF
us and was by US pointed out to num-
Der of people aud as we prepare this
reefs of tits city Of FL Paso, Texas,
are gazing at said star.
RICHARD F. burgess,
Lawyer
L. M. KEMP,
Teacher.
GEO. G., WIMRERLEY.
City Engr.
w. D. HOWE
Lawyer.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
at Ell Psso, Texas, this the End day OF
March, 1899, and further certify that
the above atlantis are known to me,
that they are sober and entitled to
credit
F. E. HUNTER.
: SEAL. Notary Public in and for
Ell Paso county. Texas.