The Winslow mail., 1899-06-08
FORTUNE FOR A FLAG
The Worlds Fair Banner Property
of Chicago Man.
Refuses OTer of 100000 Made by an
EnSiishmsn for the Treasured
Souvenir Woven by Wom-
en- of TvTenty-Six States.

: George ". Knapp, No. 534 Sheridan
road, Evanston, ILL.,, is the owner CT Il
United States flag for which he mas
refused an offer OF $60,0OU. The offer
was made by an English collector OF GU
rios, and was rejected by Mr.. knapp
with the remark that there is not
money enough in England and Amer
lea to buy that piece of silk.
The flag was made by the women OF
the United States as the official 1iaS
of the worlds fair. 1t headed the open
! ing professions; it was the first flag to be
untu:led, and the last to be lowered
at the exposition. Every thread OF
silk in the banner was taken from the
cocoons and woven by American wom-
en-. The staff also is an interesting
composite of historic woods from all
the states and territories Of the union.
Since the worlds fair this flag has
added to its honorable history by lead
ing President NTcKinley's inaugural pa
rade, serving as Chicagos tlag at At
lanta, in New York and elsewhere. Mr.
Knapp intends sending it to the Paris
exposition, Were it will doubtless be
the official flag.
The silk of which the flag is made
was all grown in America, 20 states con-
tributing the raw material. Not
thread of imported silk was allowed
to enter the flag, which measures 6x6h
feet, with fringe of gold silk four
inches wide. 1t is also the first flag
to contain Al stars on blue field.
But perhaps the most unique part
of the flag is the staff. 1t is made OF
piece of Illinois cherry 13 feet long.
surmounted by golden eagle. The
staff is inlaid with pieces of historic
wood, representing each state and ter.
rltory of the union. The inlaid piece:
are placed in a row running down.
I ward along the lower section of tn,
staff, starting with design consisting
of 13 stars about five feet from tht
lower end of the staff. In the centero
the design is larger star made from
piece of one of the oak supports o
the old liberty bell in Philadelphia ant
around 1T, in a circle, are grouped tn,
sented by star made from piece
the famous charter oak of colonial his
tory, Massachusetts by piece of tn,
old elm from Boston common, Vir
glnla by piece of the old Monitor
and each of the original 13 colonie.
has contributed wood equally historic
The 81 remaining states are repre-
tnI hxy Ho
tories by dianond-shaped pieces
historic wood. Illinois has a piece O:
walnut taken from the residence 0
Shadrach Bond, first governor of th,
state, located at the old capital at Kas
kaskia. Nebraska's square came from
the flagstaff of old Fort Kearney, Will,
the diamond of Arizona is the oldes
piece of wood in the flagstaff. 1t wa:
taken from the famous ruins of Casa:
Grandes, near the ella river, in Pima
county, Ariz. These were standing
when Nazluez de Coronado, the frs
Spanish explorer, visited Arizona il
1910. The wood was taken from the
only joist remaining in the building.
The idea of such a flag originated
with Mr.. Knapp soon after congress
appropriated money for the world:
fair. He told his plans to the board o
world's fair commissioners and on Apri
4, 1891, the board passed Il resolution
empowering Mr., Knapp to work out his
,dea, the product to be the official tlae
of the worlds fair. He Immediately
went to work sending circulars to the
commissioners of the various states anc
territories, explaining the plans anC
asking for pieces Of historic wood. More
difficulty was experienced in getting
he native silk and women to weave it
but through an order placed with the
American Silk Culture association, com
posed entirely of women, Mr.. Knapp Sc
cured a flag made entirely by women
from silk raised by women of &c states.
Curiously enough. the flag was made
in Arch street, Philadelphia, on the
same street, and within few blocks
of the house in which the women OF
Philadelphia made the Paul Jones flag
11S years before.
| The flag arrived in Chicago October
20, 1852, and was hung on the handsome
staff. The next day it headed the
opening parade, On the opening day,
May 1, 1893, the flag was presented to
the board of lady managers of the fair
by Mr.. Knapp. After the worlds fair
the official flag was shown at the prize
winners exhibit in New York. 1t was
there that the attention of the English
collector was attracted to it. He began
with an offer of $4,000 for it and raised
the bill daily until it reached $69,G0O.
Mr.. Knapp grew angry then at the
Englishman's evident conviction that
anything in America could be bought.
/ This flag is not for sale," Mr., Knapp
said. There isn't money enough in
England and America to buy it.'-Chi-
cago Inter Ocean.
Light on Natural History.