Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-06-29
IMPROVISED FLAGS.
f.senious Mak<sAfft B~nn~ru 90 0up
Fer~fmaM~rw.

rnaenfous MakesAfft Bamn~~u sf 0mw
Fer~fmah~rs.
In days when nc the srnalls~s orrmafom
for patriotic display myriads of STARRY
Tags MI the air, from the beautiful broad
striped silken banner 90 the nAgieas war-
Ing In tiny hands. we scarcely rualins thss
there was 9 time when 70 po~ssw IN
American flag often required ths sxrrciss
OF ingenuity and sacrtnce
In an orderly book of the Rsvclusscuarr
army. dated . short time b~forv tho Bemrs
were placed upon our ssrtped banner. Tine
following entry is found: "rhs coloneAs
are desired to provide thnmsaivan wifh
some colors II they are 60 Be procured n
doth not signify Of what sort thsy ar"
The very first ssarry HAx that waved
over military action was hastily com
structcd at Fort Schuyler Ths fors wns
without n hag when the enemy Mrpemrud.
and there was much hurrying 10 and FRO
within the walls In search Of the covcted
red. white and blue. Soldiers offered thalr
ammunition shirts OF white nnnn bo ha
cut In stripes. There was no dtfaculfy
about the rcd. for q fine scarlet cloak %
that color that had been taksn from the
enemy was. with much dslighs. dsvussd 90
stripes for the new flag For mo nims
there was much searching and selschIna
together Of small pieces. but the laes afs~r.
noon sunlight giIded the nA~. which.
completed I'm sccordAnce with ths prw-
scribed pattern. fioated from the hamfinn.
In less than a week I've Of ths snemys
oolors were displayed bsneath 10. ail taken
In successful sally from the fort
The first ssar srrewn banner ahown Arm
California was also constructed from the
clothing Of the persons who rAissd tf. nos.
however, In token u pos~assion nor f1F
warlike intent. sent ashore at 9Mn Hsewn
for the curing Of hides. they wuMrs~d of
the lonely life. harrcn OF com:ort3 and
social JOY. Two gentlemen In charge ot
the party seizei upon the idea Of conzxr1ct-
ing and mounting the national Standard,
I'm hope of calling the attention of sou,s of
the distant ships. Of which. sf long inter.
walls. they caught y 9limpD. In qussk
response To their signal came shs good
ship Washington. from the Sandwich In
lands. sailing under the American colurm
sympathy. good cheer and companionmhip
were obtained through the d@x. but do1hs-
less none Of the party drcamed Of the time
when In right of possession the Union
flag should gracefully wave over Tho Goh-
en- Gate Of California
Undeterred by the fact that HumboIdf
had tried it and pronounced 10 tmpo~zibls.
n daring party of army and navy Officers.
soldiers and sailors. attempted the accent
OF Mount Orizaba- Thrive only of tho 4f
who started reached the summit 20 oehoAd
the wonderful panorama sprosd Out for
their enjoyment. A Gag. oonssrurepd th<
evening before from the sailors mhirta.
Midshipman Rogers contributing swhit<
ono to complete 10. was planted BY thsm
and left floating from the heights thss h~d
bccn untrodden before by the fooe of man
To bear our star span9ted tanner inec
unbroken wilds. TO mark with 10 eonquoa
and achievement. 10 grace with its wsvina
folds each hard won moral vscsory. hos
been the Joy of the heroes OF our pmsf. Tc
those who are now gaining educssson DO
neafh its protection belongs the future.
Nay they devote themselves 10 the faa
and plant 10 ever higher.-Forwmrd