Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-16
PAUL JONES' FLAG
Historical Feature for the Dewey
Souvenir Medal Proposed.
ORIGINAL BANNER OF FREEDOM
Suggestions That VIII Make the
Great Day More Significant.
MEETING DEWEY AT SEA

In Washington alone, the nations capital
will the welcome to the hero of Manila be
national and each day adds to the indica.
tons that every feature will be prepared
and carried out in perfect harmony with
its significance in this respect. A sugses-
ton has been made by Vice Chairman w.
Van Zandt Cox that has important bearing
upon this character of the celebration. The
committee on badges and medals, of which
Mr. Simon Wolf is chairman. decided upon
a souvenir medal of Dewey day, which has
been thoroughly described in The Evening
Star. The yellow ribbon which was to hold
the bronze representation of Dewey was
to have been embellished with the national
stars and stripes and the flag of Admiral
Dewey crossed and woven in colors into the
CHROME silk. Mr.. Cox suggests that to
make the souvenir even more historic the
natlonal flag should be replaced by a repro
duction of the original flag of freedom
. wihcn was fiown by the first naval hero of
the nation, Paul Jones, when he carried
the Bon Homme Richard upon the seas and
bFSat the peerless history Of the Irnitea
states favy to which Dewey added so
grandly st Manila.
ihe story OF tke Flag.
This flag. which is now one of the pre-
c1ous possessions of the National Museum.
was made IN Philadelphia by Misses Mary
and Sarah Austin, under the immediate SUI
perVision of Gen George Washington and
capt John Brown. 1t was, ard is, of Eng
hsh bunting, two and one-half yards long
ana .'sTd wide, sewetl with fax thread
ana Con aims twelve stars. arranged in
TOUR horiZJ atai lines of three stars each on
a field CT blue. There are thirteen stripcs.
alternately red ami white. When the nag
vas Vas coinple'cd II was presented to Paul
Jones. who placed ii on a small vessel.
named the Delaware and sailed I'D and
down the Schuv!kill river while thousands
OF Phllade bli1ns assembled along the
Jones placed this flag al the ma. head of
the Bon Hpmme Richard when he started
on MS Drivateering trip. During the fight
with the English war vessel Scraps in the
brltish channel off Flambra Head, the fiag
was shot away and carried overheard.
whereupon Lieut. James Payard Stafford
Jumped INTO the sea and recovered it. and,
bringing it back to the Bon Homme Rich
ard, nailed it to the masthead
A Letter of Paul Jones'
That it was the first flag of freedom is
proven by many historical facts, but par
ticuarlv so by a letter of Paul Jones him.
self. to be found in his life by Hamilton
on page %. He wrote as follows:
Il was, indeed. born in Britain, but I do
MOI inherit tHe degenerate spirit OF that
fallen nation, which / at once lament and
despise. 1t is far beneath me to. reply to
their hireling invectives. They are stran-
gers to the inward appreciation that greatly
animates and rewards the man who draws
Els sword only in support of the dignity of
freedom. America has been the country of
my fond election from the age of thirteen,
when l first saw 1t. l had the honor to
hoist with my own hands the flag of free
dom the first time it was displayed on the
Delaware, and | have attended it with ven
Grafton ever since on the OCEAN
1t is believed that Mr. Coxs suggestion
will be approved by the committee on
badges and medals and the general and
executive committees, as it is in line with
the desire to make the reception as signifi-
cant possible, both historically and
nationally.
May BE Carried by Olympia Crew.
There is also a probability that the orig
inal flag itself may be carried in the parade
that will bring Dewey day to a splendid
tc- nination. The great interest of the ma
tional authorities in the national reception
to the admiral, already shown so cordially,
assures hearty cooperation with the citi-
zens of the District in every way possible,
and this assures that every assistance will
be rendered in making the occasion what
it should be.
1t would be feature, 1t is thought, of
the greatest interest and of educational in
spiration well If the famous flag Of Paul
Jones was carried in the parade by the
brave men of the Olympia who were behind
the guns at Manila in case as is now ex-
pected, detachment of the crew of the
adnirafs flagship is ordered to Washing
ton. The feature could be even heightened
in effect if the two guns captured at Ma
Mia, which are also at the National Muse
UNI, could be secured for the occasion and
dragged along through enthusiastic thou
SANDS by the representatives of the brave
boys who took them on May day, 1898
Interest Of Naval Authorities
There is general and earnest hope ex-
pressed on all sides that Secretary Van
Wickle's excellent idea about having a de-
tachment of the OymEias crew participate
III the Dewey night parade will be accom-
plished. There is no doubt that it will be-
IL the exigences of the naval requirements
will permit 1t, but, of course, it Will re-
ouire some little time for a final decision
to be reached.
The desire Of the Navy Department is to
further anything that will make the ma
tional reception to Admiral Dewey COM
mensurate with his deserts. y few days
ago the suggestion was made that the Dol
phin would be ordered TO the duty of meet
ing the Olympia upon its approach to New
4ork, and to convey representatives of the
reception committees of New York and
Washington to greet Admiral Dewey and
acquaint him with the final plans regard
ing his receptions which had been COM
pleted while he was on the ocean and not
in communication. 1t is considered, how
ever, by those familiar with the conditions
and what may be necessary under the cir
cumstances that the Dolphin is too small
for the in ended purpose
This matter is under consideration by
the Navy Department authorities, who nat
urally desire to place every opportunity TO
honor Admiral Dewey within reach of the