The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-19
COLONIES AT WAR OVER FLAG
IT'S OURS, SAYS col. GARDINER
TO COZ. MOREHOISE.
,1isn't, Either. says Col. Morehouse to
Col. observation-disclosures, Who Bears
Sword. Backs Her-Marty koee
Hangs On To Flag and Says Repleyln II.

III.
Col. Asa Bird Gardiner, vice commander
OF the Society of the War Of 1912, and Col.
Sarah c. Morehouse, said to hold honorary
rank in the same organization, had clash
on the steps Of the City Hall at the Cronk
funeral Yesterday. The subject Of dispute
was flag bearing the legend of the society
which formed part Of the decorations Of
the City Hall and which both Colonels
claimed. Col. Warehouses; husband ia
credited with saying that he would run
any man through who tried to take the
flag away from his Colonel.
The flag is large one and ia said to be
made partly OF pieces Of old flags carried
in the War of 1912. 1t was brought to the
City Hall on Wednesday afternoon by Col.
Morehorse. in full uniform. She asked
Marty Reese, the janitor to add the flag
to the decorations. He did so.
On Wednesday evening Col. Gardiner
and some of the other members OF the So
ciety doing guard duty over Cronk's body
noticed the flag. They made careful
inspection OF it and declared that it was
the flag that had belonged to the society
and mysteriously disappeared some years
there.
Yesterday morning when the crowds
were gathering for the removal of Cronk' $
remains the flag was still there. Standing
guard near it vera some of the members Of
the society. Col. Gardiner was within
hailng distance. just before the removal
of the body Col. Gardiner spied Mrs. More
house on the steps and strobe out to meet
her. Both Colonels were in full uniform.
Col. Gardiner carried sword. Col. More
house had no sword, but she was Respondent
with gilt epaulets and many medals.
Madam" said Col. Gardiner to the other
colonel, that flag belongs to this society
and we intend to keep it,"
Col. Gardiner, the flag belongs to me, and
ntend to keep it, said COL Morehouse.
According to some OF the bystanders,
among them members Of the Cronk family,
Mr.. Morehouse, husband Of the Colonel,
wearing bright red sash over his shoulder,
st Topped up at this juncture and informed
Col Gardiner that he would run through
with his sword any one who attempted to
take the flag out OF his wife's possession.
Col. Gardiner turned on bis heel and walked
spruptly away from Col. Morehouse and her
husband.
COL Gardiner, T. j. Oakley Rhinelander,
Rowland Pell and others Of the society
afterward took no notice Of Col. Morehouse.
They did, however, inform Janitor Marty
Reese of the City Hall that the flag be-
longed to the society, and was one they
had been looking for for years. Before
the funeral procession moved, Col. More
house and her husband asked jantor Reese
for the flag, but they didn't get it. Marty
took the flag down from the wall. locked
it in his closet and said that somebody
would have to replevin it.
Col. Gardiner said last night In reference
to the nag dispute that 1t was hardly worth
talking about.
Years ago" said Ill., "the organization
had two flags made. one to raise at the
Battery and the other at the Block House
in Central Park on the Fourth of July and
Evacuation Day. Those flags were in the
custody of the late Col. Chauncey Of the
Eighth Regiment, our adjutant, A short
time before his death, think it was one OF
the flags disappeared. We never could
find any trace of it, Suddenly the same
flag reappears among the decorations at
the City Hall Who this Moreho,lse woman
| is uOn KNOW. Sne ~ not d NOIOEel Ut
member Of our organization. The claim
that made was supported by such men
as MIR. Rhinelander Mr.. Pell and other
we'll known men in the organization. AS
yet we haven't gone to court about it
Perhaps we won't have to-"
One Of Hiram Cronk's sons said last night
that the flag dispute was little too mixed
up for him.
Mrs. Morehouse, he said. got this
flag years ago from an old member of the
organization. ! understand that he left
It to her. She brought it here and on pur,
pose for this occasion. Both Mrs. More,
house and her husband are descendants
OF soldiers Of the War of 1912 and belong
to this society"
Some OF the Daughters Of 1912 COM
planned to Col. Gardiner on Wednesday
that after they had paid the hot ell bill of
Mrs. Rowlev one Of Cronks daughters
and taken care Of hc-, when it came time
to take her back to the hot el from the Cit y
Hall there was no room In the carriage
| for Mrs. William Gerry Slade. who was
escort ing her. Col. Gardiner said he had
provided a seat for Mrs. Slade, but that
Mrs. Morehouse stepped in just ahead OF
Mrs. Slade and took the last seat