The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-15
DATES AND FACTS PROVEN.
Mrs. WinbOrnc is Located and Furn-
ishcs the Information Desired

To the Editor. Since Mr.. Harri-
son has been writing his book on
Flags, and we have been collecting
flag stories for him, We have learned
how important il is to have dates and
facts proven, especially when writing
about any important historical event
that has never been published. We
knew who designed the stars and
Bars but though we searched for
months. we could find no one who
knew anything of the little model that
was sent TO Montgomery, thanks -
Nh. Harrison, who proposed that we
should put advertisements i'm the D3-
pers asking for any information of
Mrs Katherine Rebecca Murphy Win
borne we did so. in the Louisburg
'"rimes" (where the flag was madc),
the News and Observer and the
Times" of Wilson, where Mrs Win
borne was living when we heard from
her last.
TO the editor Of the Times"
Wilson. is due thanks from every one
interested in the history of the Con-
federate Flag, for it was through his
efforts (and he went to q great deal
of trouble) that Mrs. Winborne was
found living at Pine Tops Edgecombe
county, North Carolina.
He published in his paper her adj
dress, and an article on the little flag
the large flag that was raised in Louis
burg long before North Carolina Sc
coded. saying that Mrs. Winborne re-
membered making the flags and the
circumstances perfectly. and would be
glad to give us any Information she
could.
We wrote at once To Mrs. WinbOrne
and received a most interesting letter
from her. for she remembered some
facts that the designer of the stars
and Bars had forgotten, 50
we now have the whole
story, not as exact as Ma
jor Rogers, for he wrote his story at
the time he designed his flag, but with
the facts and dates We have, the most
severe critic cannot say that there is
a loon hole for anyone TO dispute the
fact that the Secession Flag was de-
signed by Orren Randolph Smith. of
LouiSburg, NJ c., and made by isath-
crime Rebecca Murphy Winborne. also
Of Louisburg.
II the Louisburg people had known
at the time the flag was being made.
that the Committee ON Flags al Mont
gomery. would accept Mr.. Smiths
flag, they would undoubtedly have
shown much interest in the model and
have saved every bit of information
they could set at the time, for tle
histories of the State and the Confed-
efficacy. but when q man is living in L
town, everyone thinks. why should
he do any great thing more than |.
And some who knew about the design
no doubt laughed at Mr.. Smiths i'm
pudence in sending his flag To the
committee. Then history was being
made so rapidly that peo-
pie had 40 time 20 COZ
lect evidence and save the ! a
pers that told of the important events
happening around them. it was as
much as men could do to live and
light Tor their States Rights, and
the women had the mems work to do
at home ana To cook and sew for the
soldiers, when not keeping their own
souls. and their children's and bodies
together
Hence the trouble and length Of
time we have been collecting the story
of the Stars and Bars. for Mr.. Harri-
sons book, if ii had not been for Mr..
Harrison, the only person who en-
couraged us to Keep trying, the story
of the Confederate flag would never
have been written, for we had only
Mr.. Smiths word for it, at first. and
though this was enough for the people
who knew him, there are many others
who would say that for such great
historical fact. something more was
needed, ana that it he had designed
the flag, why had he told the story
years ago? And perhaps today there
are others who have claimed the hon
or OF designing this flag.
While SO much was being said about
the other three flags OF the Conted-
eracy. and their stories We're being
written in detail, it does seem strange
that no one tried to collect the story
OF the First Flag OF the Confederacy."
Thanking each and every one who
has shown any interest in the The
story" and who have tried To help us
collect the facts and dates, | am, with
a thankful heart that the story is at
last written.
Sincerely yours,
j. RANDOLPH SMITH.
Henderson, n. c.. January IS, 1905.
HEART RENDING ACCIDENT.