Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-11-02
A FLAG INCIDENT.
How kentuokian Won His Freedom
BY Flying Old Glory.


Every war veteran who was at
Camp Douglas. Chicago. during the
closing days of the civil war remem-
bers the strange incident which be.
tell the garrison flag. just when the
rejoicings over the fan of Richmond
and the surrender of Lee were at their
height
The garrison flag slipped down TO
halfmast. and nothing could get It
20 it's proper place at the TOP of the
high hag stan until the broken fixtures
at the very end of the pole could be
repaired.
The commondant OF tho post offer
cd a reward I'm gold and an honorable
DISCHARGE TO any soldier who would
climb the staI and repair It so that
the haS might again fy from the top.
one poor fellow accepted tho chal-
lenge. climbed up. and began work on
the ropes. but De became frightened.
started down and fen. crashing
through tho platform which surround
ed The dags,aI and received serious.
If not fatal. injuries
And so the garrison fac stiu hung
at half mast TO was uncomfortable.
while every heart was singing with
joy over the end of the war and the
approach OF peace
The offer was now made by tho
commardart SO any prisoner of war
In the prison camp. whore thousands
Of confedoratcs were held. To any
one who would repair the stan 500
I'm gold and his freedom was prom
ised.
n prisoner a young Kontuckian.
one OF Morron's men. came forward
and announced HIS readiness to try
for tho prize OF freedom.
When the time came for his climb
Johnny Rob was furnished with every
safety appliance that could Doe found.
and orders We're given that strict sill
ence should De observed by everybody
I'm the camp until the man had safely
made his ascent and descent. and
raised the fac 90 the head of the stan.
An immense crowd gathered in the
square at the ioot of tic flagstaff and
the enforced silence 90 such throng
Of soldiers and citizens. mon. women.
and children was Impressive
Up tho stan-it WAS OF great height
climbed the Ethe figure OF the Ken
tuckian. ana when hc reached tho top
he coolly did what was necessary. and
then slid quietly down the stan Pull
ing the cords. he raised the Fac % the
peak and fastened &c there by q scion-
uhc jerk
on came the hats Of every man In
the place. and tremendous cheer
went up. In which officers and men
Joined. REINFORCED hy the shriu hur-
rahs OF children Those who had
been supcrstitious over the accident
and had predicted some dire event
which would turn rejoicing into woe.
now rcsained their confidence. accent
Ing the chamng OF their friends on
their vanished fears with philosophy.
The Kentuckiaa then and there was
given his reward, writes Ada G. Sweet
in Chicago Journal and after much
handshaking with the soldiers he went
back 20 prison square 20 pack up his
blanket and Shirt" ready Tor the jour
ney to hiss home. For an hour the sol.
diers sung and cheercd and enjoyed
their Publication. The flag noated
where IL belonged, participating in the
general celebration. and all was well
For one day it waved in the sky.
and was lowered 90 night with honors.
and raised again at sunrise. but only
to be lowered again on the 18th day
OF April 1865. when the sould Of ABB
raham Lincoln was rent from its worn
and weary body lr an assassin's hand
Half-mast the flag remained for many
days. like all che flags from sea to
sea of the north. And the people who
had been shaking their heads over
the refusal of the nag to fly az the top
OF the stan again looked wise and
said: II told you So"
It is among the worldwide proverbs
that every cloud has silver lining.
and IL is quite equally true. though not
so We'll learned as yet. that every gold
en- cup of JOY has its admixture Of gall
/ and wormwood.