The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-24
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER "a. 1907.
Fnlsc hopes and false tcrrors are
equally to he n,oitIcd.--Dr. Johnson.
THE "FLAG INCIDENT"

THE "IIg.AC; INCIDENT"
The Columbia State reproduces a sem
sational account of the flag incident
on jamestown Island and appends the
following comment:
"Will our Richmond contemporaries
favor an Interested public with de-
NAL or corroboration of that story? 1T
is said that historical society Of
Virginia. holding title to a piece of land
on jamestown Island. erected thereon
a flag pole from which it flew its once
beautiful flag. One night that flag was
hauled down by unauthorized persons,
and little United States flag run up
in its stead. A member of the histor-
ical society Indignantly pulled Gown
the usurpfng bunting. He was sum
moned to Washington, where he sue
ceeded in so explaining his conduct
that he has escaped the galloWs; was
even allowed to return to his home IN
Richmond. government launch. how
ever, proceeded from Norfolk to .aies-
town Island, and the United States flag
was again hoisted on that pole. All
are admonished TO touch 1t not.
surely there must be error, gross
error, in the Richmond story. Weld
crs of big sticks and advocates OF n
centralized and strong government.
many be despotic at heart. but they
should he afraid at this juncture to
risk making the flag of liberty play
the mart OF the Gessler cap of despot-
ism. The United States flag is to be
honored Just as long as the govern
ment ii represents Is honorabie. 1t
seems quite impossible that the account
OF the seizure of the flag pole at
Jamestown Island by the government
can be true.
The simple facts about the flag in
cident'' are that about the middle OF
August. after the gates to the Assoc
citation for the Preservation of Virginia
Antiquities grounds at Jamestown had
been locked for the night, some UNI
known person or persona entered the
grounds and hauled down the flag
which had been raised by the asso-
citation at its own expenae and upon
its own grounds to mark jamestown
Island The flag which is about twenty
feet in length by ten in breadth, bore
the words stowa--l607-19o7, ~
red letters on a white field. After
lowering the flag the intruder hoisted
in it's stead United states nag, -four
feet in length by two in breadth. Upon
the discovery of the trcspass the nexI
morning, the agent of the association
lowered the United States flag, AID
finding That it had been securely fas,
tened 10 the lalyard. cut the eSelets
removed the flag and again raised the
flag of the associa ton. When a gov
eminent official visited the islanC
incident. Feeling that the cutting .!
the flag called for some action on Tho
part of the government and knowing
that it had been done without tho
sanction of the association, he re.
ouested the association TO dispense viii
the services of the man who had cu
the flag. This was done and the Incl
dent was closed.
The authorities of the association
have requested the government to do,
nate a United States flag of suitable
size which will be hoisted on a sepa
rate pole to be erected by the associa
lion upon its grounds at Jamestown.
And so ends the Dog Days Comedy
entitled Much Ado About Nothing
So far as we can ascertain, there Is NJ
statute, either Federal or State, which
would make the act of the agent a
Jamestown of the a. p. v. A. Grim
inal offense. What right had any ma,
TO haul down the flag of the associa
ton and nail to tho staff a Fedora
flag? 1t was an act of trespass, am
of course. the agent had legal RICH
to remove the flag even though it wa
necessary in so doing to mutilate Il
Otherwise any mlschievous boy nigh
nail United States flag over the en-
trance to residence and the owne
could not lawfully open his door. les
In so doing he mutilate the flag. An
so the whole case reduces itself to q
absurdity.
The Jamestown incident is happi
ended, and II is to be hoped that /
will cease TO be subject Of discus
sion.
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