Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-31
BID LIVELY FOR FLAG
FADED CoLORS OF THE CHESA-
PEAKE BRING $4,25O.

LONDON, January 31.-The flag OF the
American man-o'-war Chesapeake and the
"Balaklava bug1e," two of the most val
liable war relics of collection or an
tiauites that belonged to the late I. O..
Middlebrook were secured yesterday at
the auction sale of the collection Tor
American buyers. The Chesapeake flag
was captured in the fight with the Brit
ish ship Shannon in 1913, and there was
good bidding for the faded and torn piece
of bunting. the authenticity of which is
vouched for in written history OF owner
ship since Midshipman Grundy of the
royal navy came into possession OF the
trophy nearly century ago.
The flag was sold for "a. $50 to a London
art dealer who also purchased the bugle
for 81 500. 1t was upon this instrument
that the order of the famous light brigade
to charge at the battle of Balaklava was
sounded The dealer admitted that these
highly interesting curios had been pur-
chased by him for different parties in
America, but more than this he would not
saw There was rumor that he was
acting for Cornelius Vanderbilt. but this
was subsequently denied. and London does
not yet know into whose hands the nag
and bugle have fallen.
Greeted With Hearty Cheers.
The auction of the Middebrook curios
has been going on for two days and has
attracted much attention, yesterday the
crowd overlooking into the street when
the Chesapeake's old flag was put up for
sale 1t hung in tattered and faded folds.
threadbare and pierced by bullet holes.
Its appearance WAS greeted with hearty
cheer. Apparently part OF the nag IS
missing, for though 1t displays the n1teen
stars only one white and one red stripe
remain.
,S,l,< r>ft no flo hrnrIoht an l.
Wontcd touch of romance to Il London auc-
ton ROOM and for moment or two there
was dead silence. broken before the auc-
tioneer spoke by an Enthusiastically Ameri-
it IAN right. sir, I'll take YOUR bid,
said the auctioncer. when the laugh had
subsidized. The irregular and theatrical
manner in which the bid was made caused
the hearers to imagine ii was not Seri-
Gus. But an EnSlishnan at the other end
of the room took the American up to
Goo in bids If $40.
A Spirited Contest.
There was a spirited duel in iifties until
ESQ was touched when the Englis hman
hesitated. An anxious pause was broksn
by a cheer when another En3lishman
took the field with bid of eco.
The American stuck 10 his guns till
ecoO was reached and then retired.
leaving the field to the Englishman and
a West End dealer named Partridge, who
acted for Mr. Vanderbilt
When the Englishman at last slowly bid
Gsn0 a voice was heard God saw
the king to which another replied. God
save the flag and Partridge mentioned
the decisive $50. For the time the auc-
tioneer gazed a the English runner-up.
who at last said sharply No" and with
a final, lingering flourish of his hammer
the auctioneer let il fall amid cheers.
As soon as the sale was made there
were loud calls in the auction room of
Does it remain in England?" This being
answered in the aft. native by some one
who did not know that the English dealer
was acting for an American. there was
at once an outburst of loud cheering
This enthusiasm was quickly quoted
however when the purchaser corrected
the mistake.
It has been understood here that the
American government had intended to
make a bid for the Chesapeake flag. but
1t was later decided from Washington to
leave the matter of the purchase of this
relic in the hands of patriotic societies
or private citizens.
The bidding for the "Balaklava bugle''
was not SO brisk, and the price obtained
is less than half what Mr.. Mddlebrook
maid for this relic ten wears ago