The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-07-16
SP|RITO FBUNKERH|LL
What Commemoration Of the
Historic Battle Means
OF GREAT NATIONAL INTEREST
Wide Scope Of tho Conflicts Influence
on a Great Nation-Graphic Picture
Of the Battlefield as II Was In ITS.
Historical Landmark That Has Been
Preserved to Posterity by Women.


Historical Landmark That Has Been
Preserved TO Posterity by Women.
Sooner or later every stranger who
visits Boston invariably announces, II
must see Bunker Hill" June II is the
ideal day to crafty that wish. TO cor
rectly entertain any guests n supply of
luscious chicken and ham sandwiches
should be taken, with plenty of pic.
kles and few pieces of pie, for
Charlestown-accent on the town"
and pronounce It clearly, please-is
within the pie belt" We climb the
stately pile on Bunker Hill. attend the
exercises held by some historical asSo-
citation. listen to the strains OF that old
ode sung at the dedication Of the mon
ument In 1Si3, when Daniel Webster
delivered his famous grafton; behold
the parade sweep In majesty about the
foot of the historic pile and watch the
sun fash In golden CLEANS on the re-
nowned Sword of Bunker Hill" Like
many another historical landmark that
otherwise would have been obliterated,
Bunker Hill has been preserved TO pos
terity by the devotion of women.
Where today are well kept TURF
stately monument and joyous sight.
seers, in 1T75 q bare summit SCARED
by cannon shot, raw, half sodded
fieldworks and low redoubt overlook
ed the burning churches and houses of
Charlestown. Beyond from the Charles
river the British men-of-war Joined
the land batteries on the farther bank
in the unceasing thunder of artillery,
hurting death upon the men Of Massa-
chusetts Bay. Vermont and Connect.
cut.
Due north to the very verge Of the
Mystic ran a weak breastwork across
pasture lands and meadows. with here
and there an orchard a-bloom with the
delicate pink and white of apple, pear
cherry and ounce, fields of yellow
hearted, white petaled daisies swaying
In the vortex of cannon shot and the
mad rush Of furious charges.
Anon the orchards were full Of red
coated, white gathered infantry, the
snow white daisies were marred by
great splashes of life blood and the
pastures strewn with patches of scar
let where soldiers in their gay uniforms
had fallen 20 rise no more. To the
left q half score Of brass howitzers,
posted amid brick kilns and clay pits.
sought to enflade and sweep away
the Baymen who kept the hill
Farmers. sailors fishermen. trades
men. clad in everyday garb. armed
with their homely weapons Of the
chase. with scarcely flag to fight un-
der. suffering hunger, thirst and weari-
ness under the broiling sun. coolly train
ed across the Bunker Hill breastwork
the long. rusty tubes which had al
ready heaped windows of dead and
dying men upon the fields below where
the new mown hay still lay drying
The British lines continued to charge
Don't fire until you see the whites of
their eyesr' The word passed along
the line of set faces and leveled guns
A moment later hoarse cries, "Fire.
firer' rang out A crash of triple vol
leys and the rattle of deadly file firing
followed. The powder failed. The pro-
vincials broke away, pursued by Pit
cairns marines. For the moment our
fathers hope Of victory was over.
Yes, visit Bunker Hill Look upon
a monument erected to cherish the
memory Of defeat that brought sue
cess, for victory crowned the vanquish-
ed that day. The day set apart to
commemorate the battle Of Bunker
Hill is exclusively a Charlestown holt
day, but far wider than Boston's ''tri-
mountains" spreads the spirit Of Bun
ker Hill throughout a great nation
chrtstened on that day IN the red
blood Of American freemen - Joe
Mitchell Chapple In National Maya
zine For June.