The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-07-01

PondP:oint}
, a disappointment It : Fourth I
Of July Celebration.
, By cLARlssA MAcklE. j
Copyright. 1910. by American Press ]
Association. {
b cLARlssA MAcklE.

EE+T6- .S yVNt 1892
Reckon I have" replied the sexton.
Ann Bassett says it's the grave Of
Theron Bassett."
After a century Of somnolence the
tfp>>wn Of Pond Point awoke to the re-
Salisation that its name was not writ
ten large on the page Of the nations
history. Indeed. 1t did not appear at
all. Other towns and villages in the
state boosted Of bullet SCARED edi6ces,,
historical taverns and many dwellings
wherein had stumbered the immortal
Washington or the beloved Lafayette.
1t had remained for DR.. Liscom to
unearth or at least to disclose the
identity Of a real hero Of the RevoIu-
tionary var In his genealogical re-
searches the good doctor had come
across the mention Of. one Theron Bas-
sett Of Pond Point. who had enlisted
and afterward died lighting on the
9th Of August, 1776. in the battle of
Long Island.
Notwithstanding the fact that The
ron Bassett had appeared to be the
only patriotic soul among the hundreds
that had populated Pond Point in those
early days. with commendable ardor
Pond Point decided upon a celebration
upon the following Fourth of July.
This celebration was to come as a
thunderclap upon the neighboring
towns. which had openly jeered at
Pond Point in days gone by.
There was to be a grand parade and
speechmaking on the green where the
churches formed a triangle. There
was to be an grafton at the grave de-
livered by the first selectman himself.
followed by the sounding of "taps"
over the resting place of the neglected
hero. Then there was to be a picnic
in the grove. with free ice cream and
gorgeous fireworks in the evening.
Other towns and villages would come
and see and envy.
At last the honor of Pond Point was
to be INDICATED. DR.. Liscom had a
cousin who knew q man who was a
reporter on a New York paper. This
reporter was enjoying his annual "a
cation. but he had reluctantly con-
scented to appear. Had he known what
was In store for him he might have
accepted the assignment with more
grace.
The eventful morning dawned warm
and muggy. with the promise Of in
konoo hoot 10 for IN 9- 'aNt -rtfr 1s.-.
.sThis is a proud day for Pond Point"
remarked DR.. Liscom as he prepared
to enter the carriage drawn up at the
sidewalk.
''The greatest day ever" responded
the first selectman. putting n~ervously
at his huge cigar. We've been wait
ing a long time. doctor. but today
we'll show some Of those other fellows
what Pond Point can do: They say
there's a big crowd from Leetown and
Scatterbrook up at the green now"
He painted into a seat beside the doc
tor and fumbled at the roll Of manv-
script in his pocket.
In the carriages were three clergy
men Of varying doctrines; the Enright
brothers. lawyers and men Of stand
ing in the community; a superanuated
senator who was a relative of the En-
rights and the orator of the day: the
committee on celebration. and, lastly,
the reporter from New York. who sat
dejectedly beside Hiram James of the
Pond Point Clarion. rather bored at
the whole proceeding.
UP the long street. around the cor
ner by the postofice and up the incline
to the village green. where the school
house and three churches stood In
%neighborly proximity. Here they paus-
ed and formed a semicircle about the
platform which had been erected.
Dr. I.iscom arose and said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen-This = a
proud day for Pond Point! For the
frst time in her history she Is able to
stand side by side with her patriotic
sister towns and to enthusiastically
commemorate the Declaration Of oulr
Independence and to honor the mem
ory Of one who fought and died for
that liberty and who, through q strange
oversight. has been TOO long permitted
to rest In an unknown grave," fetc.
Jared Wilson wheeled a small cam
non into position, and the minister
lifted his long. white hand and bowed
his head. and there was silence while
he prayed.
First selectman Jefferson Foster
came forward when the prayer was
enSded. Hisssrsound red face was3redder
than usual, and when he removed bis
stir hat beads Of perspiration stood out
on his forehead. He took the roll Of
manuscript from his pocket and sur
vveeyed the company with q wavering
eye. When his glance met the slightly
5contemptuons smile Of the reporter,
from NswsYork he started violently
andannrolled3 his papers nervously.
The nrst selectman Was suffering
painfully from stage fright. He look
sed atsthe opening lines ofa hi carefully
prepared speech and then concentrat-
ed his gaze8up,on II solitary vehicle
vending itsway slowly, up the dusty "a
sEIsX..a 800 sxolinM no,nft i,nNovaa ii