The Wrangell sentinel., 1928-12-27

tolloWlnE IS part or SeII eAplan- atory communication from the pub hcity department Of the Alaska Yu- kon-Paeific Exposition:
 In what place is the American banner that first fluttered over AL aska now resting? h what manner has the flag been preserved to the present time? And finally, what is the real story of that stirring Octo- Der day at Sitka, when the American warship arrived to take possession of the country, and when the Russian flag was rent in two pieces as they pulled it down for the last time in the Western hemisphere, while the beautiful Russian Princess Maksoat- off wept at the shortsightedness Of her country at selling land with so much potential greatness.
 A few months ago the management of the ska-Yukon-Pacific Exposi- tion started to solve these questions, especially the first one as to the whereabouts of the flag. The result was curious, and indeed reminds one so forcibly of a famous incident of the eighteenth century, that perhaps the story may be told:
 John Baxter, in his day a famous divine, died with so many expres- sions of hope and belief, that his heirs determined to issue the story. The book, "The Last Words of John Baxter" was issued and was an i'm mediate success. Money rolled in. The heirs became greedy, and hoping to duplicate the success, issued an- other book, More Last Words of John Baxter"
 It was so with the flag. No soon- CT had search begun for the first American flag unfurled in the north land than the enquirers began to be daily informed of where the real first flag" was to be found. Every one that had a flag thirty-five or forty years old seemed to be deter mined to advance his banner as the original one. Many and ingenious were the stories told, and bitterly did some of the contestants wage war fer the legitimacy of the particular flag in which they were interested. True, many of these ancient American banners had most interesting histor- ies, but histories not pertaining to the point at issue.
 After sitting the matter out, the exposition management believes that the original thirty-six starred banner to float above the Russian barracks at Sitka is one of three which are in different parts of the United States for safe keeping. The history of each of these three flags is well au- thenticated and later the one desired
 One flag, the property of Edward Leudecke of Wrangell, has a strong claim to being the original. It now reposes in the vaults of the Dexter Horton Bank of Seattle. The story is that the body of American soldiers that left San Francisco in the au- tumn of 1867 for Sitka to take po- session of the country, proceeded by the inside channel and touched first at Wrangell. At that point there were living few Americans engaged in pioneer work. One of these was Edward Leudecke, who after forty years, is still resident of Wrangell. Leudecke, when the troops touched at that point, heard for the first time of the American purchase. Although the country was not then formally taken over by the United States, he ran to the flagpole and hoisted the American flag, and there it flew for many months. In the meantime the troops proceeded to Sitka, then the capital, and on October IS, 1867, the Russian flag was pulled down and the American flag raised before the barracks and in the presence of a de- tachment of both Russian and Amer icaD troops.
 The flag of Leudecke floated until the news of the admission of Nebras- ka to the Union was announced, and then the flag with thirty-six stars was pulled down and another one with thirty-seven stars was raised in its place Leudecke. however, chung carefully to his flag and in 1905 ! turned it over to G. E. Rodman, an attorney of Wrangell, who sent it on to its present destination for safe keeping.
 Leudecke is now seventy-two years of age and is strong and hearty. He remembers perfectly the first arrival