The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-06-12

Great Britain toward the United
States. Determined to find out for
himself whether this talk was fostered
by politicians for their own selfish
ends or was a genuine antipathy,
Bates resolved to cross the Atlantic.
start from the northern border OF
England and march to London bear
ing aloft an unfurled American flag
just as he had done on the battle
fields of 1S61-65. His reception by
the people of England would show
whether or not there was any founda-
ton for this talk Of John Bulls hos
tility toward Uncle Sam.
Some of his friends tried TO dis
suade him from his purpose. Il bet
you don't travel II miles before you
set face homeward and leave your
bean-pole in the custody of some par
ish beadle," said one of them. But
Bates was not to be discouraged.
Late in October, 1872, he sailed for
Scotland with a carefully wrapped
bundle. In it was an American flag
of the regulation size at that time
six by six and a half feet. He also
carried staff, a stout hickory pole
nine feet in length.
Clad In his uniform of blue. Ser
geant Bates on November Guy
Fawkes day and the anniversary OF
the Battle of Inkerman-left Edin-
burgh for Gretna Green. AT Sark
bridge on the border line between Scot
land and England he unfurled "Old
Glory" and stood beneath it with IN
covered head. Then he started on
his march That evening he tramped
into Carlisle where a group of CON-
mercial travellers at the Bush hotel
gave him a hearty welcome. More
than that; they sent word on ahead
Of his strange pilgrimage and when
he came to the mining towns Of Pen
rith and Shap, great crowds of min
ers were on hand to cheer him.
The warm welcome given Bates there
was repeated in every place through
which he travelled. A little village
on the road from the university town
of Oxford to London yielded a mo-
ment Of rare pathos An aged woman
tottered up to him from a wayside
house and, leaning on her cane, said:
"Let me touch the flag and give my
blessing to the bearer. My youngest
son fought for that flag and died for
your country. He fell with that flag
in his hand"
The London daily papers gave q
full account of the coming of the
American and his flag. Up Noting
hill, along Bayswater road and
through Oxford street passed car
riage hemmed in and followed by a
huge crowd. In Bond street the
horses were taken out and the car
riage was dragged by men along st.
James street, Pail Mall, by Charing
Cross and through the Strand and
Fleet street, up Ludgate hill and
along Cheapside to the Guildhall.
The London daily press gave much
space to the American soldier on De
cember 2. A dense mass packed the
Guildhall yard. where a British SER
geant was carrying the English stand
ard. Bates was borne on the shout
ders Of men into the crowded Guild
hall, and then back to the carriage,
from which he made a speech before
refurling his flag.
Bates reception in London was the
browning touch to his pilgrimage.
There was no longer any doubt of
John Bulls friendliness toward Uncle
Sam, at least so far as the common
people of England were concerned.
Sheridan and his cavalry could not
have ridden from the Scotch border to
London town through towns and ham,
lets delivering goodwill and hearty
cheers" says Samuel Abbott in COM
menting upon this historic trip of "Old
Glory" and its bearer. This plain
man in a dusty blue uniform got
home to the hearts of men and wom-
en- of England through the sheer nerve
of his pilgrimage and the purity OF
his motive"
t0 by Western Newspaper Union-l