The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-03
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 ty and to the several Command
 ing Officers of the Continental
 Troops. That it be proclaimed in
 each of the United tSates and at
 the head of the Army"
 So the Great Drama then shift ed from Independence Hall to Capt. John Dunlap's printing office on Market street and the scene enacted there that hot sum- mer afternoon, was the second most interesting and important event of the day we celebrate.
 Now John Dunlap's printing ofiice was @ center of patriot ac. tivity. Though only 28 at this time he not only conducted a prof. itable printing and book.publish: ing business, but published and edited the ablest newspaper in America-The Pennsylvania Pack ct, later The American Daily Ad- vertiser (the first daily newspaper on the American cor1tinent), which circulated throughout the Colon. ies and rendered great service to the patriot cause. He command ed the confidence of Washington and the leaders of Congress, was chosen official printer to Congress won distinction as a cavalry officer, and contributed $20,000 of his own money to the American cause. (Capt. John Dunlap came alone to America from Ireland ct the age of 6 and at once became apprentice in his uncle's printing office in Philadelphia.) Capt. Dunlap had with him at this time an apprentice, 18 years old, of inc character who later became his partner, Lieut.. David 0. Clay poole - Q direct descendant of Oliver Cromwell. Young Clay poole won distinction at the Bat tie of Monmouth.
 Tn preparing for the reception of the distinguished Committee from Independence Hall, Dunlap brought down from his living apartment upstairs Q beautiful mahogany table on which to place JefSerson's MS. (That table is now in Virginia in possession of de" scendants of Capt. Dunlap.)
 We can imagine the arrival at the old printing office of the great Benjamin Franklin and his dis. tinguished associate Committee. men on their glorious errand.
 Franklin was then 70-just back from France where he had been so splendidly serving his country back home for Q little while to help his countrymen at that crit- teal hour, before returning to Flu. rope. He was at that time the best known and most famous man in the round world.
 Among his other accomplish ments he was, as we know, Q maS- ter printer. He knew how to make type talk" and tell 6 great story in Q great and eloquent way. And 1t was under this great masters keen eye and supervision that Capt. John Dunlap and young Lieut.. Dave Claypoole set the type that afternoon 160 years ago for the mightiest broadside that man has ever proclaimed to mankind.
 We can imagine the eagernesS of that famous group of patriots when the first proof was struck offl We can imagine the old printing office filling up with new arrivals from Independence Hall We can see the strong faces glow ing with exaltation and grim de- terminationl And later we can hear the chatter of horses hoofs around the old printing office. bearing patriot riders who are to carry throughout the land bundles of the great broadside in obedience to the order of the Resolution: THAT IT BE PROCLAIMED IN EACH OF THE UNITED STATES AND AT THE HEAD or THE ARMY"
 Meanwhile General Washington in New York with his troops, knowing what was taking place in Philadelphia, issued an order to his soldiers, telling them to be prepared to receive GREAT NEWS" and closing with the memorable words:
 1.-THE FATE OF UNKNOWN MILLIONS WILL NOW DE- PEND, UNDER GOD, UPON THE COURAGE AND CONDUCT or THIS ARMY"
 And no one knew better than Washington did that to make the Declaration of Independence good "a soldiers life would be the cost --for every word and every letter in that Document.
 As we learn in our histories, the Declaration of Independence was read before WashlnRton's soldiers in New York ct 6 o'clock on the evening of July 9th.
 The records Of Col. Phincas Pore ter. of Waterbury, show that Wa- terbury companies were then in