Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, June 30, 1901, Image 15

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    Fourth of July Celebrations Reach Many New Lands
4
Copyright, lwi, by il. Ullson Gardner.)
STRANGE people In remote ami
widely separated places will wit
11088 tho eulebratlon of Inde
pendence day uu tUo Urst Fourth
or July of the twentieth century
Tho message which rang out from tli
old Liberty bell above tho little red brick
hail in Philadelphia 125 yours ago has
Unwind swift and far In theso last throj
ycals, until now It has extended half way
atound the world.
It will be repeated and elidursid at this
anniversary by Americans living on Ameri
can soli which Is eternally bound In Arctic
Ice. It will be read to Americans whose
homo Is WD mill s south of tho equator
While tlu rockets and Roman candles arc
closing the ilny In Maine tho morning sun
ulll bo lighting tho folds of the Stars an 1
Stripes In tho western confines of U13 re
public. On the shores of tho China so.i
tho cannon of our navy will llro the salute
to tho union and little blown Americans
will doubtless hear the roar with terrcr
lleelng to tho woods of I'alawnn.
Illack, brown, ted. yellow and white ure
tho skins of the people of the United
Stntes. They live ns far north as human
bolngs may exist and they live naked under
tho equator's fierce suns. Wherever the
Hag has gone the national holiday will be
celebrated In some fashion and tho work
will begin of Instructing our new subjects
In Its meaning.
I'urtlii'Ni Fourth of July.
As nearly as can be predicted tho most
remote celebration of the Fourth oil Ameri
can soil will be at Palawan. This is the
most western station In the Philippine
archipelago, at which It Is expected at
the Nuv department that a ship will be
found on that day. It Is safe to say that
tbe natives of Palawan have no clear Idea
of the origin or Import of the American
feast, and the bellowing of the saluting
cannon will doubtless be the first notlco to
the majority of the people of tho island
that they are due for a little celebrating.
The moil northerly celebration will un
questionably bo at Point Harrow, Alaska,
where Commander Harry Knox will have
at rived with the Concord. This Is
72 degrees north latitude and
tnly about a thousand miles from the pole.
The government maintains a signal station
there, and at rare Intervals sends one of Its
Mtnunchcst seagoing tugs to pay It a brief
visit. The country is snow and icebound
and It 13 with dllllculty that life can be
maintained. On tho Fourth of July tin1
sun will be circling a short distance above
tile horizon, but tho crew of tho Concord
will not bo troubled with tho heat. Tho
man who hoists tho Hag will be wrapped to
tho eyes In heavy furs, and If tho cabin boy
decides to set oft any firecrackers he will
havo to wear warm mittens. Tho special
dinner served out to tho men In honor of
tho doy will consist largely of hot soups
and canned vegetables and will bo con
sumed In the company of redhot stoves.
In llic South Sea IhIiiikIh,
Whllo this is taking place thero will be
another celobrntlon still on American
soil of a very different character. In the
Island of Tutulla, In tho Samoan group,
MINDINORO, ONE OF THK NEW FOUHTH OF JULY TOWNS.
there will bo a repetition of tho celebration
held April 1", when tho American flag
was formally raUod there. Tutulla Is fifteen
degrees south of tho equator and is the
routhornmost American possession. Cap
tain U. F. Tilly, who Is governor, bellevis
in teaching tho natives to reverence Ameri
can customs and Institutions. In addition
to dressing ship and Hrlng twenty-one guns
fiom the American man-of-war In the har
tor of Pago Pago Captain Tilly will give
shore leave to his men and Invito the
Samoans to Join In tho games, feasts and
general jubilation. Thoro will bo boat
rnccs, bobbing for apples In tubs of water,
catching tho greased pig, hurdle and run
ning races, swimming and general ath
letics. The most eastern celebration will be in
tho Island of Porto Klco. Tho Fourth will
dawn hero Just twelvo hours ahead of the
day In the bland of Luzon. Tho twentieth
parallel of latitude, which passes through
Porlo Hlco, runs Just one degreo north of
tho island of Luzon and the distance be
tween tho two points Is 180 degrees, or
half tho circumference of tho earth. In
many towns of Porto Hlco there nro former
residents of tho United Stutos and the
day will not pass unnoticed even in the ro
moto sections. From tho palace of the
governor general In San Juan will float
tho Stars and Stripes and wherever there
Is a postolllce or a public school house the
colors will bo displayed and tho natives will
be apprised by fireworks and shooting that
the day Is ono to bo remembered.
I'.mIiiIiIInIiciI Cimtoiu Here.
Ill tho city of Manila tho Fourth has
twico been celebrated. Naval ofllccrs who
were with Dewey's fleet remember well tho
first celebration. It enmo two months
after the fntuous victory nt that critical
tlmn when the ships of Germany, Eng
land and the other European powers were
crowding one another In tho bay and when
It seemed even to tho coolest Americans
that a clash with Germany was Inevitable.
That night the English men-of-war drossed
ship with thousands of electric lights, and,
drawing away from the other vessels, took
their place close to tho American fleet. The
other nations hnd not paid any particular
attention to the notice which It is the
custom to send to other ships In a huibor
Inforining them that the day Is a national
holiday, and the special attention of the
British was accepted as nn assurance that
if trouble came they would be with us.
Since that evening, therefore, the Ameiican
olllcers anil men who were present and
who realized tho full meaning of the Inci
dent have cherished a warmer feeling for
"our llritlsh cousins."
Tho celebration of Independence day In
Manila a year ago was marked by pilot
ing In tho local theaters anil halls,
patriotic speeches In English, Spanish and
tho Tagal language, band concerts, bunting
and other festivities. It Is planned this
year to train a chorus of native children
to sing the "Star Spangled Uaiiner," "The
Ued, Whlto and Illuo" and other national
songs. Tho Declaration of Independence
will bo read In tho schools In dlffeient
tongues nnd nn tho Lunetn the salute lo
tho union will ho fired.
An Idea of tho preparations for cele
brating In other ways tuny bo had from
tho following extrncts prlntod In the
...i. ...In 'liiiiis a ).ar ago. Il shows a w i
llig spllll, but eiifcbcmx a xciiMiess in in
use ot Liiglish.
ilils popular hotel Is haudsomcl) and
tusteluuy dccuiulcd, lanterns, ll.igu m.u
glutting luuliw teiiiij, being much in e.
demo. A prolusu dinner has been prepnicu
and no expense spaicd to make the da) a
tlinuugli success in ccry way, and wslluis
will be sure ot tludlng a fuiicluu t'.'J mcui
111 tho coolest dining room in toius. i u
iwo Uo)s at the bar arc fully prcp.ucd lo
do Just ico tu all visitors, i'ticy havo pie
pared a uuw punch which Is warranted to
send a man tioiuu sober niter an untold
number uf glasses. As for M'Klug, If he
has fully borne out our prophecy that he
would bo a success In every way and an
who bau tested his ability ami courlos)
aio pretty sure, if circumstances permit, to
turn up during tho day and drink to lib
glories."
Tho Princeton will bo stationed at the
Island of Cebu on July I, and Its cannon
will remind the natives that they are till
zeiis of a freo republic. The War depart
incut expects to have one of the "tin
cluds" not fur from tho courts of the sultan
uf Stilti, nud tho olllcers will Inform bis
inujcsty that the day Is a holiday for all
Americans, and that they would appreciate
tho favor If ho would tly tho Hag on his
palace and harem.
Where I he .MlllllfcMlo HIooiiin.
In tho distant and lonesome island ot
Guam there will bo plenty of celebration.
Following tho example of Captain Lcnry,
his successor, Captain Scutou Schroeder,
will issue .1 few ringing manifestoes, ihe
natives will be told that the day nutria
tho birth of the nation of which they arc
now u part, and that It Is their duty and
privilege to set oil firecrackers, shoot pis
tols, bum pluwhccls and have as good a
time as possible, all the while remembering
why they do it and being eaielul not In
burn their llngeis. The natives ulll be
supplied with translations of the Declara
tion of Independence and will bu urged lo
participate In games uud festivities.
In Cuba there uro 0,000 American soldiers
who will do u little celebrating, oven
though tho Cubans do not regard the day
us an occasion for unmitigated Joyuusuess.
Pino Island, south of Cuba, Is not conceded
to the Cubans, uud may bu regarded as
part of tho United States. There Is a mill
tury reservation there where tho day will
bo celebrated much as It Is in tho United
States. In addition to tho naval stations
thero aro plenty of former residents of tho
states who have gone to tho Islands to live
Also, there are plenty of crackers In the
Chinese shops, not to mention pliiwhcols,
"nigger-chasers," skyrockets and torpe
does. Tho lonesomest spot in Uncle Sam'i
broadening domains Is Wuku Island. 11
sticks up In the Paclllc about half
way between Hawaii and tho Philip
pine archipelago. It has not oven tho com
pany of other Islands. The United Stntes
acquired It and made It a naval station,
nnd hero In the middle of the Paclllc the
union will be saluted and the Hag will
II y, 2,000 miles from tho nearest of Its
starred nnd striped fellows.
II. OILSON GARDNER.
When Old Glory First Floated Over Kansas Soil
In
EXT Thursday, July I, tho state of
Kansas will cause tho foundations
of a monument to be laid to com
memorate a deed that was done
tt... innir. lnmr auo. That deed
uuw Mm haullnir down of tho Spanish
(lag upon Kansas soil and tho hoisting ot
tho Stars and Stripes In Its placo and tho
enforcing of American sovereignty In Kan
sas. Tho place where this notablo his
torical act was performed was upon a swift
little stream, known ns White Rock creek,
that winds and rattles and tumbles through
a wild ravine in what Is uow Republic
county, Kun-ns. some sixteen miles south
east of Superior. Neb. Tho time wns Sep
tember 2!i. 1S0G. The man, Colonel Zebu
Ion Montgomery Pike.
Two winters ago a Kansas woman made
ii trip over Into .llM,ourl to visit sumo rela
tives. While there she met an old timer
u man who had trailed over Kansas In tho
lays when the Indians wero the sole In
habitants. They talked of old times. When
the woman told him where her husband's
larin lay the old fellow remarked: "That
must be about where Zeb Plko raised tho
Hag." Upon returning homo she told her
husband of the conversation. They began
nn historical research that resulted In
proof of the old man's statement and that
It was upon one corner of their fnrm that
Plko raised the ling. This man nnd his
wife, Mr. nnd Mrs. George Johnson, there
upon presented tho facts to tho State His
torical society nnd ngreed to give a deed
to eleven ncres of ground for a stnte park,
provided tho state would erect a Bultnble
monument and keep tho park In good con
dition. The legislature, then In seFlon,
accepted tho deed for tho society and ap
propriated $3,000, one-third of It to bs
used in erecting n monument, the rest In
Hurrniindlng tho park with nn Iron fonce
and keeping tho park clean for two years.
Rut who was Plko, and what wus ho doing
up In northern Kansas In tho opening years
of the last century?
Whit Wiih .eliiilou I'lkof
Three years after tho Hessians wero
soundly thrashed by tho Americans at Tren
ton, N. J., a weo bit of a boy was boin
near that placo and his pious parents bur
dened tho poor Infant with the blbllcnl
name ot Kchulon. Coming Into the world
"In tho midst of war's alarms," and hear
ing n name that would make anyone light.
It Is not to bo wondered that young Pike
took to the regular army when old enough
llko a fish to water. Ills father was an
nfllcer of the regulars before him,
In April, 1803, a real estate deal wn
innilu in Paris, That deal has since gone
under tho title of tho "Louisiana purchase."
Napoleon had concluded that n little cash
lit hand was worth much unknown land
especially when his claim on tho land was
somewhat dubious, John J. lugnlls once
figured that our forefathers got about 100
acres for 1 cent when they made that deal
In dirt and ns tho price principal, Interest
nnd expenses wob somothlng llko $23,500,
000, It may bo Inferred that several acres
wero secured.
The next thing wns to exploro and as
sert tho authority of tho United States In
this territory. What little authority thorr
was was Spanish, Tho Inhabitants of the
Interior did not know that Spain hail ceded
tho land nnd them nlong with It to France
nnd Hint France In turn had sold them to
tho United Stntes. General James Wilkin
son, a revolutionary ofllcor with a reconl
of Intrigue that, ns Noblo I'rotls Intimated,
makes mighty Interesting reading, was In
commnnd at St. Louis In tho spring of
1805. Tho old general had a liking for
young Plko and In August of that yoar ho
sent tit in to exploro tho Bourco of tho Mis
sissippi river. Although only 2G years of
ago nnd with n deporably small force In
command, ho made tho trip, returning to
St. Louis In April, 180C. Instead ot be
ing allowed to rest General Wilkinson Im
mediately ordered him to make a tour of
Kansas, making friendly visits to tho vari
ous tribes that Inhabited tho laud and es
pecially to Investigate thu "Pawnco re
public," which was known to exist upon the
upper Republican river.
Otfrluiill llle SMI ll III riln.
Tho trip was uneventful until about the
17th of September. It was then that he
discovered tho Smoky Hill river. On Sep
tember 23 he crossed what he believed to
bo thu Solomon. It was while in this val
ley that Plko discovered something that
woke him up- Ihe now trail of a company
of Spanish cavalry. The governor of New
Spain had heard of the expedition being
sent nut from St. Louis and bad concluded
that a demonstration In force from his
side of tho question would not ho nut of
order. Ilouniliiry lines In those days were
very vague concerns. Arconllngly ho sent
from Santa Fo a troop of 300, under Lieu
tenant Mnlgnres, Into tho same territory to
be visited by Pike. Malgures had .icorcoly
concluded his visit to the Pawnees, hoisted
tho flag of Spain over them and gotten
away befoio Plko appeared. Pike's parly
was pitiful by comparison of numbers. It
consisted of two lloutennnts, ono surgeon,
ono sergeant, two corporals, sixteen pri
vates and ono Interpreter, a total, with tho
commander, of twenty-four. On September
20 they approached tho Pawnoo village,
but, finding the trlbo engaged In tho day
long ceremony of welcoming a hand of
Osagea, thoy withdrew to the Republican
river and camped until tho next day. Upon
entering tho village tho noxt morning thoy
noted tho Spanish colors Hying. Plko, with
that nervo that Is never lacking In thu
American, lot tho chiefs of tho Pawnees
know what his sentiments wero on tho
Hng question. Ho told thorn that tho
Spanish Hug would have to come down and
tho American Hag go up. Tho chiefs looked
at Plko's force and Intimated that they
would think It over.
IIIiiiTciI I'nn ueex.
Monday, September 211, Plko called all the
Pawnees together In council. Wo havo no
stenographic report of tho speech that hu
made, but ho, In his diary, says that thoy
"listened to my discourse In sllonco," from
which wo mny Infer that ho was tho fore
runner of tho raco of Kalians spellblndurs.
Ho reiterated his demand that tho Spanish
flag como down. Tho Impressive hcoiio that
followed Is best described In Plko's own
language, quoted from tho dlnry:
"After the chiefs had replied to the
various parts of my discourse, but weie
silent as to the Hag, I again reiterated my
demand for tho flag, adding 'that It was
Impossible for the nation to have two
fathers; that they must either bu the
children of the Spaniards or acknowledge
their American father.' After u silence of
sumo tlmo nn old man lose, went to the
door, took down tho Spanish Hag, brought
It and Jail It nt my feol. He then received
tho American flag and elevated It on tho
atnff which hnd lately borno the standard
of his Catholic majesty. This gave great
satisfaction to the Osnges and Kims, both
of whom decidedly avow themselves to bo
under American protection. Perceiving
that every face In the council was clouded
with sorrow, as If some great national
calamity were about to befall them, I took
up the contested colors and told them that
as they had shown themselves dutiful chil
dren In acknowledging their grent Amer
ican fatl'or, I did not wish to embarrass
them with tho Spaniards, nnd
that, for fear the Spaniards might return
there In forco I returned them their flag,
but with the Injunction that It should
nover bo hoisted again. At this thero was
n great shout of applause, nnd the charge
was particularly attended to,"
It may bo remarked In passing that, al
though tho Pawnees wero so decent upon
tills occasion, they gave Plko a touch of
tho strenuous life before ho got through
with them. They became Insolent uud
thievish and he had lo overawe them.
And so it wns that tho folds of Old
Glory llrst Moated In authority upon the
Kansas breeze In the most beautiful spot
In the Republican valley, ami Its shadow
first darkened tho "walls of corn" planted,
not by the prosperous farmers of that
grand commonwealth, but by tho rqunws of
an Inferior race.
After tho WnrU of I'll.c.
It Is not a part of this story lo tell
how Pike, on leaving tho Pawnco village,
went south to the Arkansas river, and
thenre to Colorado, where hu used his mil
Italy knowledge In ascertaining tho alti
tude of tho peak which now bears his
name; how, when passing through tho Rid
river district, ho was captured by the
Spaniards and taken, an honored prlsont r.
lo Old Mexico, and how, with the snnio old
grit, ho died facing the llritlsh foe at
Snckett's Harbor, N. V., In 1813.
The monument, which Is to honor this
man's pluck, will ho commenced July t.
The Masons have eharpo of tho coromony
of laying the cornerstone. Tho program In
cludes addresses by Hon. J. C. Prise, presi
dent of the Pawnee Republic Historical
society: Hon. William E. Stanloy, gov
ernor of Knnsns; Hon. Henry F. Mason of
Garden City, Mrs. Margaret Hill McCarler
of Topokn and others.
On September 29, 1001, Just ninety. live
years from tho day when Plko rnlsed the
flag, tho' monument will be unveiled, Theie
will be ti great gathering on that day
gronter even than that which In oxpeeted
next Thursday. All tho troops nt Fori
Riley are ordered on a practice march In
Soptembor to tho Pawnee park, to assist In
tho ceremonies r e STINK