Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, August 8, 1914, Page 9

—— THREE DAYS GIVEN OVER TO COMMEMORATION ““OF THE DEFENSE OF THE TOWN IN 1814—BIG FIREMEN’S” PARADE TODAY, WITH LITERARY AND RELIGIOUS EXERCISES “SUNDAY, AND GREAT HISTORICAL PAGEANT ON MONDAY— - BOROUGH IN GALA' ATTIRE FOR THE CEN- TENNIAL. x One hundréd-years ago cannon were, and episodes in the eventful history of booming out at Stonington iand the | thé town of Stonington. Britich redcogts were ' fighting, with - might and main, to gét a foothold on | Greatest Day in History of Town. her shores. And becanse they did not,d = The programme provides for many and could not, because the valor and' other minor attractions, band concerts, the heroism and the patriotim of the spiendid displavs of fireworks on Sat old defenders of Stenington, men small *urday and Monday evenings, motor- in numbers bt gréat in moral stature, boat races, a grand colonial ball at repelled unconditionally the would-he “Wequetequock casino, and in all its | invaders from overseas, the sons and details it reflects the ambitious plan- daughters of Stonington afe gathering ning and the untiri do homage to ihe memory of their |and of all the sub-committees wWao forefathers of 4’ century ago. And yet, ave been working for a year and a after all, the redcvats will not be kept | half for the fitting celebration of tne out of old Stonington, for to the fire- ' 100th anniversary of the greatest day men of many compades, thus gayly In the history of their town, Stonins- clad, the place will Be thrown open tons’ battle dav, Aug. 10, 1814. today, and before the great centennial i celebration is over there will be mo.e | How: the Celebration Began. guns roaring out” over . Stonington's' The planming for the celebration quiet hagbor, this time, however, from took definite form first at an enthusi- the peacesbearing ships of the Unitel) astic meeting in Borough hall in De- States mavy. There will be a warld f. cember, 1912./#nd this was followed by difterence ‘hetween the feelings of the the appointiment of various committees thousands - who will joyously thronr to.earry em the work. A few vears the historic Point this week epnd and A%0. it wasinsl810, plans for the celebra- those of the little band of villagers tion of the ¢emtennial of the incorpora- who. stuck by their guns in defense of tion of the arouzh werc dizcussed, but their -homes and tieir country during ; it was decided to wait and merge this those dark davs of August, 1514. !into a’ greafer celebration, in which | & £ } all thie town’ might have an active in=- P Today is for the Firemen. | tevest, of Stonington's famous fight. e commemorative programme to- 5 day is chiefly given over to_the Sten- | Town: is All Decked Out. ington firemen, who have elways made And so it has come about that today this Saturdas August the occasicn (be place is decked out in flags and of their annual parade. This year, bunting as it has not been the however, they ‘e outdone th lves Inemory of the oldest inhabitant. The in preparations, and this afterndecn «ulit streets are a riot of patriotic the grand parade of 16 fire companies, €oloX: = And this is not all. In tae each with o band, s expected te have ; Past few months pride in the co over 1,200 men in line. 1 anniversary has induced many a hou e s owner to paint, and lay new sides Governor Baldwin Will Speak Sunday gya make other improvement Sunday will be devoted to relizious taken all in all, make the borough ap- and literary exercizes. The pastors of PEar brishter and better than it has in the churches-throughout the town will Y& bring home the siznificance of the day, | From the railroad station, where. the and then in the afternoon, on Wada- DeW plaza, with its new white flagstaff, wanuck square, will be the dedicat:n 2nd the colors, clear through {o the of a centennial ek, speecies by (v Point, the visitor will find Stoninzton ernor Baldwin; Dean Otis Rondall, of @lmost rivaling Spotless Town. Even Brown, singig by school children aad‘the railroad company has been ra other exercises. its unsightly and defunct buildirzs Great Historical Pageant on Monday. 0 g labors of the | these three days, Aug. 8, 9 and 10, to | members of the executive committee ! Finally on Monday will be the dedi- caticn of an_historical tablet on the site of the old fort, followed by am elaborate historical eant in which the United States army und navy will participate, depicting various periods STONINGTON CENTENNIAL PROGRAM This is the' official programme o) the celebrztion of thé One Hundreth.. Anniversary of the Pattle 8f Ston- mgton. E Saturday, August 8, $ a. m.—Dedication of Flag Pole at Cannon $quare by the Stonington Poy Scouts. Dedication of Flag Pole at Sta- tion plaza by Stonington Tierney Cadets, Land ec 2 5 m certs during morning. nd_Firemen’s parade of fireworks at « 7 PPand concerts. Sunday, August 9 Special services in the chiurches the town of Stonington/ in the sroing. 3 p. m—Historical and literary exercises on Wadawanuck park, Judge Gilbert Colli esiding. Sprakerdi—Gove Simeon E. of Connecticut: Professor Randail, of Lrown Unlversity. 5 of “Faz of Stnoington,” y Henry R. Palmer, for the on of Centennial Oak. end concert on Wad- by Mechanies' Band forday, August 10; 9 @ m.—-Motor Leat races in the harbor wnd Fishers Jxland Sound. 10:30 2. m.—Concert. on* Wada- X - Fairman's: First Liznd of Providence, ication of bronze tablet the gift of the U Daughters of |} 1512 in Conecticut the Atwood nd parade of the army || ' (From a Portgait) the historical paze- | { s her in every sea, that her sons, and daughters, too, in domestic trangui and on the firing lines of half a dc wars, have portant one, in the making of th | nation’s history: and that today, lines less cBnspicuous, to be sure, but nevertheless important ones, they aie in the manufacture of fabric chinery and in other w humble but toil peculiar charm and f: it memofies of war times with | the war days 100 yea of the whaling indus and then the days of t ! toric i i terest that needs to be seen to be ap- Company’s office. the site of the vld | CAPT. JEREMIAH HOLMES, OF MYSTIC, WHO NAILED UP’ THE FLAG AT THE OLD FORT $ p. m——F oy tie Mechanic tom plaza. ¥ p. m.—Costum ktall i(he We- rorks and mu: Dand at $he Sta- | lapd 25d water, the old town. bid coming guests welcome. {Hard Werk by Executive Committee. cuBSuock casino, MEMORIAL TABLET ON SITE OF OLD FORT, PRESENTED BY U. S. e along " the harborfront, and now. by |and Miss Louise have met with an_ encourag ! ing spirit of enthusiasm and liberality. | Thus it will be seen that the execu i (Continued on Page Ten) DAUGHTERS THE BATTLE OF STONINGTON, AUGUST 10, 1814 HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S LOAN EXHIBITION—| THE OLD FLAG THAT WAVED ABOVE THE FORT IS AMONG THE VALUABLE RELICS THAT | ARE SHOWN — COLONIAL SPINNING WHEELS| AND ANTIQUES, TOO—THE OLD-TIME CLIPPER‘\ SHIPS. The casual visitor in Stonington isby struck by the quietness, the ness of things. “Stonington is s quaint old place” is a phrase oft ut- | jor Genera tered by the chance wanderer . into | wise shown In peaceful of the borow . by. happy e, he pierce ‘the shell. get a glimpse, with T 18 mind’s eye, at the least, of things as | town they were, are still, de wn, be | old perceiy s gton been dynami picturesque; that ps in‘days gone by ha ed n a part, and no uni long of ma- s, even in tae ome lot of the fisher- man, taking a worthy part in the world's work. War Times and Whaling Days.” | at tonington is of ination in that ily the thrilling And the past of combines so marke ro- e sea. Of all the istof t square ng time zed clippers. The } are brought back in high the’ riches of t t make t up the exhibit of His- The display Is of a vai ROSAMOND HOLMES, reat-Great-¢ Jeremiah Unveil preciated, and that it is worth seeing is shown by the several hundreds who n the month or so that the exhibit has been open have come and admired, learned, and not infrequently ha’e come again. The exhibit is to be open, while until Oct. 1st. ,| maved sending shot into the ships in Old Battle Flag Shown. | To the articles directly Connected with the battle of Stonington chief in- terest naturally attaches. The old flag the buliets of the British as it floated nailed to the fiagstaff at the iittle bat- tery, is here lonned by the Stonington Historical societ: up to his death in 1863, and them 't| pasted to N, G. Smith, who gave it to! the sbeiet: - i Captain Potter’'s Commission. | The commission of Willlam Potter . | as captain of the Eighth company, 80thi Will therefc: regiment. Connecticut State militia, ml,u which capacity he served as a defender el e LB On the afternoon of August 9, 1814, four ehips flying the British colors came up the Sund, dropped anchor off Stonington point, and a few minutes later, under & flag of truce, sent a small boat toward shore, with this message— otwsihing to destroy the unof town of Stonington, one hour is given them from the receipt of this to re- move out of thetown.” These words, signed by Commodoro Hardy, the executive of Nelson's fla- ship Victory and acting fleet capta at Trafalgar, caused tne Eattle < Stonington. For, far from being ove: come by these unexpected tidings, the men of Stonington, gathered on ti shore to get the news, swore, as Am:s Palmer reported it in his well known letter afterward to the Secretary of t War, to “defend the place to the la extremity, and if it was destroyed the would be buried in the ruins. Captain Potter Summons Command Captain William Potter, then in goff siment assembled at once all of men in all, and with his forces joincd with Lieut Hough and his detatchment | of 42 men, and the militia under the command of Col. Randall, assisted by. & number of volunteers the littie band defended the place as best they couid during the evening, until neariy mid- night, when the enemy sed” firin. Their equipment ‘compris wo 18- pounders and one 4-pounder. ‘“But tor the spirited resistance that the barges { Wheeler in his scholariy Histpry of { Stonington, the enemy would " have landed and burned the place. Landing Attempted at Dawn on 10th. At dawn c 0th the enemy at- tempted to a ond time but they guns were so effectively trained that the barges of the British were safcly kept off shore and eventually one of the ships was forced to cut her cables ( in order to avoid being sunk. But at Pendleton and 12 date- ; 2 most valuable paper. His honorab'e h a | discharge aps the most inter: which shows esting document of This century= Appreciztion of Fellow Townsmen. reas, The exertion of Capt. Wil- am Potter to sav attacks on ted both’ his fami the z00d of the place Whereas, He did lose in consequence many and property re hereunts s of William W. Rodman the sum his extr Stonington Prominent Men Were Signers. Anfong the signers are Amos Palmer, Chesebro, ~William Hart tha the valiant cap eceived some and these do 1dding of his name, the defenders in- | scribed in ights by : Cannon hero escape Coat Worn by John Miner. worn in_the Exhibit Open Until Oect. Tst. Son ety and in- ' m is loaned WILLIAM PO’ (From a Miniature sR ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE DEFENSE ession of His Granddaughter, Mrs. Amelia Rare Volume Describing Battle. an eyewitness is taken. Lalk Cannonbalis Are Exhibited. - the | out and the town seemed now at the | mercy of the invaders. ia| Capt. Holmes Nails Flag to Staff. ‘Then some of the more timid citizens ing | advocated a surrender, so the army | Boes and crowded around Captain Jer- ‘ emaih Holmes, who had come over EIGHTEEN POUNDERS TRAINED ON ‘ CAPT. HOLMES’ VALIANT STAND FOR'. fending inhabitants residing in the | f the Eighth Company of tive | and lavnches received from-the militia |and volunteers says Richard. Answm | fromaMystic to" Tendy his: gunner. But the redoubtable shouted No and pointing to- floating. above, ttle, font ed “That fiag; 3 hile Tyam aitve, St e ‘Eolmesiproceeded ' to nafl'it to'the And the arrival, later in the more ; ammunition and rel < from New London kept the ol ner fiying triumphantly aloft, while 't} English salled disgustediyyaway. Accouut from an Old Book. . A most interesting account : of! bombardment is to be found in &.m valume, the,only:one that is be extant in Stoningfon, that has | loaned to the Historical Harry H.;Doty of the bozough. from this: valuable book that portrayingsthe battle of/Stont: made. ‘Stonington Herojsm” is the ter which leads particular interest |;the present connection, and in_part runs as follows in the words of an witness No part of the cut is more exposed to annoyance fi an enemy, village of t is compactly built on & : e vs [1ana_extending into the sea, wWithiS his command within reach, twWenty-oie bngarior, casy of access and wholly fort During the late war, the national vesels were under: | tinual apprehension of a visit from jenemy. The blockading ships were! trmr view of the village and their b almost daily reconnoiter along coast. apparently with other ob than the interruption of commercest No Aid from Gevernment. We implored the general gor for protection, but it was not convenient to grant it. The or of the state, however, sen® small guard of militia to add the habitants in keeping a nightly* | and sound the alarm in case the: should approach. Despairing of ther aid the citizens who were+ ‘ posed to do their duty to their cou and to themselves resolved to.take defence into their own hands. Three Breastworks Thrown Upe By voluntary labor, three (Continued on Page Ten) THE FLAG OF STONINGTON. Music by Alfred G. Chaffe Words by Henry R, L Where foams the blue Atlantis, By rocky Napatree, And twilight's triendly towers Shine red and gold to sea, Grest Hardy of Trafalgar, With_all his ships_in row, A hundred years ago. Chorus: But.in our_smoking ramparts® Were*daring men on;guand,. And high above them futtersd The striped flag.and:starred, The flag of our affection That still adorns the sky— _ & ‘Where'er we be. on shore or sefy We'll love it till'we die. ; i | " 2 1 Roared eighty gunsto starboard, Roared eighty guns to port, | ‘And hid.the starry standard That flew above the fort, But when the fight was fi It showed its color-h!:.m Upon the morning ain Choras: 3 For in our smoking ramparts And high above them futtere® The flag of our affection That still adorns:the sky— Where'ar we be, on shore or We'll love it til we die. m A hundred gracious: summers Have decked New -Englund's. And Britain's hostile .squadrens Go up and down no more, The herves, too, have vanished Who held the coast,of old, But where they fought our hearts wrought Their victory in goid. Chorus: Her loyal sqns on guard, Thex'll raily round;her banmer, The striped flag and starred, The flag of our affection ; That still_adorns thessky— = Then three times three, We'll iove it till we die. Cther Wars. invaluable reminder Colonial Leoms and Spir: a picturesque Stonington, | el Webster. iew of the Battle painted by bombs are bursting luridly the defenders Capt. John Mason's Sword. Captaln John Maso: he used so potent of the defenders, torn In nine placea By, 015 is one of the rare things | particularly | Iways been carefully | hecguse 1L has 3 guarded by Capt. ¥rank Avery , drew and John Tad the tattered relic in his POSRessiN | fyland, on Mason's | The former died cesston of John Ryon, the iatter gave | permission for the sword to. be taken | over to Stonington as long as tho celebration. re be returned on August | The sword pper Ships Sailed All Seas. it 8 Aam it modiom:. 2. THE CENTENNIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Came flashing down. to wmfl“’i The victor-tints the sunrise prints < ‘Were daring men on guand, /08 The striped flag and_starred, s And when our country summons ‘&