July 1, 1965 (20 pages)

NORTHERN MINES & CALIFORNIA REPORTS BARE AH ARE EE Ht FEE eee OE Srey $F THE + ean be an, Flag And A Promise Of Lager (Continued from Page 1) K line and situated close to my work, Itwas a question of buying him Out or annoying him by blockading the approaches tothe saloon --I was enabled however by a little tact to rent his place & I turned it into a boarding house for my men, T he towers of the bridge were immediately above Kline‘s--and within 25 feet of the house. It was my custom, since the breaking out of the rebellion, as soon as the towers were raised to erect a flag staff and float the national colors--from sunrise to sunset daily --the flag was of good size--about 16 feet and in this case the towers of.the bridge loomed up 45 feet above the roadway and a 30 foot flag staff made the national colors a prominent feature ina town where officially the colors were not known. It was undoubtedly offensive to the hangers-on of the court house and suggestions came to me that-24 it might be offensive to the officials--which were afterwards augmented into advice and covered threats, However the flag was there to stay and my men--all good true _Union men--carpenters, wood hewers, stone cutters etc., etc, I knew could be relied on--and as they were pretty stalwart fellows--were ready for any fun as they expressed it. Nothing however occurred until one noon when the men were all at dinner in the rear of the boarding house & whence they could not see what was going on. I usually left a man on guard--but on that day--they were all in and I remained in the front room whereI could see what was going on outside without being seen, Two or three men dropped down seemingly to look at the work-which was not unusual; and a few others came along--a few: furtive glances were given to the flag and the halyard, I stepped into the dining room and told the boys what was going on and what I suspected--but instructed them not tocome out unless I whistled, reminding them that we had both tar & feathers on the premises. The number on the bridge had increased to ten ortwelve and their intentions were evidently to haul down the flag. I was waiting for a positive move on their part before giving the signal, but either their impatience overcame their obedience--or they thought that I had whistled, but the whole crew came tumbling out of the boarding house andthey rushed up on the bridge with such impetuosity that the gentlemen from the court house beat a hasty retreat--and the flag continued to fly. In the summer of 1862--I contracted to put a bridge across Bear River--at a point below McCourtneys. crossing--the owner was a citizen of Grass Valley-whom we will call Mr. Brush. When the work was pretty well advanced--I hada call from Mr. Brush who--after inquiring about the work and expressing his pleasure at the manner in which it was being done--said by the way Mr. Hallidie--we will have an election in this precinct pretty soon, and I don't know if you take any interest in these affairs or not--I told him that in local matters outside of my own town I did not usually, Wellhesaid--you know this is our banner precinct --I replied thatI did not know it and asked him in what way--he said -it has gone democratic for many years--and for the past two or three years, there has been no opposition, Do you mean Mr. Brush, no republican votes cast? Yes--he said all democrats--and asI am a democrat & have quite large interests here I have tried to keep it so--with the aid of my friends. keep it up there. But I have an objection and as this is not your property untilit is turned over to you and you have paid for it, I think I will do as I please, I replied. Well, he said--you have a good many friends in Grass Valley and it is no use making enemies of them--or of me. Allright Mr. Brush that flag flies--enemies or no enemies-He left my cabin in a passion-warning me not to interfere in the coming election. It set me to thinking --here is a local election--which will not probably cast over 150 or 200 votes--it isno matter of yours and it cannot of itself affect the great national issue. You have received threatening letters-have been worried and why should you create more enemies and invite danger by interfering in such an election? The more I reflected the more I was disturbed--discretion & valor got Swings An Election of days reported that there were a large number of republicans -including the flour mill proper-but as they did not care to get there heads broke they stayed away from the polls, I sent for my foreman--and asked him as to the politics of his men--he said there were 5 or 6 copperhead among them, but the rest were all good union men--Itoldhimto let the doubtful ones out and to put on as many sound men ashe could work--which he did increasing the payroll considerably. The bookkeeper visited the farmers & others in the precinct and invited them to come to the polls assuring them that peace would reign and they could vote as they pleased. The flag staff came down in due time and it was a fine stick--it was erected directly in front of the polls and on election day at sunrise the flag was raised with Pine Street Suspension Bridge But I said there are some well to do farmers about here are there not? O yes he replied--and there is a flour millsome little distance below on the river--that seems to be quite busy all the time Mr. Brush are they all democrats? -Well he said I don't know, but I would not like to have our uniform democratic returns disturbed. But Mr, Brush--I suppose every man can vote as he pleases--O yes he said if they vote the democratic ticket--I notice that you have a flag flying on top of the bridge tower--Yes, I said I always do-when the tower is raised--its good luck and the flag of our country. -Nohesaid its not good luck and may be or may not be the flag of our country--anyway--as this is my property and if you have no objection, I wish you,would not terribly mixed up--until an incident settled the matter in my mind. Two of my men came to me-and said--there is going to be an election here very soon and theres ne'er a flag pole at the polls--We would like to get off for a day or two & get one and set it up--All right--I said go ahead--do it on my time andI willgive you 10.00 if you get a real good pole. All ' right they said we will take your time, but we don't want the $10.00. My bookkeeper was a bright, pleasant fellow from Philadelphia and a good Union man. I asked him if he would call on the neighbors and see if they were all democrats and if not why they did not vote--make a canvas as it were--he did so andin a couple due honors, The evening before I called the men together and told them that I depended upon them to keep order & keep sober to avoid whiskey and that if they would agree not to drink strong drink, I would foot the bills for lager --this was promised, Theelection proceeded quietly all the forenoon --in the afternoon there were some disturbances and a few knock downs, but no weapons drawn --as far as I could see from my cabin which was on the hillside overlooking the polls. . At sunset I went down tothe polls hauled down and rolled up the flag and put it under my arm--One of the patriots overladen with lager came to me and said that he had watched that flag every minute-that it had been respected and that it should fly there forever-that he would like to see the man who dared to haul it down, in which} concurred, he then began an address to the flag--but as he could not safely lean back far enough to see the top of the flag staffhe walked backwards--until he discovered that the flag had gone--he stopped suddenly in the midst of his peroration and demanded the name of the traitor who had dared to haul it down-his surprise, indignation and rage was so overwhelming that the. crowd laughed and applauded by turns. Meanwhile I had walkéa back to my cabin and deposited the flag in a safe place. It was found on counting the polls that the banner democratic precinct had lost its banner and its democracy atthe same time-and for several years after that it remained true to the flag. e*eess Ihadto goto the Klamath River a few miles below the Junction of the Trinity--to examine the site. of a proposed suspension bridge. A few days before leaving San Francisco, the news was received of the disasterous defeat of the Federal troops by the Confederates at Bull Run, July 21, 1861. I took steamer for Eureka-Humbolt Bay--but on account of dense fog we were unableto make the harbor, I intended to take a mule from Arcata--but failing in this I went on to Trinidad --further up the coast reaching there about 10 P, M. I landed and went up _tothe store--which alsowas hotel and saloon --to see if I could obtain a mule, --The saloon was full of men, andthe first question asked me on entering was the news fromthe seat of war--I told of the disaster--on which one of the men who was sitting on the counter jumped down and gave a yell of delight. My surprise and indignation overcame my caution and I tumed to him & said--do you call yourself an American? He gave another yell and with an oath drew his bowie knife and made a jump at me; two or three of the men got between him and me and hustled me out of the store--with the advice that I get on tothe steamer double quick-which advice it is needless to say I heeded, I was in a hot bed of secessionists without knowing it. I continued on my journey up the coast and at Crescent City succeeding in hiring a mule for my 40 mile trip across the mountains, Frank E. Grill Gets New Insurance Job Frank E, Grill, of Nevada City, hasbeen named as an agent with the Sierra district agency of the Prudential Insurance Company, it was reported by Manager Oscar B. Snyder. Grillisa native of Los Angeles, and attended schools there, He served in the Army from 1943 to 1945. G96T ‘T Atng***3088nN AQuno5 epeaon*** »

NORTHERN MINES & CALIFORNIA REPORTS BARE AH ARE EE Ht FEE eee OE Srey $F THE + ean be an, Flag And A Promise Of Lager (Continued from Page 1) K line and situated close to my work, Itwas a question of buying him Out or annoying him by blockading the approaches tothe saloon --I was enabled however by a little tact to rent his place & I turned it into a boarding house for my men, T he towers of the bridge were immediately above Kline‘s--and within 25 feet of the house. It was my custom, since the breaking out of the rebellion, as soon as the towers were raised to erect a flag staff and float the national colors--from sunrise to sunset daily --the flag was of good size--about 16 feet and in this case the towers of.the bridge loomed up 45 feet above the roadway and a 30 foot flag staff made the national colors a prominent feature ina town where officially the colors were not known. It was undoubtedly offensive to the hangers-on of the court house and suggestions came to me that-24 it might be offensive to the officials--which were afterwards augmented into advice and covered threats, However the flag was there to stay and my men--all good true _Union men--carpenters, wood hewers, stone cutters etc., etc, I knew could be relied on--and as they were pretty stalwart fellows--were ready for any fun as they expressed it. Nothing however occurred until one noon when the men were all at dinner in the rear of the boarding house & whence they could not see what was going on. I usually left a man on guard--but on that day--they were all in and I remained in the front room whereI could see what was going on outside without being seen, Two or three men dropped down seemingly to look at the work-which was not unusual; and a few others came along--a few: furtive glances were given to the flag and the halyard, I stepped into the dining room and told the boys what was going on and what I suspected--but instructed them not tocome out unless I whistled, reminding them that we had both tar & feathers on the premises. The number on the bridge had increased to ten ortwelve and their intentions were evidently to haul down the flag. I was waiting for a positive move on their part before giving the signal, but either their impatience overcame their obedience--or they thought that I had whistled, but the whole crew came tumbling out of the boarding house andthey rushed up on the bridge with such impetuosity that the gentlemen from the court house beat a hasty retreat--and the flag continued to fly. In the summer of 1862--I contracted to put a bridge across Bear River--at a point below McCourtneys. crossing--the owner was a citizen of Grass Valley-whom we will call Mr. Brush. When the work was pretty well advanced--I hada call from Mr. Brush who--after inquiring about the work and expressing his pleasure at the manner in which it was being done--said by the way Mr. Hallidie--we will have an election in this precinct pretty soon, and I don't know if you take any interest in these affairs or not--I told him that in local matters outside of my own town I did not usually, Wellhesaid--you know this is our banner precinct --I replied thatI did not know it and asked him in what way--he said -it has gone democratic for many years--and for the past two or three years, there has been no opposition, Do you mean Mr. Brush, no republican votes cast? Yes--he said all democrats--and asI am a democrat & have quite large interests here I have tried to keep it so--with the aid of my friends. keep it up there. But I have an objection and as this is not your property untilit is turned over to you and you have paid for it, I think I will do as I please, I replied. Well, he said--you have a good many friends in Grass Valley and it is no use making enemies of them--or of me. Allright Mr. Brush that flag flies--enemies or no enemies-He left my cabin in a passion-warning me not to interfere in the coming election. It set me to thinking --here is a local election--which will not probably cast over 150 or 200 votes--it isno matter of yours and it cannot of itself affect the great national issue. You have received threatening letters-have been worried and why should you create more enemies and invite danger by interfering in such an election? The more I reflected the more I was disturbed--discretion & valor got Swings An Election of days reported that there were a large number of republicans -including the flour mill proper-but as they did not care to get there heads broke they stayed away from the polls, I sent for my foreman--and asked him as to the politics of his men--he said there were 5 or 6 copperhead among them, but the rest were all good union men--Itoldhimto let the doubtful ones out and to put on as many sound men ashe could work--which he did increasing the payroll considerably. The bookkeeper visited the farmers & others in the precinct and invited them to come to the polls assuring them that peace would reign and they could vote as they pleased. The flag staff came down in due

time and it was a fine stick--it was erected directly in front of the polls and on election day at sunrise the flag was raised with Pine Street Suspension Bridge But I said there are some well to do farmers about here are there not? O yes he replied--and there is a flour millsome little distance below on the river--that seems to be quite busy all the time Mr. Brush are they all democrats? -Well he said I don't know, but I would not like to have our uniform democratic returns disturbed. But Mr, Brush--I suppose every man can vote as he pleases--O yes he said if they vote the democratic ticket--I notice that you have a flag flying on top of the bridge tower--Yes, I said I always do-when the tower is raised--its good luck and the flag of our country. -Nohesaid its not good luck and may be or may not be the flag of our country--anyway--as this is my property and if you have no objection, I wish you,would not terribly mixed up--until an incident settled the matter in my mind. Two of my men came to me-and said--there is going to be an election here very soon and theres ne'er a flag pole at the polls--We would like to get off for a day or two & get one and set it up--All right--I said go ahead--do it on my time andI willgive you 10.00 if you get a real good pole. All ' right they said we will take your time, but we don't want the $10.00. My bookkeeper was a bright, pleasant fellow from Philadelphia and a good Union man. I asked him if he would call on the neighbors and see if they were all democrats and if not why they did not vote--make a canvas as it were--he did so andin a couple due honors, The evening before I called the men together and told them that I depended upon them to keep order & keep sober to avoid whiskey and that if they would agree not to drink strong drink, I would foot the bills for lager --this was promised, Theelection proceeded quietly all the forenoon --in the afternoon there were some disturbances and a few knock downs, but no weapons drawn --as far as I could see from my cabin which was on the hillside overlooking the polls. . At sunset I went down tothe polls hauled down and rolled up the flag and put it under my arm--One of the patriots overladen with lager came to me and said that he had watched that flag every minute-that it had been respected and that it should fly there forever-that he would like to see the man who dared to haul it down, in which} concurred, he then began an address to the flag--but as he could not safely lean back far enough to see the top of the flag staffhe walked backwards--until he discovered that the flag had gone--he stopped suddenly in the midst of his peroration and demanded the name of the traitor who had dared to haul it down-his surprise, indignation and rage was so overwhelming that the. crowd laughed and applauded by turns. Meanwhile I had walkéa back to my cabin and deposited the flag in a safe place. It was found on counting the polls that the banner democratic precinct had lost its banner and its democracy atthe same time-and for several years after that it remained true to the flag. e*eess Ihadto goto the Klamath River a few miles below the Junction of the Trinity--to examine the site. of a proposed suspension bridge. A few days before leaving San Francisco, the news was received of the disasterous defeat of the Federal troops by the Confederates at Bull Run, July 21, 1861. I took steamer for Eureka-Humbolt Bay--but on account of dense fog we were unableto make the harbor, I intended to take a mule from Arcata--but failing in this I went on to Trinidad --further up the coast reaching there about 10 P, M. I landed and went up _tothe store--which alsowas hotel and saloon --to see if I could obtain a mule, --The saloon was full of men, andthe first question asked me on entering was the news fromthe seat of war--I told of the disaster--on which one of the men who was sitting on the counter jumped down and gave a yell of delight. My surprise and indignation overcame my caution and I tumed to him & said--do you call yourself an American? He gave another yell and with an oath drew his bowie knife and made a jump at me; two or three of the men got between him and me and hustled me out of the store--with the advice that I get on tothe steamer double quick-which advice it is needless to say I heeded, I was in a hot bed of secessionists without knowing it. I continued on my journey up the coast and at Crescent City succeeding in hiring a mule for my 40 mile trip across the mountains, Frank E. Grill Gets New Insurance Job Frank E, Grill, of Nevada City, hasbeen named as an agent with the Sierra district agency of the Prudential Insurance Company, it was reported by Manager Oscar B. Snyder. Grillisa native of Los Angeles, and attended schools there, He served in the Army from 1943 to 1945. G96T ‘T Atng***3088nN AQuno5 epeaon*** »