Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/390

362 T. W. Davenport. against it. ' ' In the language of the poker table, the Yankee had called the Southerner's bluff and took the pot. Late the next Friday, E. L. Applegate dismounted from his mule at the store and his first words were these: "I heard several days ago that there is to be a flag-raising in Phoenix tomorrow and I thought I'd come down out of the Siskous and see about it, for from what I've heard some of our Southern brethren say, you may need help." (The last word he gasped out convulsively.) Whether from fear or detaining employment, not as many att^^^ded the pole-raising as were expected, but with the help of wives, daughters, sisters, the tall flag staff was firmly planted upright without a halt or accident while some half dozen or more Southern sympathizers witnessed the event from the veranda of Pat McMannus' store, a few rods distant. One guy rope was managed by the women with the assistance of Samuel Colver Sr., an octogenarian immigrant from Ohio in 1857, and a pioneer to that State before 1800, as mentioned in previous pages. He was awarded the honor of raising the flag and he suggested that the girls should share it with him. And in that crisis, it was verily a thrilling sight, the National banner aspiring to the top-mast like a living sentient thing, and unfurling grandly to the breeze, in response to the patriotic impulse of blushing, blooming maidens and tottering age. But exultant as were the feelings of that little assembly, at this ascension of the sacred symbol of national unity, liberty, order and law, there was no shouting ; it was a solemn service, a conscientious performance of duty, for the future seemed to every one dark and portentous. Later, the expected ones arrived, and to this earnest, prayerful congregation, speeches were addressed by 0. Jacobs and E. L. Applegate. The flag at Phoenix went up every morning at the rising of the sun, and strange what courage the sight of it gave to timid souls. They soon waved in Jacksonville and all along the road north and south. Our Southern sympathizers were not wrong in their dread of the flag, for it was an assertion of sovereignty, a challenge to submission or combat, and they