Show PIONEER TEllS Of RAISIN California Man Present When U. U Took U.S.-Took 5 So Took Alaska DANVILLE Cal cat Nov 2 ruco W. W Stone a pioneer Danville farmer is believed believed be be- to be tho the only man alive today who witnessed the lowering of the Bussian Russian RUE Bus sian elan flag hag and the raising of the Stars and Stripes at Sitka Alaska when the American government took over the northern territory October 18 1867 Stone was wa in the quartermasters quartermaster's de department department do- do of ot t tie the e army at the time and was lined up with the other American soldiers and sailors to witness the affair attall af at- af- af fair tall Two hundred and fifty Russian soldiers soldiers sol aol diers were also lined up for tor the affair The day the flag was hoisted was bright and sunny Stone said recently in describing the ceremony The parade parade pa pa- rade ratIo ground at Sitka was vas on a plateau that was reached by a a. flight of about steps cut into a a. hill bill overlooking the Pa- Pa eWe chic Tho The Russian flag was flying from a n. pole on the parade grounds and at a given signal a Russian soldier started to haul It down As it was being lowered a n. of a breeze breeza blew it around so that it got entangled around the staff and and would not descend Tho The Russians got quite upset over the incident and several women and children were filled with all sorts of superstitious fear at the omen The Russian officer In command turned to Colonel Davis who was commanding commanding com corn manding the Americans and asked him to suggest a 3 moans means out of the ty Davis turned to tho the naval officer in command and asked him to send up upa a n. man to loosen the flag The ordered a sailor to shin up the mast and andIn andin andin in a Jiffy the bunting was clear A moment moment moment mo mo- ment later the tho American flag was bent ent into the halyards and sped aloft while all the ships in the harbor thundered out their salutes |