A Normal War Story

A Normal War Story

The Days When the Rebel Flag Was Raised Over the Normal

An Old Timer told the following tale to the Detroit Sunday News Tribune of the early days of the war in Ypsilanti: "In those days the university was not as popular as it is now. The state had established branch seminaries, or preparatory schools, in different parts of the state, leading to the university, much after the fashion of the high schools of today. The one at Ypsilanti filled the students of the Normal school with a spirit of great rivalry. The competition between these students was exceedingly bitter. All sorts of harmless jokes were arranged at the expense of the members of the colleges. "I cannot recall just how it happened, but the war had begun and many of ' the brave boys were leaving for the front. The State Normal fellows were making something of a boast of their patriotism, and, besides, the men at the seminary had several old scores to settle, and therefore, three or four of them quietly arranged to put the patriotic tendencies of the normalities to a severe test.

" 'Boys' said the seminary ringleader, in triumph 'I have it at last! We'll put their patriotic pretenses to a trial. Let's get the girls to make a rebel flag. '

"A rebel -flag!' cried several of the chums aghash at the very idea.

" 'Why, yes; a rebel flag!"

" 'We'll be mobbed.'

"'Not at all; they'll be mobbed, yon mean. We'll have one of the girls make a rebel flag, and in the morning it'll be found flying from the dome of the normal. Is it a go?'

"'Best joke of the season.' exclaimed the young fellows, in a chorus. All, including the young lady, took a cast iron oath of secrecy.

"Next morning, the good people of Ypsilanti were thrown into confusion by the news that the boys at the State Normal school had hoisted the hated colors of the confederacy! Soon the wildest excitement prevailed. Men and women gathered in angry groups on corners and muttered imprecations against the flag and the school. Old men shook their heads and buried home fearful that a riot was imminent. With derisive cheers the young men of the town eagerly sought to add to their already numerous following in an attack on the State Normal and its hated flag.

"The school, in the eyes of the people, had suddenly become a hotbed of slavery. The wildest rumors spread with the rapidity of a prairie fire, and within half an hour hundreds of indignant people had assembled in the vicinity of the college, eager to have the flag torn down.

"But how to do this was a problem. To climb the doom seemed like certain death. Ladders were almost equally perilous. A fusillade of sticks, stones, mud and dirt was thrown at the tower and the excitement reached its height when two bands of the rival college boys the normalities and the seminary fellows, came into conversational collision and almost to blows on one of the main streets.

" 'Traitors! ' shrieked the seminary fellows.

" 'Scoundrels' returned the norrnaltes.

"When the dispute was at its height some of the crowd gave a great cheer. looking in the direction of the tower, he rebel flag was seen slowly flattering from its staff.

"The janitor, after working many hours, had succeeded in cutting a hole in the wall of the tower and had pulled down the hated banner of slavery.

"How was it put up? 'You would never guess, but I'll tell you. Increditable as it seems, the three or four ringleaders made a human ladder, standing one upon another's shoulders till the top one reached the very apex of the dome. It was a deed that only half-crazy boys would ever have attempted or successfully achieved.

"For months afterward the excitement smoldered. The strictest inquiry as to the perpetrator of the affair failed to reveal their names. For 37 years the secret has been well kept. I have now decided to tell the public who were the boys involved in this flag episode. I think I am one of a very few fellows who were in the secret."

The reporter took out his note book and made ready.

"I was one of the men myself,another is now a well known western judge," said the stranger, rising and walking away. As for my name, well, suppose we keep 'em guessing a bit, now, since you are going to print the story. Let's hear what comes of it. And when they're all done with their surmising, I'll give the facts. "