Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-17
A NoVEL sPEcTAcLE.

A Mcclellan Man Loses q Bet, and
Carries an GAbOlIfIOnIst y on his
Shoulders around the Public Square
at Chicago.
Christian Kohler and Peter Riggets,
having bet on the election, the champion
of the defeated party agreed to cary the
other round the Public Square in Chicago
in the light Of thenoon-dsyl sun and in the
presence of the citizens. The scene came
off on Monday afternoon, and ia thus des-
eribed by the Chicago Times
Mr.. Kohler was the first speaker, and
commenced by telling his audience that he
had lost the bet, and like a gentleman in
tended to make good the promise he had
made by carrying his friend Riggetts round
the square on his back. lOhssrs and Laugh
ter. He was for George B. Mcclellan all
the time cheers l-and he would act like
a gentleman. Loud cheers and roals of
laughter.
Mr.. Riggetts, who appeared with the
American flag stuck in the crown of his
hat, and q bright scarlet sash around his
shoulders, next essayed to make q speech.
he said that the Union had been put on its
trial, and the republicans had won He
was glad that Mr. Kohler was about to
carry out the terms Of the bet, and before
they started he would give three cheers for
the Uuion. Loud Cheers.
Mr.. Kohler called for three cheers for
the Democratic party, which were given
with will. He then lesped to the ground
and Mr.. Riggetts got upon his shoulders
amid the huzzas and loud laughter of the
crowd. The procession, which consisted of
q couple of bands Of music, between which
were the two observed Of all observers,
was then formed. Tho crowd was i'm
mense at the corner of Randolph and La
Sale streets, and when the Great Union
Band struck up "See the conquering hero
comes" and the procession commenced to
move forward, the crash was terrible. Wo-
men screamed, little boys cried, and big
burly men swore. A facetious individual
declared that there would be good many
smashed, but it was needless to proclaim so
loudly self-evident fact. The presence
of the multitude on Randolph street COM
pletely stopped the traffic Of that thorough
f>re and NO vehicles we're allowed TO pass
along while the novel procession was in
motion.
The scene in the streets and on the square
was of the most animated desci iption, as
all were on the glsi ViTe to get a peep at
the extraordinary public show The bal
comics OF the Sherman House we're filed
with eager spectators, who cheered and
clspped their hands when Kohler, march
ing steadily along with Riggetts on his
back, came in view. Riggetts looked like
hero riding in triumph through the city
The stripes and stars waved brightly from
the top of his hat and he looked as if the
feat he was performing was one Of the
most noble exploits in which q man could
be engaged. Every window in the blocks
of buildings on Clark stIeet between Ran
dolph and Washington streets were filed
with spectators. Milliners dropped their
work TO gaze upon the curious spectacle
and the students of the Commercial Col
lege turned aside their books for time and
rushed to the windows TO witness what was
going on below. The courthouse steps in
front and rear were literally one mass of
human beings, and every window had its
dozens Of occupants.
The great bulk of the people, however,
we're at the corner of the square, and 8
| loud guffaW arose whenever the betters
came in view, while thousands rushed
through the square toget another peep be-
fore the show closed. When the corner of
Randolph and La Sale streets had been
reached, Riggetts slowly descended from
Kohler's shoulders, and the victorious
twain marched arm in arm, headed by one
of the bands, the other being in the rear,
to Best's saloon, where they took several
| cODiOus drauphts of LAGER amid the cheers
of their friends. The ludicrous spectacle
having thus been brought satisfactorily to
a close, the spectators rapidly dispersed.