American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-05-04
VOLUME |.
THE SWORD CONTEST.


THE SWORD CONTEST.
The announcement that the Fair was to
be finally closed on Saturday evening caus-
ed thousands to visit the building during
the day. At the opening hour arush was
made at the ticket Offices and for some
time it required an extra force of ticket
sellers to supply the demand for cards of
admission, BY one o'clock the buildings
W. were ref Aof people, most of whom came
to witness the voting for the army sword
lin IL rr,s and Trophy Department. In
room the croWu, at o. o'clock was so
dense that Selers found it almost impossi-
BILE to reach the desk where they We're to
deposit their greenbacks, aud register their
preferences in favor of their favorite gen.
erals One after another the voters came
on; and at every announcement of Zone
hundred more for Mcclellan" or "Anoth-
or hundred for Grant" the crowd cheer
ed, the applause being about equally di
vidcd, as the name of either General was
mentioned Bets we're frequently offered
that 'Iittle Mac" would win, few Grant
men being found sanguine enough to ac-
cept these wagers. Atone time Grantwas
gaining rapidly and the friends of Me
Clellan looked gloomy Then the an
nouncement of 81 900, received from Bos
ton, in favor of Mcclellan, was received
with three times three cheers that gave
an additional impulse to the voting, and
induced better feeling gamong those who
moment before had been denouncing
the Executive COMMITTEES for deciding up
on closing the contest by secret balloting.
At two o'clock the open voting closed
The book-keepers having counted up the
money, announced the vote thus far as fol
lows:
General Mcclellan
Lieut. GcneTn brant~-~~-.~ ---.".''.aa, veH
McClellans majority ......--.--.o... 2,256
Cheerupon cheer greeted this announce
ment, the crowd soon after vacating the
Army and Trophy Department, and con-
gregating around stand No. IL in the main
saloon Here wooden box had been pro-
vided, surrounded by number of police
pen, who courteously explained to voters
how to deposit their ballots. Several gen
tlemen on the inside of the stall furnish
ed lead pencils, paper and envelopes The
voters took out theirgreenbacks wrote on
ope of the pieces of paper the name of
the General they desired to vote for, fold
ed the money and ballot together, placed
the package in an envelope, sealed it and
doT"sited. it in the box. So the voting
went on, slowly at first, by degrees becom-
.-ng mGse exciting, as the crowd standing
around became more reconciled to this
plan of ending the exciting contest, La
dies dressed in silks, and ladies dressed in
calico, deposited their votes, taking their
turn with the men quite as readily as if
they had been accustomed to the elective
franchise all their lives. As each vote
was deposited it was greeted with yarie-
ty of remarks. A lady who deposited a
plethorc envelope, was told as she retired,
THAT another hundred had gone in for
Little Mac F" A small boy who put in
thin envelope, heard Mcclellan man be-
hind him growl'about that "youngster vo-
ted for Grant" "Put in your money
against it, if you don't like it, was the
prompt reply of the young voter, as he
mingled with the crowd. At dark the ex-
rcitement around stand No. 16 was intense
The ballots came in rapidly, every voter
anxious to put his envelope in the box be-
store the closing hour. AT halfpast sew
en-, one of the gentlemen, watch in hand,
announced the flying moments. The
crowd visibly increased. Two lines of po-
licemen kept an open passage way to the
ballot box. 'sThree minutes to eight" a
lady votes, another follows, then small
poy. One more vote by young lady who
has rapidly written her ballot, and then
the polls are declared closed The pine
box is lifted up by two stalwart police
men. The crowd cheer and surge around
them. Other policemen open passage
way for the gentlemen in charge of this
precious receptacle of greenbacks, which
is borne triumphantly through the main
saloon to the Armory, where the Commit
tee appointed to count the ballots are as
sembled toperform their duties. The box
is deposited on the table. where it remains
in full view of all present while the Com
mittee organize. Those admitted into the
room, besides the Committee, were few