The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-11-09
THE ELECTION ExCITEMENT.
Another Day of suspense-The
Tide Turning In Favor Of Hayes
Intense Excitement on the

Another Day of Buspense-The
Tide Turning In Favor OF Hayes
Intense Excitement on the
streets. aE.
The election fever was at white heat
yesterday. The returns Of Tuesday night
Indicated the election Of Tilden and Hen.
bricks, and the Republicans generally
corcaded that such was the case, retiring
10 their homes In no very contented
frame OF mind. The Democracy, how.
ever, we're out in full force, and made
night hideous with their maudlin yells.
Several members Of the Central Demo.
cratic club, about half.past two o'clock in
the morning, procured the services Of the
wheeling City Band and spent the re.
mainder Of the night in serenading
prominent expounders Of the doctrine
Of the great unwashed. As the
band proceeded through the streets en-
thusiastic Democrats fell in line, and in
q short time procession Of probably \
hundred, several Of them carrying torches
and trausparencies, marched about town,
yelling for "Tilden, Hendricks and Re.
form" at the top ofltheir voices. The
boys started out to make q night OF It,
and succeeded. twas past O'Clock A. n.
when the struggling procession brought
up 10 front Of the Mcclure House, and pro-
ceeded in n formal manner to tender His
Excellency Gov. Jacob the honor Of sum
rise serenade.. Acommittee was appoint.
ed to wait upon His Excellency and
notify him Of the presence Of a bowling
mob OF refofmers, and all felt jolly when
the band began to play. In q few mo-
ments the Governor appeared upon the
yeranda and made q brief speech OF con-
graduation, after which the reiormers
dispersed and went their several ways.
Mr.. J. II. Good, who was among the
number honored with serenade during
the night, at his residence on 18th street,
also addressed the crowd for few mo-
ments. ......
During the day Democrats fairly boil
ed over with enthusiasm. They could
hardly realize, indeed, that they had won
victory. All were iubilant, but many
Of the older men sagely shook their
heads and referred TO the election OF
Polk, which was for several days very
uncertain, suggesting that such q thing
might be possible again. However, the
exultation OF the more modern reformcrs
could not be suppressed, and was demon.
strated on all sides and in the most sug:
pestiye manner, The small coterie Of
ringsters who control the Democratic
vote Of Ohio county put their heads
together and proceeded to fix things
up to suit themselves. Major
Jim Sweeney was sent out Of town, and
out Of the way, satisfied with his commits.
sion to handle his pet shady waker,"
while his friends without farther ado
canyassed the city for Democratic patri-
OTIS willing to serve their country in Fed
eral offices. Strange as 1t may seem, no
one could be found who was willing to
take the Postotfice of Of Postmaster
Rawlings hands. The astounding fact
was discovered that there were no office
ceekers among the Democracy, and that
the rank and file OF the party simply
wished 10 serve their country faithfully
at the polls, without emolument.
The first intimation that the tide was
changing in favor OF the Republicans was
an Associated Press dispatch received at
the INTELLIoENoER Office, claiming that
Hayes had carried Louisiana, Florida
and South Carolina, insuring him 1S6
votes in the Electoral College. The news
spread like wildfre, and soon large
crowd assembled about the Office. The
scenes on the streets were Of peculiar
character. The returns were bulletin
ed at this office as fast as re-
ceived, and drew vast multitude
OF people on Fourteenth street. The
returns were read to the crowd as last as
received, and as in nearly every single in.
stance the good news was confirmed the
scene that ensued was absolutely indie
scribable. The crowd went into a perfect
frenzy OF enthusiasm. Men tore of their
hats and cayorted about the muddy streets
like mad, cheering for Hayes. They even
embraced each other, and tore frantically
about In the uncomfortable wildness
of their joy. This exhibition Of
feeling was not confined to men
alone. The news reached the most
remote parts OF the city in an incredibly
short space OF time, and women and
children appeared on the streets cheering
wildly for Hayes. No such scene was
ever before witnessed in Wheeling. Dem.
ocrats began to look blue, and waited
anxiously for more cheering reports,
which they were unable to give the mass
Of excited enquirers who crowded the
newspaper and telegraph Offices.
Arrangements were made for receiving
the returns by telegraph at the Repub.
lican and Democratic headquarters,
which as soon as opened were thronged
by excited crowds. The scenes Of cleo.
ton night we're repeated, the excitement
being even more intense than before.
The services Of an operator were pro.
cured, and shortly the wire that had
been run into the Republican headquar-
ters was being put to some practical use,
and the news was received from all parts
OF the Union as fast as the operator
could manipulate the instrument. The
messages were read aloud as soon as re-
ceived, and being generally favorable for
the Republican candidates, the enthusi-
asm became go great that the boys could
hardly contain themselves. While the
crowd were waiting for additional re.
turns, the time was passed in making
speeches and singing campaign songs,
which were sung with spirit that would
"move the world along"
At the Democratic headquarters there
was also gathered an excited crowd,
laboring under great anxiety as TO the
result Of the contest, the news from the
solid South" having disconnected them
more than they were willing to admit.
Still, they would concede nothing until
q late hour, when the news having
been confirmed, and Hayes cleo.
ton considered probable, they re.
luctantly begun 10 confess that there
was a possibility that the election
had gone against them. This being the
case, the Performers" quietly dispersed,
and began to look for iheir holes, with
the evident intention Of entering the
same and drawing the holes In after them.
By II o'clock the Central Club Room
resembled banquet hall deserted, and
was shrouded in darkness. The small
knot Of Dems. who had occupied the
pavement in front Of the Register Office,
seeking for Democratic news, not finding
much consolation or comfort in the
bulletins there posted, had disappeared
long before, and with the exception OF
| Al la go.