New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-09


discussion, and inquiry for the rest of the day ana
far into the night at every place of meeting and IN
almost every home.
THE HOURS OF ANXIETY AND DOUBT.
EAGEGNEss WITH WHICH RETURNS WERE WAITED
FOR LONG AFTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OVER
THE CHANGED COMPLEXION OF THE NEWS YES
TERpAY 49, SCENES AROUND THE NEWSPAPER
OFFICES AND ELSEWHERE
The excitement which seemed to have taken
possession Of every male uhabant of the city on the
evening Of election day became rather stronger than
weaker with the advance Of the night Drenchng rain
overhead pools Of and deep mud under foot had
no effect upon the uncomfortable ardor Of the throng
which filed the streets, osng and shouting cXuper'ht
with triumph indignant in unbenet OF some news just
received Many patient and impatient wives nj home
did not see fheir patriotic husbands until daylight came
II was not until the hour when milkmen, police Officers
and newspaper carriers begin to reign over the city
streets that they to any extent deserted
The last newspaper bulletins displayed at a. M
but II was half hour later before the crowd was much
diminished. After standing for seven hours IN the
rain seemed deplOrable that they must 90 away SUI
uncertain the result At this time the outlook was de-
cidedly Democratic and the Democrats in the street.
throngs consequently jublant hut they departed
lngeringly unwilling 10 90 away from the Illuminated
windows behind which it seemed the true result
must be known. Meanwhile, Broadway was as
crowded as in the daytime. The mulutudfS
surged up and down through the rain and
mud, bent upon no particular purpose, but impeed TO
move by their restless excitement The plays at the
theates we're ended at the usual ume aud many persons
from the audiences joined the hosts in the streets
number Of people who had spent the evening at Wal
lacks the Union Square, Booths or Days were seen at
O'Clock in front of the Fifth Avenue Hotel hurfahmg
and elbowng the best of their ability still hungry for
more news At this hotel the crowd was enormous,
and it required slful handling to carry raised u'u
breasuccessfuy through it, Itwas notuntl a. H. that
the reople living in the ueghborhoOd were able to sleep
in quiet Bulletins at Broadway and Thirty fourtl-s at
tracted troops Of spectators until the small hours OF the
morning The various poolrooms packed almost to
sunocatiOn by damp crowds ana the betting was very
lively kilograms read at short intervals ana re-
ceived with cheers and applause. The gatherings az
these places significant Of the moral influence which
they exert being composed almost wholly OF professional
gamblers and betting men, and young clerks and safes
mcn-the swnders and the swindled
The intense excitement Of Tuesday night and the carly
hours OF Wednesday followed 10y day Of suspense
and anxiety. Democrats of sanguine temperament
made no question OF the Of their party but those
whose caution had been developed by experience were
willing TO acknowledge that the great contest still re-
NAMED in doubt At the Democratic headquarters the
enthusiasm Of the early morning gave way ID the course
OF the dag visible depression which was everywhere
manifested. and by candid Democrats openly confessed.
Mr. Tildcu went in and during the day, but 10 ex
preston OF triumph was visible upon his coun-
tenauee and he admitted during the afternoon
70 a personal friend that he was by no means
assured OF Ethe result Many persons remarked his
anxious expression and spoke of his evident fatigue and
fee lcncss and some deficient I'm good taste and
feeling as 10 offer wager regard To his surviving until
inauguration Abram $ Hewitt acknowcl ged the ex-
treme uncertainty OF the situation and claimed sure
only 1ei electoral votes. Other members OF the
Democratic National Committee felt hopeful but not con-
fdent Throughout the city the prevailing sentiment
was intense longing for further returns from those
States commonly conceded TO be doubtful AT the Fifth
Avenue Hotel confidence restored % the enthusiastic
multitude during the afternoon by dispatches which bore
evidence of authenticity and those whose principles
allowed them 10 back their opinions 10y their money,
Cradua raised their wgcrs, until at sunset the chances
were regarded nearly even. Republicans whose jude-
meut was esteemed excessive in caution but Of whose
candor there only opinion, declared their CON
victon that Hayes had ut least an even chance ABOUT
o'clock when apparently definite and official returns
from OREGON in, the Fifth Avenue Hotel crowded
by Republicans OF every variety OF temperament ana
opinion, was the Of the most intense anxiety
Cheers in one part Of lobby succeeded by fore
bodngs in another and yet could not fail 10 perceive
that tide had changed and that victory was believed
20 be IN the air"
In the lower part Of the city in the neghborhood Of
the newspaper Offices the excitement constantly on
the yesterday beginning with an extra demand
for newspapers, and ending 10 such crowd before the
Office of TRIBUNE, aud such fervor OF enthusiasm
as Now-YorR seldom 1t thought that the Dem
crs made great deal Of noise during the night after
election, when the returns 10 their favor were being
bulletined, but their cheers bore 10 comparison
with the joyous, wholc-SOulcd shouts OF tie
Repuhicaus when hope renewed that
their party had gained the victory in this
wecontcsted battle of the ballots. Throughout the
morning the city in leverish condition Merchants
neglected their business search the papers talk
the situation with their neghbors The large bulletins
q the daily journals had been taken down. bat crowd
fingered about the regular bulletins, waiting for the
news which they felt certain would come sooner OF later
Street talk became loud and animated, and re-
ordinations often heard for deseruon OF party
or something which objected TO in vote OF speech
latter part Of the morning New-Hork began TO eN
perience premonition that Gov Tilden who had been
so successfully elected by the returns from part Of the
country be elected at all by the votes Of the
whole This premOnitiOu grew serious when bulletin
appeared upon The TRIBUNE Building saying that Wis
consn had gone Republican. van The premoniuon
came a crowd and with the crowd enthusiasm Another
ulacard stated that extra would be issued IN ten mn-
utes from The TRIBUNE Office The crowd knew thal
TRIBUNE extra meant something more than Drag
and I1uster aud the excitement swelling with
The increasing crowd was famed into fever
heat nv the announcement. AT 1890 the extra
came and after il other bulletins. The crowd
was by his time Immense. Packed close IL hiled the
SPACE around the Franklin statue, spread out over the
tracks of the city ilways and formed double line
along the sidewalk bordering City Hall PARK. And they
shouted with the utmost energy and spirit The tnrOng
soou burst open the stOrmdOOrs OF The TRIBUNE count
iugroom ana filed its utmost capacity, asking for
tbe latest news buying extras, hurrahng for Hayes,
and roanpg vigorously FOR the other candidate. Jokes
evy about m lively manner; Democrats tried 70 start
cheers for GOV Tilden, and found them turned into
hootngs and catcals but the solid work or the afer-
noon consisted in enthusiastic upTOarous and continued
cheers for Hayes and success.