The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-11-08
THE ELECTION FEVER.
Local Excitement Regarding the
Centennial Contest.

The CITY was In a tumult Of terrible
excitement last night over the election
returns, and it was long after midnight
before the localities where the news was
announced were deserted BY the SWaying
masses Of cheering men that filled them
from side to side and made passage VI
or down almost an imposSibility. Nc
local, State or general election that the
writer can remember, has ever aroused Q
greater degree Of interest in the public
mind than that held yesterday.
The polls had barely been closed, and
dusk had hardly abdicated in favor OIL
the street lamps, when the Republican
headquarters on Main street, the Demo
cratic headquarters square or so above
the INTE1LlGENCERo Office and other places
at which returns were announced became
the centres OF attraction, and as the hours
grew later the crowds increased and
the excitement intensified. An essential
element Of American character seems Il
be an inherent love Of politics, and an
opportunity to crafty that passion il
never permitted 10 pass by unimproved
The pleasure that a fellow experienced
last night at hearing the returns wa
regulated entirely by his party affiliations
and belief. II he was u Democrat he
crowed Justify over even an intimation
Of only a slight gain, and II he was q
Republican he waited until he had some
thing worth expanding his wind upon
and when he did he split the air with 9
yell that sufhced better than Incompetent
words US an expression Of his gratifca
ton that honesty and patriotism were
appreciated:
1t was after s o'clock when the Grs
estimates were announced at the Repub
lican headquarters, but SO very greedy
was the crowd Of excited men that unre
liable as the news was it served to satisfy
in q manner their hunger. About thit
time the Associated Press dispatches
which are always both reliable and i'm
partial, began to arrive at the INTELLI
GENcER office, and then it was that the
gentlemen congregated on the first fool
Of the building, and in front Of it on l4tt
street, were enabled to arrive at somt
idea as to which party was gaining.
About 10 o'clock the excitement grew
into steady roar that swelled and re
coded as the returns were frequent oil
scarce. Nobody talked Of or thought OIL
anything else than the returns. After
midnight the assemblage began TO dis
perse, but still there was left behind Q
large number of active and excited fell
lows who hadn't the slightest idea OIL
seeking their beds. Those who did &c
home didn't take a great deal OF sat.
isfaction to their couches with them, and
those who remained up were not much
better of. The latter, however, Of both
parties, formed themselves into compa'
MES and marched through the street:
singing party airs and fairly making
"Rome howp with their shouts and yells
The result was so delightfully."- uncertain
that one party could indulge in such
demonstrations with as much positive
ness as the other, and both did tito their
hearts content. One Democratic brigade
1.-THE "Mulligan Guards" we think pass
ed up 14th street and tried with all the
strength ofthe "great unwashed" to give
the 1NTEIL1oENoER three groans. The
spirit was willing but the flesh was weak
The groans were drowned by numerous
rotations OF beer; and the gurgle waited
to the second story was wonderfully sug'
gestive OF glass mugs and foamy bever'
ages. 1t isn't often that Democratic
aggregation wrestles with beer and gets
thrown, but it certainly had the whip
hand Of the boys last night.
The localities at which the returns
were received and announced last might
were the INrELLIGEECER Office, Republi'
can headquarters, Democratic head
quarters, Regtster Office and Opera House
We repeat It that universal interest and
anxiety was manifested last night, and
that the eagerness shown on the streets
was OF a lasting quality is proved by the
TACT that as these closing words are
written-2 A. M.-the roar OF an occa,
sional cheer comes rolling in, showing
that the boys are still on the alert.