The Indianapolis journal., 1884-11-08
THE NEWS IN BLAINE's HOME.
Tuesday Nights Rest in the Belief that He
Was Elected.
Augusta Special, Nov. g.

Augusta Special, Nov. g.
Mr. Blaine went to bed about 3 o'clock this
morning. Up to that time the reports from
New York were of such a nature as to make him
certain that he had carried that State. Con
necticut Indiana and New Jersey were reported
from the Republican national headquarters as
having gone Republican. When Mr.. Blaine left
his library to go up stairs for the night he had
nothing to give him a doubt of his election.
Soon after he had gone to bed bad reports began
to come in from New York. Thomas Sherman,
Mr.. Blaines private secretary, who is telegraph
operator, had at this time relieved the regular
operator. He sat at the key in the library with
out moving from his chair, piling up discour-
aging dispatches He sent up quietly to Mr..
Blaine's room, and found that the latter
sleeping soundy, so he did not disturb him.
Before o'clock reports came saying that
Connecticut and New Jersey had gone
Democratic, while the national
mittee had serious doubts of New
York At o'clock the news from New York
was again reassuring. Soon after o'clock Mrs
Blaine came and carried the reports up to Mr..
Blaine, and after she had read them to him he
turned over for another nap He did not come
down to the lower part of the house during the
day, as his throat was sore, and he was so hoarse
that it was exceedingly troublesome to talk. The
dispatches were carried up to him as fast as they
came
All day there was great excitement in the
Blaine household, owing to the conflicting opin-
ions about New York. The first really good dis
patches came from Mr.. Somerville, of the West
ern Union Office who said New York has
gone surely Republican by from TO- 900 to 15 000 !"
Then every one asked: WHO is Mr.. Somer
villl7 Some one present explained who Mr.
Somerville was and this gave great value to his
reports. Whenever weak -kneed reports came in
from the headquarters OF the national commit
Zee, every one would cry:
'Give us another dispatch from Somervile
He is the only man who appears to have any
accurate sources of news"
Hours after the Somerville dispatch messages
kept coming from Fcssenden, of the national
committee, that were not very encouraging At
one time he thought the majority would not be
1000 either way. The second dispatch of
French, the New York agent OF the Associated
Press. He said that he would stake his reputa-
tion upon 10, 900 Republican majority in New
York. This enabled all present to bear very
cheerfully the mixed reports from the political
managers.
In the neighborhood of noon dispatch was
received from Senator Malone saying that Vir
gina had gone Republican by at least 1000 ma
jority. Senator Malone had sent no word yes
terday This dispatch was crdlted as at least in
dicatins strong probability 1t was great
surprise.
About noon the reports from New York began
to come from all sources Telegrams of con
gratulations began to pour H. Some of them
were from people who had gone insane. De
epatches with poetry and gush struggled for
place with regular reports. All such dispatches
were thrown aside with mere glance, while the
demand was continually for hard facts
All day the telephone bell in the hall near the
library was kept ringing for calls from friends
in Augusta and neigbborins towns Postmaster