Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-25
TAKEN BY STORM.
AN ARMY OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT PUR-
CHASBRS MOYB on OUR MERCHANTS
And Literally Garry Their Sticks Out Of the
Sbrss-Hundrsds Of Strangers in the
City-Whas Business Men Say.
IL was u~uprecedentSd.

Il was unprecedented.
No such rush Of holiday purchasers was
ever known in the history Of Wheeling.
Thousands of people filled tie streets ell
day.
Tens CT Thousands of dollars were spent.
And tsLs of thousands Of helrts will be
made glad this merry Christmas morning,
when the distribution Of the countless pres
ants takes place.
The unusual combination formed by
good weather and good times served TO
bring the holiday buyers ont in multitudes
Yesterday, and from an early hour in the
morning until q very late n last night
the sidewalks were crowded and the
stores TANNED with a swarmiDg mass
of men, women and childien, all
eager 10 purchase from the tempting
array Of goods displayed before them by our
merchants. The c:oHd vas easily twice
as large as on Saturday, which had Iuu so
far ahead Of any single day during tie
SEASON. that il was hardly expected 1t
would be surpassed, and in many instances
| places of business w,rs so crowded, espa-
| cialIy duIirg the afternoon, that no more
people could gain an entrance, and although
| the usual forces Of clerks were doubled
and uusdruplei, and then doubled agaio,
IL was often hslf an hour before p1TcbTe s
| conll secure the attention they wished OF
! course. these were except onal instances,
bat still they centred very frequently,
while in numbarless cases, proprietOGs and
their assistants could not find time TO Dtoa
meal until after ten o'clock las; night,
having bAn on the rush all day long, in
one STEADY pull.
The way stocks were depleted was a
caution.
Notwithstanding the amount provided
was often unusually large, they were sold
down TO the most miagrs assortment last
pieht at the close Of busiuess, ard there
will have to be a pretty general replenish-
ing before the ordinary wants OF the trsds
can be filed. This state Of affsirs wRs ts'
p~ecially true with the candy merchants,
but the book. sellers, toy stores, and those
places devoted to the sale Of fancy articles,
were nearly IS bad.
The number of country people and citi-
zsng of surrounding towns in the city dur
inc the dsy has never been approached at
sny former holiday season. They came
in by hundreds, aud 80 many were there
on the streets during the afternoon aud
evening. that the Wheeling people Wera all
but swallowed up in the mass which
surged slong the sidewalks and in and out
of the stores.
Altogether, it was q very remarkable
day. and one that filled business men with
satisfaction and their money drawers with
cold cash.
During the afternoon reporters for the
REGISTER elbOwed their way into q few
dozen places of business and held b1itf
CONVEX satiors with the proprietOrs, or some
of the clerical force, as TO the condition OF
the holiday trade and q comparison with
preyious years. IN lalmost every instance
the repcrt was that the DEMAND for goods
and the volume of sales was larger than
ever before, and in every case it exceeded
last wear. Some specimen responses are
appended; ,,.
/. G. Dillon & Co.-The holiday busi-
ness has been uneXeeptionally good. 1t IS
much larger than last year, and, 10 fact, Is
the best we have ever had in all our TWEEN
ty years experiences.
D. Gundliug & Co We have never had
anything like it. The rush to-day has
been especially great, and there has not
been smoment All day when the store was
not crowded. 1t is a good finish to a good
year.
Stanton & DIvenport-The holiday
trade was far in excess Of last year, and
the best for si& or eight years bsck. The
rush at timts has been remarkable.
William Kreig-The trade has been Of a
most satisfactory nature.
Hebrauk & Bro. -Business has been
very satisfactory.
Conner x Saedeker-Busines has been
much larger than last year. We are very
we'll sstis lied.
House & Cl-The Christmas trade has
been extremely gOcd-much better than
last year.
Nesbitt & Bro.-We have been crowded
all day. Trade was never so good as this
season, and better to-day than ever be-
tore.
F. Hsnauer-Trade has been far above
the average.
F. w. b .umar-Business has been very
satisfactory; much better than last year.
C. H. Ooimby-Business has been ex-
ceptionally coed.
George r. Taylcr & Co.-The Christmas
business commenced this year as early as
December LIST, and has increased right
slorg very far ahead OF lest year.
J. s. Rhodes x C).-Our Christmas q
incse has been nearly twice as large as last
year.
Jacobs & Isenburg-Our Christmas bust
ness has been much heavier this year than
last.
A. L. Rice & Co-Yes, indeed, our
business has been greatly in excess Of last
year.
G. NJ. Snook & Cot has been q great
deal bstter year than last with us, our
business bsiug much larger.
Geo. Z Stifel & Cove have been
rushed for weeks, and the business is aTsy
ahead of last year.
L. V. Blond-Our Christmas business
has been at least twice as large this year
~ it wSs last. No comparison at all.
G.. Mendel & Co.-0ur sOles have un-
doubtedly been very much larger than last
year and business generally is better.
J. W. Amick-Yes, there hiss besn 0 big
improvement over loSb JSnA DcSSAOS
business. Ii is immense.
Henry Sonneborp-The excess in Christ
mas business this year over last Is very
marked. 1t has hsen highly satisfactory.
Ewing Bros We have been about
rushed to death and III hardly handle
the trade. 1t shows q big increase over
last year.
Geo. L. Durst-Our business shows al
most a 900 per cent increase over lsst year,
7 We have been working day and night.
Wheeling Bskery-Oar general business
shows q very gratifying increase.
Mrs. H~iegsfeldsr-I never, in my TWEEN
ty.fve years experience in the business,
had a such a prosperous year. Our sales
of candies, cakes and fine fine goods are
:. eaily in excess of last season.
John Freidel-We have experienced q
decided incrtass in our sales over those oil
last year.
McLaiu Brcs.-We hsyeu't rad time 10
rest. This years Christmas business is
much heavier.
Jacob Grubb-Businsss has been much
better than last year-grest, in fact.
RepoItsrs called upon nasy other hrm',