Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-12-12

4 mob Wakes ~ Crush at the DepO
ana IIae President Narrowly Es



a mob Wakes a Crush at the Depot
ana Ihe Presioenl Narrowly Es-
capes "A Squeeze.
CHICAGO, Dec. . The Union depot, at
Canal and Madison str cts, was hesieged
by mass of people at O'Clock TINS
morning, anxious to catch q glimpse OF
President Harrison who was expected TO
arrive Mt that hour, preparatory TO par
| ticipRting in the ceremonies attendant
upon the formal opsning Of the Audi
! torinm Building that vast structure in
which Mr.. Harrison waH nominated by
the national Repu blic2n convention Us its
candidate for President Of the United
States.
Mayor Cregier, President Peck OF the
Auditorium Company and tbs other mem
tasY OF tho reception committee boarded
o special Pan Handle train and accom-
painted by number of other prominent
citizspH and press representatives were
taken 10 Western avenue and Eighteenth
street, where they awaited the arrival OF
The Presidential train. When II arrived
4 the Presidents car was attached to the
special train. At last the train stopped
and ths President was ready to alight on
Chicago soil.
'Srhree chesra TO. Harrison! Hurrah,
hurrsh, hurreb !"
A roer that ratified the big windows Of
the UDion depot burst out from 6.UpO
throays, there YVES o rush and then 6
crush aud scramble, and the passageway
between tic crowd that had been made
by the police closed with the vicious
snap Ct mob mad for look OF the
chief executive, which closed .hind the
President, wio was compelled to walk
hurrie5iy, if not actually run, nrn in arm
with Mayor CEegier and Major general
Crock to the stone steps leaGlpg 70
the entrance. In a moment the Prest-
dent Yves at the top of the steps ard in
J an open haronche waiting to take him
away, The driver gave tho whip crack
over the horBes' heads and in q moment
the ca,ri7ge was flying sonth on Canal
, street TO jackson, down which he turned
east toward the lake front. II the police
i arrangements were bad while the Presi-
) dsnt passed up TO the carriages, it seemed
to be the general opinion that they were
worse when the balance Of the pasty left
I the train.
. Mr.. Peck escorted Mrs. Clsrkson ana
e O. f. Bissell followed with Mrs. Mckee
l md Assistant Postmaster general Olark-
i son's portly form follower by that OF
; Russell Harrison and nu.se bearing
I Baby Mckee. The only excuse the police
can give ia that the walk from the car TO
s the carriages was made &C suddenly that
i. they we've nnprepared. There was line
. OF blue coats extending from the doors al
r the bottom OF the entrance steps to keep
I the crowd back, but as soou as the
n President got to these doors the
. officers deserted their posts and ran
i up behind Tho head of the nation like sc
I. many school boys tagging after the VII
o lage masnats. The result was crush 81
% any one can readily guess, when it j
II known that mob of 5 900 people, ho
i. and eager, were thrown against th'
10 narrow exits. Three boys were bsdl.
n hurt against the great osken doors, tbs
sharp corners Of which pressed into theii
delicate frames and made them screech II
agony. Many grown people were hur
too, but none seriously.
10 II Yves only through the personal ct
: forts OF Mayor Cregier that Mr.. Harrison
was saved the indignity of being presset
u upon by the throng, and the rest Of thu
70 party were actually pushed upstairs in
e most undignified way as result, an
u, there was strengthening of bonnets b
q the ladies and smoothing OF silks hats b
~ the gentlemen when they at last got int
!. the carriages.
= While he was being shown tntoug
es tho great audience room his presenC
IL was discovered by the opera peopl
g, who were engaged In rehearsal. The r.
le hearsal was at once stopped and the o.
b3 chestra struck up with the t.Stdr Spangle
Banner" After leaving tbs audltoriui
-, building the President was conducted
" the Board OF Trade, where he received
-, ovation.
DC An audience OF 5000 persons and an GU
en- eide assemblage OF 10000 enthusiastic cit
I'd zsns Mt night attended the dedication I
is the great building, and as the Presidents
party entered the boxes reserved for then
~ the momentary applause deepened into
~ long continued ovation. The magntlcei
,eS l75.stop organ With Its 1000 pipes and bel
no hreathed forth In accompaniment with u
DO orchestra the Triumphal Fantasies cor
TX posed by Theodore Dubois ror the memo
10 able occasion.
70. In appropriate language Mayor Cregi
in welcome I'D the guests OF the evening. Pc
- ident Harrison then advanced slowly TO u
" front and made an appropriate speech.
49, Madame Patti sang "Homs Sweet Home
lth very finely, and was loudly encored. NJ
ms was assisted in the subsequent program
ior by chorus Of 800 voices.