Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-06-27
IN A RAGING STORM.
Vivid Pen Picture of the
Conventions Work.
SCENES IN THE BIG WIGWAM.
Frail Building Trembled While Nomi.
nations Were Being Made.


csgo Convention. SO far as the tumult
was concerned, it seemed to be battle for
supremacy between the multitude within
and the elements without.
No such scene was ever witnessed In
national convention. At times II was al
most terrifying, when fash after fash OF
lightning shot in ragged course through
the sultry air OF the vast auditorium.
The first mutterings OF the storm were
heard about 10 o'clock-now and then a
bright fash from the battery In the clouds,
intermingled with mumblings that pre-
saged the heavy firing that was to follow.
The first sharp crack caused feeling OF
alarm In the multitude and it was plainly
visible In more than one face. Heavy
drops OF rain falling swiftly on the roof
could be heard even above the din of the
clamorous men below.
| Soon patter OF water began in the
| wigwam itself. The roof was leaking.
As the storm increased in violence the
sieve OF gravel and lumber, which served
as covering for the gigantic shanty,
asserted its treachery more and more, and
presently drenching torrent was falling
on the platform.
The storm began just after the tumult
which followed Governor Abbetts allu-
sion to Hill had ceased, and before the
| New Jersey man had hoarsely demanded
the nomination Of Cleveland lightning
was blazing through the canvass curtain
over the breaks in the roof and thunder
was crashing above the wigwam.
The Governor finished his speech to an
accompaniment that drowned his voice,
| but the fury OF the storm did not fall till
| he had retired. There was a mild salute
OF his concluding sentence. A picture
| OF Cleveland was swung above the heads
| OF the Michigan delegates and the galleries
poured out furious storm OF cheers.
The excitement had reached its height
when ribbon of blue flame shot across
the aperture in the roof and an awful
roar OF thunder shook the wooden walls.
The shock was so great that 1t fairly
broke the force Of the wave OF Cleveland
enthusiasm that had swept the conven-
| ton. Chairman wilson had been striving
weakly to check the cheers, but his
wooden mallet was not heard three seats
from the front row. But when the gavel
OF the thunder beat upon the shallow
roof the crowd was chilled with fear.
The concerted cheering ceased altogether
and the voices OF the men who remained
on the chairs swinging Autographs and
waving umbrellas were overwhelmed
by tumult OF alarm from the galleries.
People in the rear seats scattered and
could be heard stamping to the doors.
The lightning danced around among the
tawdry strips OF bunting on the ceiling and
between the tremendous blows OF thunder
the rain, driven by fierce wind, beat
against the west wall and came in sheets
through the perilous shell.
MIR. Wilson bravely tried to stand his
ground, but the pelting OF the storm was
too much for him.
Drenched and miserable he finally re-
treated. The historic desk almost fioated
away a few minutes later. There was no
escape for the reporters who sat under the
break. They could not get out through
the jam on the platform. The men who
had umbrellas hoisted them, and the re-
porters huddled under the umbrellas and
| awaited the end OF the storm.
In other parts of the hall the rain fell
but In less volume. Many people put on
their hats, and up I'm the galleries drenched
Democrats sat with their !coat collars up
The Convention was in a tumult. Every
time the thunder snapped viciously and
then went booming over the building the
faces of these eighteen thousand men and
women were upturned to watch the effect
| OF the blow. The wigwam did not tremble
or melt away and the people were re-
| assured.
The storm was still raging, but the un-
easy roar OF the galleries had partly ceased
when the reading clerk continued the roll
call. When Colorado was reached Chair
man Patterson OF the delegation gave his
time to New York and Mr.. DE Witt Of
Brooklyn took the stand. He had stalked
solemnly down the middle aisle and had
walked to the front OF the platform when
another wild thunder clap crashed upon
the convention and the rain came with
redoubled force. The water struck the
roof with a hiss more potent than the
s'Nss~' "aeSh W"iN b''N w siii "hN ~
Wits speech was checked.
The chairman suggested that he climb
on the table in front OF the platform. He
did not accept the suggestion, and he was
about to begin his speech amid the ter
rifle bombardment when Bourko Cochran
came down the aisle. The Tammany con-
grcssman's voice is not as soft as a Wellcs-
ley graduates, but its power wasl lost In
the rage of the storm and the clamor, half
fear and half Cleveland, that arose from
the crowd.
He had TO come down TO the platform
and shout until the tendons OF his huge
neck looked as big as clothes lines before he
could be heard. He advised the chair
man not to let Mr.. DE Witt begin till
the storm had spent its fury. The band
was ordered to play. II was not much OF
band In fair weather, but in the storm
the tune II played sounded like the m usic
that Is heard from the inside oil a side
show. The horn sounded as II IL had a
IA L.. ~. ~