The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-09-29
Flourish Side by Side at the Much.Ad-
vertised Shelbyville Barbecue.
Great Crowds of Shell.Workers. Policy Men,
OOntz sharpers and "shoe- String" Gam
blers Ply Their Trade Recklessly.
There We're Seven Speakers Stands, q
Host of Speakers and Plenty to Eat
Adai Stevenson Again Delivers His Indiana"
Speech-Women Robbed and Then Laug he'd
At-A Stain on indiana's History.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
SBELBYvILLE. Ind, Sept. 2S.-The Shell
byville barbecue is over and about twenty
thousand people are the Rladdest on earth
Once every four years the capital of Shelby
county spreads itself for the benefit of the
Democracy incidentally, and for that Of
the town itself especially. 1t was made
known throughout this and surrounding
States that q bright galaxy OF Democratic
speakers would address the crowds
and it was given ont the banner
event of the Democratic campaign.
Shelbyville has the reputation ofletting
every thing 60 at these events W hich proves
quite as good drawing card as those men.
toned on the programmes, and yesterdays
celebration was no exception to the rule
1t ha the result of attracting horde OF
"tin-horn" gamblers. pickpockets and con.
fdence men, and what they didn't get ont
of the crowd it may be set down at once
was not good enough for them. The day
was happily free from anv oausalties Of
any description, unless o black eve
or bloody nose comes under that heading.
Shelby county whisky, and It is said that
it is made out of potatoes to better instill
true Democratic principles, flowed like
water from O high. pressure hydrant. with
the usual results. Most of the "drunks"
proved good natured ones, though here and
there the sound of dull bump and o vol
ley of choice oaths indicated that some
ones temper had "riz." The one thing that
was the most noticeable. and it was 60 con-
spicuous that it was spoken of on ell sides.
was the lack of enthusiasm for the
Democratic ticket The people yelled. ana
only those that heard them know how
artlstically and how democratically IL was
done. But lt was not "Hurrah for Glove.
land!" Ii seemed to be for the pure pleas
ure of making q noise and getting fol
benefit out of the days sport.
The exodus from Indianapolis started on
the O'clock train yesterday morning. lt
was composed of eight coaches, and the
crowds swarmed over them like flies on
molasses barrel. Not few clambered nm
on the roofs of the coaches. The o'clock
train was an eIght-coacher, and the crowd
of the previous one was excelled. Men
hung out of the windows. on
the lower steps and again the
roofs of the cars had then
= mass of standing. sweating humanity.
In one end game of craps" went merrily
on, and a three-shell man got In little
practice for the days bigger sport. The
Big Four road was totally unprepared tor
the business on hand. The o'clock train
pulled out, leaving hundreds standing on
the depot platforms. among them being the
Progress band and Colonel Wilson's Demo.
cratic soldiers. 1t vas 1880 when they got
to ShelDyville, ana later train brought
several hundred more. Trains from the
south, ana east, and west brought In loads
OF people all during the morning and early
in the afternoon.
THERE WAS PLENTY TO EAT
The first impression received by the Wis
itor was that the Shelby villeites must have
fhaf hah
just to eat. Every fence-corner every
tree-box and every available space was
fitted up with some kind of lunch stand.
The driveway entrance TO a iivery-stable
had one, with the horses in back almost
near enough 10 brush the flies of the sand.
wiches with their tails When the eye
grew tired of things satabie &c turned to
the 0ntside decorations. They were many,
mostly of bunting; and pictures of Demo
cratic candidates, but one 10y al man, though
he decorated, Hung the c0untenance OF
Harrison to the public gaze. Ii a person
got thirsty about all he had 10 do was to
reach out and get something. no matter
where he might be. Heading the list with
approved fire. w ater. 1t ran down to q weak
lemonade and il was all freely INDUCED In,
And games of chancei-- the town reeked
with them. "Old Iii" was the popular favor.
ite in the town. He held undisputed sway In
the rear of saloons, under canvas awnings
that had sides and were In plain
view of the streets and even on the
curbstones. Other games, such as chuck-a-
| luck, ''oontz" and the like were
| plentiful. and as seductive. and as false as
ever The crowd spent the morning in
town to view the parade. Owing TO the
lateness of all trains 1t did not start until
| noon, and then made u very poor showing.
| 1t was not over four OF five squares in
| length. and all of the organizations seemed
| disordered and disintegrated. The Cleve-
| land Escort Club, of Peru, was the only
| one that had over twenty men In line, and
FpQ Qn a me- ha
| slon was crossing the square, Adlal Steven
| son was whisked by 1t IN q car.
rage on his way to the hotel
His presence evoked very little
| enthusiasm only here and there a 6esulto-
| ry yell being heard. As be drove in 'front.'
of the Ray House its balconies were crowd.
| ed. While every one nudged his neighbor
| and said, That's Stevenson" not a single
| cheer was uttered. A dozen men gathered
| around him as he alighted to shake his
| hand. and then. after has disappearance mp
the steps, gave three cheers for him. They
| appeared 10 be making that kind of a dem-
| hats and swayed their bodies, but their
voices were drowned by the blare of the
bands and drum corps.
| The speakers were served with dinner IN
| the hotels best bedroom and immediately
after it were driven out to the fair grounds,
| TO which place the crowd WAS fast pouring.
| 1t was a hot, dusty ride or walk out there.
but there were plenty OF smusements along
| the road.
THERE WAS GAMBLING EVERYWHERE.
Just across the bridge, seated on box,
was an old colored man. Across his knees
was board. on which appeared the magic
numbers. /, 2. 3, 4, 5. q. and in his hand were
three dice. Come long. white folks" he
nickel up." He had crowd
around him.. and business was 'ciar
| out o. sight" Similar contrivsnces
for getting peoples money appeared oil Of
| the way out. but the three shell game was
in the greatest majority. The little stands
| of these fakirs stood NJ least one 10 every
| ten feet; each had it's little group of suck.
| ers. and each worker of the game had big
| list iull OF bills. AT one OF them an oid
| farmer stood for some time q fascinated
| spectator Finally he went down into his
pocket, pulled out wallet and extracted
| fiye-dollar bill from It. He bet it on tho
| shell that the ball was under-that is, he
thought be did. and lost. Another i've. and
third and fourth went.
The old fellow scratched his head in dire
perplexity. and watched that little ball
| as q bird watches snake He started
| away once, but returned. Finally he drew
three silver dollars from his pocket. and
exclaimed: Look here young feller. This
il every dun cent got; but If you'll give
me let o. that size. I'll jest take ye."
~. A.