The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-11
ON THE DOWNTOWN STREETS.
How the Good News Was Received by
Thousands of Rejoicing PeonIe.


The first returns from the precincts, last
night, showed that high rate of gain over
the figures of last year was likely to en-
sue, and Republican spirits went up high.
The crowd about the Journal office began
to grow very enthusiastic, and the resound-
ing shouts had the effect to attract thou
sands who had not expected returns so
soon- The crowd soon reached four or five
thousand, and when the returns were an
nounced from the third-story balcony the
good news was greeted with cheer upon
cheer. The announcements were made by
Charles Bookwalter, and his appearance
was a signal for hush over the throng
There were few precincts that did not
show Denny gains, and the chances for a
Democratic cheer were not numerous. The
only thinning of the crowd was due to the
Democratic element of it retiring in disgust
The Republicans had had no opportunity
- give cheer of victory since 1855, and
their pent-up enthusiasm soon took the
form of noisy instruments of sound.
new device, worthy of the lower regions,
was sprung upon the rejoicing crowd. 1t
was a wheeled continuance, embracing the
principle of the "horse fiddle" but, run
ming on wheels, could be worked without
the firing energy required when worked
by hand. 1t was fiendish thing to make
a noise, but the crowd was too happy in
its exhilaration to object Only when its
Internal racket interfered with the hear
ing of the announcements was there any
lmpatience shown with 1T.
There were special cases of enthusiasm
marking the high degree of spirit that
dominated the crowd. One old colored man,
whose bald pate told story of years and
of liberation from slavery by the party
which he had voted for during the day,
threw his cap high up In the air as he
heard the reports that meant victory. His
delight knew no bounds, and he was
rheered by the exuberant crowd.
The streets in front of the bulletins of the
News and the Sentinel were also crowded,
but after 10 o'clock the Sentinel crowd be-
gan to disappear. 1t had been compelled to
endure lot of trashy views thrown on the
canvas in place of the bulletins for some
time, because the bulletins were so unfavor-
able that they could not please the crowd
This sort of thing was kept up until there
was no longer any possibility of Sullivan's
election. and then the bulletin showed a
sentence which quickly scattered the crowd.
1t read as follows:
'Denny's gains are uniform. and his cleo
ton is assured by a good majority"
This was the climacteric for that crowd,
which began TO scatter at once for home or
for Irons saloon. The proprietor of this
famous joint was the picture of distress as
he stood about the front of the saloon and
said nothing. No one spoke to him and he
spoke to no one In addition to his hopes
for continued good trade in his Illicit bus
mess he had bet heavily and was out mint
Of money. He had also contributed heavily
to the campaign fund to corrupt the ballot,
and had only defeat and rebuke for his
pains. His saloon. however. did good bus
mess, for his friends soon began to try to
drown their sorrow in drink.
The enthusiasm of the crowd when once
assured that Denny was elected, could not
be content with standing still, but must
get up march. A detachment of the CO.
lumbia Club secured the Indianapolis Mil
itary Band and organized a procession,
with the national colors and he beautiful
banner of the club flying proudly in the
breezes. 1t wound its way with difficulty
through the great crowds I'm front of the
Journal Office and Washington street.
The procession made a detour of the streets,
taking in the Sentinel its way The
ample was followed by a number Of other
crowds. who kept up the parading with
bass drums and flies until a late hour.