The Indianapolis journal., 1893-05-28
STORIES LONG AND SHORT
An UnfeeIiDg Mans Version of the
Women's Scrimmage at Chicago.
Proved Costly 10 "COmrade" Hawkins
"A Hiss That Seemed Wasted.

An indianapolis man who was in Chi
cago last week when the woman's congress
was In session had q deep impression made
Oh his mind by the riotous proceedings of
the women who could not get into the Art
Palace on the night Modjeska and other
weil-known actresses were advertised as
speakers. Women who were not in the
crowd. but safely locked in the hall. ve-
hemently deny the truth of the stories
that appeared in the Chicago papers next
morning. but the Indianapolis man says
the whole was not told. II was there NY
SELL" he says. right in the middle OF the
crowd. My wife went over from the hotel
before z o'clock and left word for me to
come and escort her home. AS happened
To have leisure 1 thought would 20 early
and hear the speeches my self. 1t wasn't half
past when j got there. but the steps.
which will hold two or three hundred peo-
ple were fun, and the doors of the insti-
tute were closed. Thinking my wife might
be in the crowd, i slowly worked myself
up the steps to conspicuous point where
she might see and signal me- BY the time
/ reached that upper step the crowd had
increased to such an extent that could
the " hole performance. Hundreds of women.
thousands should say. came from all di-
rections and clamored for sdmittance. The
wise virgins. as was learned later. bad gone
early and filled the hall, and then some
body not so wise had locked the outer
doors. The later comers did not under
stand IL, and expected the doors to open.
They oyerran the steps. they blockaded
the sidewalk half q square each way and
they tlIed the street out to the cable
tracks Presently. as it was warm night,
they began TO got uncomfortable and un-
easy; then. as the crush increased,
excited and frightened. A solitary po-
liceman made his appearance and tried
to disperse the women. but they
would not be dispersed. They shrieked at
that poor "cop" TO 20 about his business.
they thrust their mbrellas at him and
into him and so hustled him that be was
GLAD to get away with his life. florists
wagon stopped IN front and q man loaded
with boxes and baskets of flowers. evident
ly intended for the speakers of the evening.
made an effort TO work his way through
the multitude. He held his burden high,
and i watched It until flowers and man
sndaenIy went down out of sight Who
got those flowers i never knew. but cer-
tainly the actresses did not. Then the
women began to get hysterical. They had
pushed, and showed and jostled each other
so numerically that they were packed
like sardIDes. and could move neither for
ward nor back. Here and there one
screamed and another tainted. They be-
gan 10 hight each other bnndiy anc I'M
reasoningly. 1t wasn't personal aniDiosity
nor desire to indulge IN q scrap. but .
wild determination TO 60 one way
or the other that animated them.
About this time man opened transom
above the door. put his head cautiously
out and told the women to please 90 away.
They jeered at him and refused TO go;
whereupon bo hastily retired. The oxoite-
ment grew; more women tainted, more
proniscuous grabbing at anything near
that played havoc with hair and millinery.
1t was funny. and yet it was terrifying In
it's ay. for no one knew when the hyster.
zeal excitement would stop. and there was
danger that some of the women might be
seriously injured. One thirg 10 certain, .
crowd of women Is the last place in whioh
i want TO find myself again. About 3
o'clock squad OF policemen came mp
through the basement and opened the
doors, thing that should bave been done
at first. but by that time the women In tho
outskirts had had the sense to 70 home.
and the rest OF the crowd slowly gave way:
/ got into one of the halls after while. and
found plenty Of standing room there and
some vacant seats"
OverconfideDce is sometimes q costly
thing In time of heated elections. In the
presidential contest of 1888 Tom Tsggart
was very confident that the Democrats
would save this county. and made q bet of
$500 with o Republican friend to that ef-
feet. Smith Myers was made stakeholder.
While the latter was at the dinner table at
the Grand Hotel. one day just previous to
the election. be became engaged in o con-
troversy over politics with some travelling
man. and was bantered to back his opin-
ions with money. He finally bet the stake
money, 2410 which he still had In his
pocket Happening afterward To 40 TO the
Office OF then United States Marshal Hawk
ms he told what he had done. Mr.. Hawk
iDs asked TO be allowed I'D take the bet.
mo" said Mr. Myers. Il want 1t my self"
''But you have these chances every day."
pleaded the Marshal. "and / don't. l am
TIED mp here In the office. / beg of you now
TO give 10 10 me. Just write out my check
for $780," be theo SAID, turning TO his
clerk Now, come Smith, take this and
let me have that ber."
There was no resisting this importuning.
and Mr. Myers accepted the check. When
rne votes were counted and benjamin Har-
rison was found TO be elected he was very
glad be did. But Tom Tsggart. with his
luck won his 500 on the county going
Democratic. +
1t was last Monday afternoon that she
fioated serenely around the corner of Penn
sylvania and Washington street. Her bear
ing and hauteur betokened unmistskably
the air of the North Side. and the bounti-
fui wealth of soft drspery that fosted
about her surely bore the finger marks of
fashionable modiste. She was undoubtedly
a "iin do steele" yonng woman from the
peachy down of her classic cheek To the
tip of her russet-clad foot. When she first
hove In sight there wasn't q man on the
corner who would have hesitated
throwing his life down If need be
to rescue her from the periIs of the crosse
ing but closer view dispelled every spark
OF admiration. Closely pressed To her
breast, with its ugly head lying cooingly
against her dimplod chin. she carried q
big. overgrOwD pug dog of the puggiest
variety. The crowd stood il msnfully un-
Til the proud girl ronnded the corner. and
In full view of the blue-costed cop" bold
ly buried her lips IN the black hide OF the
petted brute's face. A grunt OF disgust
from a dOZrn men failed TO disturb tie
peaceful eqnanimity of the young woman.
and she sailed happily on, blssfully un-
aware of the policr officers remark:
"Be ali the shnakes of Oireland. DIV ar
risted paple tr less crimes 'ner thot."
=
X. K. Shiel Is getting ready to join q sam
itation movement as the result of personal
experience. Every man that builds" be
said. yesterday. to n Journal reporter.