The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-07-15
MOMENTS OF PERIL

The Closing Session 81 the Chrissian En-
deavor Convention In Montreal Threat.
ened by 0 Mob % f1fteen Thousand
French Canadian Catholics. the Result 81
m-Timed Remarks-Ths Mea 0f thu
Militia Rally f-r the Protection of tbs
Endeavorers and No Violence was Done
MONTREAL, Can, July 10.-The clcs-
Ing scenes of the Christian Endeavor
convention on the inside of the Drill
hall last night were characterized by
much warmth and handshaking, kiss
ing among the women delegates who
had formed friendships in the city and
the singing of God BE With You TIL
We Meet Again" It was very i'm
pressive. Outside, the scenes were
equally impressive in another way.
Thousands of people were congregsted
on the Champe de Mars and Craig
street, in front of the building and east
and west. The elements of q riot
were there in full force. The talk
about the Californian's ill-timed re-
marks had spread all over Montreal.
and in the crowd were many who were
bound to avenge the insult which they
consider mores than personal, for
French-Canadiaa Roman Catholic re-
1igion comes in before anything. Then
there were thousands assembled who
had resolved TO protect the Christian
Endeavorers when they left the hall.
The antagonistic elements in the crowd
kept at a respectable distance from
each other awaiting the opening Of the
doors at the close.
Among the Protestant crowd were
nearly a thousand militiamen in plain
clothes and the opposing crowd con-
sisted of the lower classes Of French
Canadians, principally quarrymen from
Corte St. Luc, or others of like stamp
Occasionally the volunteers and their
adherents fell into line and marched
around the block enclosing the Champ
de Mars, and the opposing crowd did
likewise, marching around the block
TO the west of Champ de Mars They
eyed each other jealously and each
moment the bitter feeling increased,
In evidence of which partisan tunes
were shouted by thousands OF lusty
voices. and pandemonium reigned.
This was the stu alton when the
doors of the hall were thrown open.
Everybody expected u riot, the dele
gates emerged from the hall and
turned to the west end. Instantly the
volunteers formed Gordon at the edge
of the sidewalk, and white handker-
chiefs were produced and held around
their neckS This was the distin-
gushing badge, no one without
it could approach the Endeavor-
ers from the opposite side OF
the street, and slowly and with
out any manifestation Of alarm the
delegates proceeded. Then came q
burst of song. cat the Cross" rolled
out upon the air, and the result was
something wonderful. Almost perfect
silence fell upon the crowd. The
Frenchmen on the Champ de Mars
stood silently gazing at the process
sion of Endeavorers, which marched to
the time of the piece of music they
were singing. All emerged and
passed out of the dangerous locality
in safety. Then the militiamen.
who had moved slowly after the
crowd turned right about face and
marched down east to a short distance
below the Drill hall singing Onward,
Christian Soldiers, Marching as to
War" They were greeted with some
jeers from the crowd that angrily
watched them, but no blows were ex-
changed. As they again turned and
marched west the multitude melted
away, the blockade of cabs and street
cars passed on and closed the scene.
and the Christian Endeavor convention
was at peaceable end.
1t was at one time intended to dis
miss the Drill hall meeting by the rear
door, but President Clark, on assur-
ance from the military that they would
amply protect all the delegates, caused
the front doors to be used. Before
pronouncing the benediction he told
the assemblage that the soldiers would
protect them and that no violence
need be feared at the hands of the mob,
which numbered 1900.