Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-23
EUGENE V DEBS IS FREE. A Scene of Wild Enthusiasm at the Jail.
DRAGGED FROM THE STEPS
Raised High in the Air and Passed From
 Hand to Hand.
IE WAS WELCOMED BY GOVERNOR WAITE.
He Was Given @ Grand Ovation and His Path Was Strewn
 With Flowers.

Chicago, Nov. 22.-Eugene V. Debs for five minutes this afternoon was literally in the hands of his friends" It was just after the arrival of the train load of enthusiastic admirers of this great strike leader at the little town of Woodstock, where he again breathed the air of free dom for the first time for half a year. They had marched from the railroad de- pot to the jail, and Debs stood upon the steps awaiting them. There was prelim- mary thunder of hurrahs, and then the storm of bottled-up admiration broke, and there was a scene which has hardly ever been duplicated in the annals of labor affairs. Without giving him a chance to speak the crowd rushed wildly upon their hero, dragged him from the steps and in few moments had him ihigh in the air. Those who had the good fortune to reach him first were allowed the privilege of holding him. and he passed from hand to hand, while all the others struggled to get near him. A casual spectator might have taken the whole scene for one of mighty battles between rival football teams. and have imagined that DebS had the ball. The crowd kept up constant calling and the band played on, selecting as their theme See, the Conquering Hero Comes" Debs took it all in the good-natured spirit in which it was meant. and when he was put down began a handshaking soiree that lasted until the train was nearly ready to start. A luncheon had been provided for his friends, but everybody was so busy with congratulations that few had a chance to taste the sand wiches which constituted the menu.
 They arrived at Woodstock at 5 o'clock being filled with labor delegates and personal friends of MT. .Debs-about 800 of them in all. They occupied six cars. The Building Trades association, the Trades and Labor assembly and other To- cal associations were represented, though there were many in these associations who failed to lend their countenance to the demonstration. The only one of the other eight directors of the American Railway union who was present was William Burns of Chicago. Among those who went to Woodstock was Governor Waite of Colorado. He came all the way from Denver to be presnt. There was a notable scene when he and Debs met. Debs threw his arms around the aged executives neck and said in tremulous voice: God bless you, my boy" The governor seemed equally overcome. He made some commonplace remarks about being glad to see him again, and then the two men fell to chat ting on the subjects nearest the hearts of both.
 
 triumphal entry of a ruler fortunate in war rather than the welcome of man found guilty in the eyes of the law. The music was "The Marseillaise," and the streets were black with hundreds of cit izens of McHenry county, standing an- kle deep in the snow to catch a glimpse of the central figure of the day. Fully half of the spectators were women and some brought flowers and threw them at Debs Coming back to Chicago on the train Debs was obliged to walk twice through all the cars and shake hands with every occupant. When the delegation reached Chicago another del- egation was waiting at the News depot and the scene at Woodstock was dupli- cated in milder colors.
 From the depot the line of march was taken up to Battery D. and although 0 miserable dr1zzle was dropping the streets were filled with spectators, who joined the marchers.