The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-19
IN THE CoCkADE CITY RICHMOND WENT WILD:
Never Has Il Held Such a Crowd to
Hear a Political Speaker.
TWENTY THOUSAND IN THE AUDITORIUM
fhe Great building wns Grow ded as
II Had Never Rccm Before nua
Even the Roof was Covered with
Those Looking Enside-A Master
piece Logic ami Eloquencc.

Richmond Va. Sept. lS.-(SpeciaD-
Never In the history of Virginia has
mere oeen seen in this State a crowd at
polltlcal meeting. so large or so en-
thusiastic as that which greeted Will
ham Jennings Bryan here tonight. Not
even the splendid ovatiUns rendered him
at Columbus and Toledo several weeks
ago could equal ii, 1t Is hardly surpass-
den meeting
All day people had been pouring in
pV every train and by private convey
ance and by noon many of the principal
streets were iammed. BY o'clock, the
nour Tor the arrival Of the Bryan train
theV were almost impassable The
streets in the neighborhood of Byrd
station were iammed for several blocks
Ihese thousands shouted like maniac cs
and thronged around Mr.. Bryan's car
rage. yelling franticaly. Mr.. Bryan
was whirled away to the residence of
i. Talvor Ellyson, where they gave him
something to seat ana allowed him to
receive little rest
Then he was taken to the place where
ne made his principal address If the
lights had been better and the hall a
little larger no better place for a dem
onstration such as that which took nlaco
to-nlght in honor of the Democratic
nominee could have been selected
The great Auditorium OF the State EN-
position building was the scene of the
meeting. addressed by Mr.. Bryan. 1t
IS SAID that there are 900 seats on the
moor. several thousand more in the gal
ierieS and that the grand capacity with
every seat occupied, every bit of aisle
SPACE filled. is fully $4,000 But tonight
the basis for this estimate was not
available. 1t is true that there were no
clorc chairs TO occupy when the can
oldate arrived at the big building and
10 move from rear door TO stage along
anV aisle was impossible The galleries
were tammed Those who perspired to-
seiher in solid mass in the floor spill
ed over on the stage. Women in cool
summer dresses. crowded the boxes
Back behind the seats in the galleries
people were packed with uncomforta-
bic closeness. Around the entrances
eager throngs tried to get Il peep at
what was going on inside Even the
roof OF the building had its quota and
through the ventlative transoms was
poked a line of faces that showed the
interest their owners felt.
Estimates as to crowds differ widely
among those who who see them. but to-
night there was something by which the
Auditorium gathering might be meas
ured. and while few there were willing
to saw that less than $4,000 people were
present. quite few were would express
the opinion that the audience number
ed more than 10000. 1t was late when
Mr.. BRYAN arrived He blinked his eyes
a 3 he entered from the rear of the stage
for all but four Jets of the electric light
globes had gone out. and the first i'm
preston of one on entering was that of
semi darkness. Reporters had to write
their COPY by means of coal oil lamps.
The moon. shining through the glass
ventilators. over the heads of the boys
on the roof. helped somewhat, but II
was not the kind of light needed.
And so it happened that William ].
Bryan received his most demonstrative
greeting since his nomination. from an
audience of whom he could hardly see
his face and figure.
The Auditorium was packed to its ut
most when the Democratic nominee ar
rived. Not another soul could push his
face within many feet of any entrance.
Mr. Bryan came on the stage leaning
on the arm of j. Taylor Ellyson. He
was known in an instant. One mighty
shout went up and then grew in volume
ana Kept growing until things began to
get uncomfortable with those of scnsi-
tive ears. 1t was not that sort of shout
ing which rises and falls In regular un-
dulation. II was the kind that keeps
steady after II reaches the pinnacle of
lung power. and seems actuated by the
intent OF going on forever. Mr.. Ellyson
held up his hand for silence, and the
shouts came louder. II was of no use to
''p' ~ sNtHl lIit tluP Ol SnInuSld< TIC
feeling. and so those on the stage waited
until the Shouters tired themselves out
They did not have long to walt but II
seemed long. Kisses for silence had no
effect. and the solid volume of sound
died out only when the emotions of the
audience had expended itself. The ap-
plause lasted ten minutes.
Senator John w. Daniel rose to intro
duce Mr.. Bryan. but at sight of his well
known countenance, the crowd went
wild-wilder even than ii had when Mr.
Bryan came upon the scene The dark
skinned, tlagedian-like Senator waited
for the tumul; to cease, but it kept on
Finally, just AZ O'Clock, he started TO
speak. AS he talked the cheering con
tinued and very few heard his words
He ended by mentioning the name of
Mr.. Bryan. and as the latter stepped
forward. the widest enthusiasm again
broke forth.
Al last the crowd became quiet enough
70. the Presidential nominee to be heard,