The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-05
CROWDS WERE ANXIOUS
DECEIVED YESTERDAY By THE
MISLEADING BULLETINS.
Bryanites Picked Up Hope and Made
Losing Bets on SentfneI's Claims
Bicycle Parade.

Indianapolis saved its reputation yester-
day as a hotbed Of political excitement.
Thousands OF people kept the city in a
state OF confusion during the entire day.
Hundreds of people never went to bed at
all. but were seen upon the streets all
Tuesday night, n during the entire day
were still I'm sight. The longest stayers
were the Mckinley men, for the early bull
letins Tuesday night were SO decidedly
against the Popocratic candidate that his
were tired and sleepy and retired in favor
Of the opposing faction.
Yesterday the reaction. which is always
expected in Indiana presidential elections,
came with its old-time force. The first
returns had come from the cities and large
towns, where it was almost unanimous for
Mckinley in all parts OF the East and
middle States. During yesterday morning
the country districts began pouring in and
then the Bryanites began 10 take courage.
The report that Bryan had carried his own
State. Nebraska, was the first real "en-
thusing" news for them, and they soon
spr cad it over the city. and then came forth
the Bryanites from all quarters. Then
came the bulletins from the rural districts
OI llQldndy SHOWING lndL lie ITcS-SllHef
sentiment among the farmers had given
Democratic gains in some Of the Repub-
lican strongholds. The rumor that Bryan
had carried Indiana soon gained ~credence,
and the voices that had been stilled since
early Tuesday evening were again heard
trying to ruin themselves shouting for
Bryan.
The returns coming in up unit about l
o'clock had some encouragement In them
n Tha PnnOGrafG and n onfhIIGlaS IN
grew at the ratio of the significance OF the
returns To push the good thing along"
the Sentinel proPPed up the drooP!ng wings
Of the rooster and tried to make 1t raise its
head to crow. In the excitement of the
multitude that stood about in front of the
office of the organ" the death rattle in
the ROSTERS throat was not heard. The
mob heard only the claim that Bryan had
a chance. then that he had enc electoral
votes TO insure his election. Alleged bull
letinS were posted in the window telling
Of the wonderful gains of Bryan. TIL mob
went wild M really created so much Of q
hurrah that weak-kneed Republicans began
to WAIVER.
To d to the feeling Of the times the
Sentinel restored Bryan's portrait. which
had been taken from the window. The
night before the large colored Autograph
of the Boy Orator had been pulled down
and taken out of sight. Yesterday one OF
the smaller portraits OF Bryan was put
toward inspiring the lost confidence in the
breasts of the Popocrats, but 1t also set
them to guessing what mad become OF the
larger picture.
The reaction which came about with the
day returns favorable to Bryan continued
until late in the afternoon. Then a less
excited populace began to study the re-
turns and to figure upon the electoral vote,
and then 1t again became evident that more
Popo cratic energy had been wasted. AT ore
time there were bulletins which gave the
most ~sanguine Popocrats the impression
hat Indiana had given its electoral vote
to Bryan; The excitement ran high; The
cooler judgment, however, was convincing
that the big Republican gains In the cities
and towns could not be overcome by the
small Popocratic gains in the few country
districts whichsgave such gains.
Through all the period of Popocracy's re-
dictionary convulsion there was no one who
could be foundw who was willing TO back his
enthusiasm with money. Thousands of men
who, from their wild shouting and boast
ing. seemed TO be convinced that Bryan was
the lucky man, vented all their feeling in
noise. About the Sentinel office there was
much talk about betting and the sums
named were enormous, but when some Re-
publicans went through the crowd to take
all bets that could be obtained not a man
would put up n cent.