The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-03
CREATED ALMOST A PANIC
A TERRIBLE CRUSH OF PEOPLE
WANTED TO HEAR BRYAN
SPEAK AT JAMESTOWN.
SPOKE 70 MANY At HORNHLSV|LLE
He Explains How 1t Is That Mexico
Can Not Maintain the Parity-Gold
Standard Democrats Scorched
Just Little Bit.

jamestown, n. Y, Aug. 29.-William J
Bryan spoke tonight in the convention hall
at Celerin on Lake Chautauqua, two miles
from this city. The determination of twice
as many people as the hall could hold to
hear the presidential candidate, resulted
in a crush which would have ended in
great loss of life if the panic had not been
gently handled.
Mr.. Bryan and party pushed their way
through the crush on the platform to the
chairs reserved for them at o'clock. The
candidate was instantly recognized and
cheered heartily. They did not give or
derby cheers, but sent up a continuous
shrek which lasted for several minutes.
A choir on the stage started to sing "The
Star Spangled Banner" and before the
end of the first sentence was reinforced
'Nby thousands Of voices making great
chorus.
When Mr.. Bryan was introduced the
trouble began. The audience climbed upon
their chairs and did not climb down.
Mr.. Bryan appealed to them to be seat
ed, and his appeals were entirely ineffec-
tive. He stood for five minutes making
this endeavor and all the time more people
crowded in the doors and piled in through
the windows. There were thousands out
side and few policemen to keep them
back. Viewed from the platform, the
whole auditorium was struggling mob,
while overhead men chung to the rafters
like monkeys. There were 500 people in
the aisles, and those in front were in dan
ger of being crushed to death. Women
were shrieking, and on the platform the
few ladies sat with white faces. Mrs.
Bryan smiled nervously, for it looked as
A though the people below would be pushed
\ onto the stage. Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. Sibley
4 and several committeeman took turns APP
n pealing to those in the aisles to go out,
( but they could not, although many tried.
\ One man in the gallery got hearing and
\ be panic and people will be killed"
Another in the pit called out: Don't
4 speak, Bryan. Go home. This is danger
GUS"
a Mr.. Bryan said he would not speak and
A started to leave, Mr.. Sibley making the an
nouncement that the meeting would have
h to be abandoned unless a part of the au-
A dience could be driven out. Half dozen
policemen struggled to clear the middle
aisle. Word was finally shouted that Mr..
4 Sibley would make an outdoor speech.
a Thirty-fve minutes after Mr.. Bryan had
first attempted to speak he made the sec
fond beginning, and the speech was provi-
3dentially finished without incident. In the
/. crowds outside, however, many persons
sYere squeezed until they tainted before
fMr. Sibley created diversion by speaking
4 from a stand some distance from the hall.
YThe enthusiasm of the night, apart from
its troubles, was greater than Mr. Bryan
has seen since the Chicago convention.
His speech was devoted to the financial
\ question, and in the beginning of it he
Z said if the people crowded so about free
silver in the banner republican county he
would not dare to bring them out in a
democratic county.
h On the trip from Hornelsville to James
town the train passed several groups of
country people gathered to see it 30 by.
Stops were made at Cuba, Olean and Sala
manca.
III AT Olean Mr.. Bryan spoke from the plat
form to 1900 people, most of them oil men
who had erected and decorated a platform
beside the track and had a band playing.
Mr.. Bryan stood bareheaded under the
blazing sun at Hornelsville this afternoon
and addressed the enormous crowd attend
ing the farmers fair. There was great
applause and much quick repartee upon
the speakers part as the audience asked
many questions. His answers We're vo-
ciferously cheered. especially when he told
them he had come so they might see the
leader of the so-called anarchists.
E Mr.. Bryan said:
sT 81 have not time to enter into an elabor-
at discussion of the issue presented to the
people in this campaign. But desire to
call your attention to a few things which