The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-02
YESTERDAYS REPUBLICAN CON
VENTION WAS A SCENE OF
FIERCEST BATTLE.
REGULAR DOWN FIGHT INDUCED IN.
Two sets of Delegates Will Be
Sent to st. Louis-Full Par
ticulars of the Riot.
lFrom FRIDAYS Daily)

it did come it was deuccdly strong and N
mistake about it. Indications ycsterda!
morning early were to the effect that tn,
all important hour was almost at hand
and as each of the delegates took his sea
he also took an extra hitch in his wais
band, preparatory as it were. BY
O'Clock the Mckinley men had their ranl
very center of the hall. At 10 o'clock
the opening hour the speaker was promi
nent for his absence only. The moments
drifted leisurely by and it was 1870 be-
fore he made his appearance on the plat
form. In the meantime it became very
evident that the Mckinley men had not
been sitting up all night for nothing FOI
the first time since Monday night they
had their forces corraed and under
leadership. Sanwichcd among the ne
groes were n dozen or more of the white
leaders who were standing watch over
the colorcd gentlemen to see that the
compact formed in the still hours of yes
terday morning was carried out and that
the goods were delivered in their en-
tirety. AS soon as Quincy mounted the
stand he took in the situation mt glance
and Fastening to one side he began II
close confab with some Of his trusted
lieutenants II was very evident that
they came to the conclusion that it
would not be the part of good judgment
on their part to convene the convention
with the Mckinley men occupying the
posts of advantage. So, accordingly,
the Mcdonald credential committee,
which has conveniently delayed proceed
lngs for three days, was again reported
to be out at work, and pending their re-
turn the chair announced that the CON
yention would do nothing, and just for
forms saks motion was carried to adj
1ourn until noon, and although there were
in the neighborhood of five times as many
noes rs ayes, the chair adjourned the
crowd The Mckinley men continued
to hold the fort, however and while the
Quincy crowd went out and rounded up
their forces they still found the Mckinley
men i'll charge when they showed up at
J. o'clock. Finally, satisfying themselves
that the fight must come, Quincy, as chair
man of the convention, raped it to order.
The credentials committees report was
read and then the ball opened. 1t waged
last and furious, Quincy, with the com
placency of a child, ruling the Mckinley
crowd out on every shuttle, and playing
against n bobtail flush on the other side.
He had the situation grabbed and his
ruling simply electrified the Mckinley
crowd. They were struck dumb with
admiration. While in this state of
happy-go-lucky ruling, the chairman sue
ceeded in adopting the credentials COM
mlttee's report and transacting con
siderable business incidentally. though
very few of the crowd knew
disposition of the business the chair and
one or two Others came very near making
all the necessary arrangements for n first
class funeral. 1t came about in Web
Flanagan's climbing upon the rostrum to
argue with Chairman Quincy. Others fol-
lowed him and others crowded around
Quincy on the stand. Matters had been
looking sgually for some time, and every
one felt that the supreme moment was ut
hand. And it was: there was no mstak-
ing this fact. While all this bowling
mob was gathered around the stand some
body pushed somebody else. this made
him push third-the powder train was
lii and II would explode in a moment with
frightful effect. Some saw the pending
danger and made a dash for safety. Those
who moved with rapidity got away. but
those who hesitated n moment found
themselves in the midst of bowling mob
of yelling and fighting negroes and white
men. They fairly swarmed up the sides
fore them. One big buck negro, who, by
force pushed his way to the rostrum
through the struggling mass of fighting
humanity. made an effort to hit Chairman
Quincy. Bill Ellis, Cuney's right hand
how, was close at hand, however. and as
the negro made pass at Quincy his eye
caught the glitter of n pistol, and glanc-
ing in the direction Ne looked into the
stern and excited face of Ellis, who, with
"a M nlt OH J,, Ill
ing the pistol within an inch of his face,
and whose nervous finger was pressing
the trigger entirely too hard for safety.
The invader stopped instantly, but there
was others behind him who did not see
the pistol and who wanted to be in the
push in front These rear fellows kept
pushing for places. They had no affect
on the man up front who was looking
down that pistol barrel, however, and he
stood as firm ms n rock. Possibly half
a minute passed with the two men occu-
pying this position when the advance
ment of the bowling mob could no longer
he stopped. Like great rushing tor
rent dashing through the mountain
gorges the bowling mob in the conven-
ton hall swayed and rocked in their on
ward dash to the rostrum. They dashed
mp the steps, sweeping everything before
them. The chairman's table stood the
SlTulH possibly minute. ana was then
torn ruthlessly from its place and thrown
ont into the crowd. With this barrier
removed the crowd swept onto the ros-
trum without moments hesitation. The
Quincy leaders met the onslaught at the
top step and fought every inch of ground
1t was a battle royal for brief SPACE
and no mistake. The crowd swept up
and down the platform in mortal combat
as il were. Tables and chairs were alike
demolished as they were overtaken in
the grand rush. Those not in the fight
were making strenuous efforts to get off
the platform into safer quarters. In less
time than II takes to tell il the position
of the crowd had changed more than once
1t had swayed down the platform and
back up again. The press gang did not
have time to get up from their tables be-
fore the mob was on top of them The
Statesman's convention reporter had lust
made arrangements to vacate his evident
ly contested seat and so declared himself.
but his talk was of no avail. The crowd
was on top of the place where he was
supposed TO be before he had collected
himself sufficiently TO make the
leap for liberty. The conclusion is
natural that if the crowd was occupying
the position the reporter had few see
onds previous, where was the individual
in question himself? His PROSTATE form.
emerging from under Il mass of "niggers'
and white men, spoke more eloquently
than can words Of the ups and downs of