The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-04
CROWDS ON THE STREETS
DIN WITH WHICH NEWS OF NrKIN-
LEY's TRIUMPH WAS RECEIVED.
Between 5000 and 5000 People in
Front of the Journals Stereopti-
con yiews-At Theaters.

the morning. Arrangements had been
made by all the newspapers, theaters and
number Of individual firms to give the
election returns as fast they were re-
ceiyed by telegraph or long-distance tele-
phone. In q number of places far from the
center of town bulletins were posted every
few moments, but the great bulk of the
citizens of Indianapolis, especially the vo-
ters were anxious TO witness the closing
hours of the most memorable campaign
the present generation has experienced, and
tens of thousands of people took the street
cars. rode in their own vehicles or walked
TO the downtown districts. By o'clock
the streets were thronged. While dense
masses Of men and women were packed
before the great canvas stereopticon bull
letins in front of the Journal and other
newspaper Offices, anxious to learn the first
news of the great battle of the ballots. In
front Of the Journal were 5000 or 5000 peo-
pie. the biggest crowd of ALL While thou
sands of anxious. thoughtful men. who
realized that the honor of the Nation and
the safety of American institutions all de-
pended upon the result of the days vote
stood patiently before the bulletins, other
thousands of less thoughtful people pa
raded the streets, blowing fox horns, ring
ing cowbells and manipulating the thou
sands of devices invented TO make a big
noise Those who paraded the STREETS were
shouting either for Mckinley or Bryan ac-
cording to their preferences.
At first there was q good deal of uncer-
tainty to the political complexion of
the great throngs that stood looking at the
bulletins. When the rays of the stereopti-
cons showed gains for Bryan in some dis
tricts the shouts and cheers of the Popo-
Gratis were deafenng, but a little later
when the first returns began coming in
from New York. showing Republican gains
the voices Of the Popocrats were drowned
in the mighty shouts of the triumphant
Republicans And thus the cheers fiuc-
tuated, first from the Popocrats and then
the Republicans. until returns began COM
ing in from the alleged doubtful States. AS
they showed Republican gains the Popo-
Gratis became more and more disheartened
When there was no longer any doubt of
the results they turned away disheartened
THE SENTINELS BULLETIN.
Some of them went to the bulletins In
front of the Sentinel Office seeking consola-
ton. From the misleading bulletins posted
there some OF them regained hope and real
ly began to believe that Bryan might be
saved after all. AS late as IL o'clock, long
after the reports that Eastern silver pa
pers conceded Bryans overwhelming de-
feat. theaSentinel posted bulletins like this:
Montana and Kansas are safe for
Bryan. Keep quiet boys. You know we've
got em.''
When that beautiful announcement
palled Bryan's picture was substituted.
This was again followed by big rooster
standing on big letters. followed with an
exclamation point reading "Hurrah."
While the Popocrats were taking large
doses of medicine" intending to bolster
UP their sinking spirits, The enthusiastic
Republicans were running about like boys
released from school, seeking in every way
possible TO give vent to the wild. joyous en-
tEusiaSm with which they were bubbiny
over. Huge crowds thronged about the
bulletin in front of the Journal Office bat
many Republicans were scurrying about,
going first to one bulletin and then another
not for confirmation of first reports but
for further straws showing the extent and
volume or the great victory. Fog-horn
vendors sold out all their store and then
went home signing because they did not
have g larger supply. If there is anything
in the world that can make noise that
was not used last night no one was able to
discover that facts Those little wooden
noise barrows, with wooden ratchet wheels
were met at every street crossing. Some
men carried horns ten or twelve feet long
and as big as flour barrels, with mouth
pieces on them that produced vibrations
as loud as the steam whistles of Missis-
Sippi-river steamboats, Others carried COW
bells The mighty sdiscordant roar that
arose from the thousands of horns and
other noise-making devices was enough to
distract all the sensitive people in Indian
apolis and render all the rest permanently
deaf.
Along about midnight hundreds of enthu-
siaStic McKinleyites formed themselves
into numberless parties, some headed with
brass bands, and began marching about the
streets shouting for Mckinley. Everything
that might be construed into a. semblance
of the popular color-gold-was pressed into
service. Little eagles>were fastened on the
crowns of hats. A great body of men got a
bolt of yellow cheese cloth and tore it into
strips, with which they decorated their hats
and coat lapels. A small silk flag was fas-
tened TO cane, with a yellow streamer
above 1t. With this emblem of patriotism
and sound money at their head. the men
marched through the streets. into the no.
tells, saloons and other public places, cheer
ing, or, rather. yelling. for Mckinley. This
was but sample of the frantic displays
of enthusiasm and satisfaction that were
made.
At all of the theaters dispatches were
read between the acts. Everybody seemed
to be anxious to hear good Mckinley rews
and every message that showed gaiIs fol
the popular favorite was received with
deafening applause. Besides the grea
crowds at the theaters there was a bis
crowd at Tomlinson Hall, where music
from band filled in the time between cleo
UOn returns. he iiidHdStIS VI TIE dudll
were rather surprised at the big crowd tha
turned out. They say that at first the au
dience was about evenly made up of Re
publicans and Popocrats, but the re
turns came in showing Mckinley's election
the latter got Disguised and went home
At the Empire Theater there were two per
formances last night. both of which were
well patronized More interest. however
was displayed at all the theaters in the
election news than in the shows.
Saloon laws were openly disregarded, and
every place where liquid refreshments arr
dispensed was crowded to the doors lont
after midnight.