Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-04-26
EVER EXPERIENCED IN THE CAPITAL THEATER AT LITTLE ROCK, PRE- VAILED THERE
 FRIDAY
 NIGHT
On the Occasion of the Fifth Annual Contest of the Arkansas Intercollegiate
 0ratorical As-
 sociation.
Specialize the GRAPHIC ]:

Special to the GRAPHIC:
 LITTLE ROCK, April 25.-Special trains were arriving throughout the entire day yesterday. and every regular train was crowded to it's fullest capacity with admiring and enthusiastic friends of the contestants in last nights oratorical contest. or all these, the special from Fayett- vile, the site of the State University, bore the largest and most enthusias- tie delegation. 1t arrived at the Union depot at 5:50 and the party, headed by the A. l. U. brass band, was soon on their march to the Hotel Richelien.
 At ' o'clock the Capital Theater was packed 10 it's utmost capacity and an hour later the Association was called to order by it's President. George ". Garrett, of Ouachita College.
 After the announcement of Presi- dent Garrett, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jnnius Jordan. in his usual eloquent style, stepped forward and delivered the welcome address.
 Then came the orations i'll the following order: Thos. E. Helm, Hendrix College; Geo. Vaughn, University Of Arkansas; Oscar J. Wade, Arkansas Baptist College; K. ". Dodson, Arkansas College.
 Each champion had large fol- lowing of collegiates who went wild with enthusiasm at every lull in the program.
 Umbrellas, fans, handkerehiets, hats and college colors waved wildly throughout the audience and loud cheers and college yells pierced the ear at the beginning and ending of every oration.
 Not even in national political convention did there ever reign such pandemoDium as was witnessed on that loDg-to-be remembered occasion.
 At the conclusion of the program the judges retired for the purpose of making their decision. and during the hour they were absent, it seemed as if the crowd would shake the Opera-house from its foundation. But at last Prof. Jordan stepped forward, and in an instant the house was still as death. After a few preliminary remarks be said: Il am instructed to deliver this medal te-," and at this pause every pulse and heart seemeed stiller than the tomb of Solomon-"Thos E. Helm," then rang out full and clear over the audience, and the wild shouts that went up in answer was enough to burst the ear-drum of an elephant.
 Mr. Helm may well be proud of his victory. for in the person of MT. Vaughn, of the State University, he had an unconquerable foe, they hay ing tied on the first method employed for determining the winner.
 It is with extreme reluctance that we are forced to chronicle one of the most diseraceful acts that a rep resentative college delegation could be guilty of
 # ho q ofe,i( the Hendrix boys rushed madly forward to honor their hero near them. Lieutenant Chandler, of the State University, was seated i'll a private box with a number of lady and gentlemen friends moving the banner of the A. l. U. One of the Hendrix boys reached from the rostrum as if to take the banner, whereupon lady requestd Lieu tenant Chandler to give it to them that they wanted to unfurl it in honor of MT. Vaughn, who came so near winning the prize. The banner was passed into the supposed friendly hands, but instead of being unfurIed in the name of the A. l. U. and in honor of her proud, but de- feated orator, it was hurled yiciously to the floor and trampled upon by unclean and cowardly feet. 1 A crowd of A. l. U. boys rushed excitedly forward to defend their banner, and trouble would have been inst antaneous had not the escape of the guilty parties and the counsel of wiser heads prevailed.
 With the exception of this coward 1 ly anu vicious insult to the fair name of the University of the State, 1 the contest was by far the most successful in the past history Of the Association, and is likely to re-