The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-04
CROWDS ON THE STREETS
DIN WITH WHICH NEWS OF M'KIN
LEY'S TRIUMPH WAS RECEIVED.
5000 and 5000 People I'm
Front of the Journals S%tereOpti-
con Views-At Theaters.

All the pent-up feeling of thousands of
anxious voters who had gone tor the polls
and quietly stamped the eagle, or the rocs-
ter. as the case might be, broke loose
after supper last night in one mighty roar
that subsidized not until the early hours OF
the morning. Arrangements had been
made by all the newspapers, theaters and
a number of individual firms to give the
election returns as fast as they were re-
ceived, by telegraph or long-distance tele-
phone. In a 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-
tiers, 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 I 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
radcd 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 a good deal of uncer-
tainty as 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 deafening, 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 fuc-
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 S~ENTINEL'S BULLETIN.
SOiAAC VA tA2'Al OAN ~ TIC puilcllllS III
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 Bryan's overwhelming de-
feat. the Sentinel posted bulletins like this:
Montana and Kansas are safe for
Bryan. Keep quiet boys. You know we've
got EN-"
When that beautiful announcement
palled. Bryan's picture was substituted.
This was again followed by a big rooster
standing on big letters, followed with an
point reading "Hurrah."
While the Popocrats were taking large
doses'o medicine intending to bolster
up their sinking spirits, The enthusiastic
Republicans were running about like bows
released from school, seeking in every way
possible to give vent to the wild, Joyous en-
tltnsiasm with which they were bubbling
over. Huge crowds thronged about the
bulletin I'm front of the Journal office. but
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 OF the great victory. Fog-horn
vendors sold out all their store and then
went home signing because they did not
have q larger supply. If there is anything
In the world that can make a noise thai
was not used last night no one was able TO
discover that fact. Those little woodeo
noise barrows, with wooden ratchet wheels.
were met at every street crossing. Some
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 discordant 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 ii into
strips, with which they decorated their hats
I'M coat lapels. A small silk flag was fas-
tened to a cane. with a yellow streamer
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 a sample of the frantic displays
of enthusiasm and satisfaction that were
made.
read between the acts. Everybody seemed
to be anxious to hear good Mckinley news,
and every message that showed gains for
the popular ~favorite YVES received with
crowds at the theaters there was a big
crowd at Tomlinson Hall. where music
from a band filed in the time between cleo
ton returns. The managers of the affair
were rather surprised at the big crowd that
turned out. They say that at first the au-
dience was about evenly made up of Re-
publicans and Popocrats, but as 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 are
dispensed was crowded to the doors long
after midnight.
Notes of the Night.
One of the bulletins the Sentinel gave its
crowd last night when everything indicated
a Mckinley landslide was: Reports from
Western States are encouraging"
ct wonder If 1t wilt take the Sentinel ten
DAYS to find out that Mckinley is elected?'
oueried a gold Democrat who Is employed
in one of the city offices.
According TO the calculations of Al Moore,
assistant city engineer. Mckinley's plu-
rality must be in the nelghDorhood OF
6.93l, 127. 36i. Moore estimated that l93, 4C
heard the four nonvote-getting speeches
Bryan made in indianapolis.
Fireworks In jubilation over the McKin-
ley victory were fired from the rooms OF
the Agricultural Epitomist last night. The
rooms ere directly over the w. Is. Burford
printing establishment. and Mr.. Burford,
who is a Democrat. was a bit indignant,
lest people think he was joliying.