The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-09
HOW BRYAN
HEARD IT.
Creelman Relates the Scenes of
Election Night
In w. J. Bryan's Home at Lin
coin.
A GRAPHIC PICTURE.
Apparently a Great DisappOint-
ment to Bryan.
But He Spoke Only lin His
Looks.
1 GRAPHIC PICTURE.

The following is the description by
James Creelman, correspondent Of the
New York World Of how William j.
Bryan heard of his defeat:
Lincoln. Neb.. Nov. 3--This has been
a trying day and night for Mr.. Bryan's
home
1T is a terrible thing to look upon a
strong man in the pride of youth and
see him gather UP in his hands the
ashes of a great ambition to watch his
face and know that he is summOning
up all the strength of his nature to sup
press alternate agony and joy.
For hours tonight Mr.. Bryan has en-
dured the torture of suspense I have
been sitting all evening in the little
room where three telegraph operators
have been receiving the election re-
turns. never saw such q face and I
have never seen such a man.
He sat like a general reading the re-
ports of some great battle in which
whole armies were swept away. His
eye never changed. His cOuntenauce
was unreliable
State after state wheeled into line
against him-nOrth. south east and
west The shril noise of the telegraph
Instruments never ceased.
He wore a black velvet jacket and a
pink carnation was stuck in his but
tonhole. At first his little daughters
frollicked in the room where the news
was being received But the silence be-
came too great The children went
away Mrs Bryan watched her hus-
bands face with a look of dread
BRYAN SAID NOTHING.
Hours passed, and then the leader
went upstairs and stretched himself on
his bed In this attitude he worked out
the result of the national struggle as
the bulletins We're brought to him. He
uttered no sound of despair But be-
fore the end came his face was the face
Of an old man. The revolution was
smashed.
While the streets Of Omaha were still
nHed with the roaring of the mob last
night AR Bryan Went to bed His iron
nerves stiu supported the tired brain
and body He slept a dreamless sleep
and awOke at $50 a. m. with bright
eyes and an appetite that required a
big beefsteak. an Omelette. a dish of
potatoes and q cup of coffee.
He drove to the special car with Mrs.
Bryan and remained in his staterOOm
on the way to Lincoln with Governor
HDlcOmb. When the train arrived at
Lincoln the young leader was taken to
q carriage, and. escorted by a brass
band and a procession of WOrkingmen,
started out to cast his vote.
1t was d remarkable scene. As the
music walled out to the shutting of a
thousand marching feet Mr. Bryan un-
covered his head and bowed to the peo-
pie in the windows. Here and there
cries for Mckinley were heard and the
procession grOaned. The procession
halted in front of q notary's Office, Mr.
Bryan went with the rushing crowd up
" NV
upHfted hand, he swOre that he was
d years old and was entitled to vote
WhereupOn he received a certificate
His friends tried to encircle him.
ITS all over but the shouting he
said. It's all over now"
Then the procession and the brass
band moved ON to the polling place,
which was a fire engine house Mr.
Bryan found his way into the dark
room. where tethered horses We're stand
ins and voters in narrow stalls We're
marking their ballots by lantern light
"A crowd OF spectators pressed against
the ropes Enclosing the space for the
voters, election officers and challengers
A lurid light came from the open door
Of a huge stove. and grotesque shadows
danced in the gloom. The band outside
played gayly- Mr.. Bryan went inside
Of the ropes, he removed his hat and
one of the election officers handed him
a ballot
Then he entered one of the stalls.
where the lantern light was faint and
Pickering. Tt took him just eight min
utes to mark and fold the voting sheet.
Meanwhile one of the free silver chal-
Iengers got too close 10 the secret stalls
and tried to talk to a man who had lust
received his ballot, whereat the Repub-
lican chalengerS made a row and Wau-
ged their heads. The free silver chal-
lenger persisted, and tried to argue the
case
why don't you try to be quiet while
r-Eryan fixes his vote for Mckinley 90
remarked a Republican.
There was a mighty guffaW at this,
and even Mr. Bryan's shoulders rose
and fell as he leaned over his work
Presently he appeared at the ballot
boxes with his folded ballot in his hand.
But he had to wait while the officials
Wraglsd over two voters.
Meanwhile the newspaper cOrresDOn-
dents leaning against the ropes went
through a funny pantomime as if they
were trying to influence the leaders
vote. and he went through mock ges-
> AT hal
ing his head and rolling his eyes re-
proachfully at the writer's who had ac-
companied him i'm his wonderful $4,000
mile journey.
At last the moment for Mr. Bryan's
vote came around and he stepped for
ward, ballot in hand. A Photographer
turned camera on him, and the pho
Iographers assistant stood close by
with a big shovel filed with hashlight
pOwder.The place was very pfcturesqe
at that instant The strong face of the
leader was lit on one side by the yellow
rays of the lanterns while a cold beam
OF gray light touched the other side
Ills coat collar was turned UP and there
was a black handkerchief wound loose
~ about his powerful throat
HATS OFF TO BRYAN
50 SaVonarola might have looked
when he deded Rome. The ring of
watchers and workers pressed forward
lily on the floor Tt was a face full of
coura age, desperate almost One of the
Republican challengers took his hat off
and said.
Gentlemen. move as a mark of re-
spect to the candidate that we all re-
move our hats"
on came the hats. MT. Bryan bowed
and handed his ballot to the man at the
box AT that moment the photograph
er's assistant touched Off the powder in
the shovel There was a fash and Mr.
Bryan's face was lighted for an instant
by fierce glare Then a cloud Of smoke
flowed over his head as he made his
way out Of the shadowy room strus-
Cling between the horses and the IRE