Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-03
RRYaN.s GREAT 1ILErING.


Bryan Day in Wheeling will ever be
memorable. as il broke all records for
enthusiasm and attendance, against ad-
verse circumstances. The weather was
threatening. had been raining all the
preceding portion of the week. and sprin-
kled thai day. the people knew that the
Fair Grounds would be a mass of mud,
even if il did not rain more. and, finally.
while no blame is TO be attached to the
local representatives of the railroads,
who did their best in most cases to ac-
conmoda,e The immense crowd, nc
lmanagements of these roads are agains,
us in this campaign and accommoda-
lions were lacking that might have been
forthcoming under other circumstances.
I'm many cases. of course. the crowd was
so great that railroads from many sec
lions Of the three States from which the
immense multitude came could not,
using every available car and locomotive,
haul their passengers into Wheeling
ana then haul them out again on time,
I and we are glad to say that the local rep
r=ser- natives of the railroads did their
best. even IF hey were not all given what
Ithey required in the way Of transporta-
ton facilities to accommodate the i'm
mense crowd Of visitors.
These adverse circumstances kep'
thousands away from the Fair Grounds
who feared the mud or The rain, while
others arrived in town too late to par
uc.pa.e in the great ovation. The ques-
ton. hence. arises: What would the null
iude have numbered if the weather had
been clear and all the railroads IS will
/ ing 10 transport passengers to this great
meeting of Bryan as they are TO trans
port delegations to Canon?
The Associated Press representatives
presen, estimated the number of peoplA
present at 10000. The Associated Press
/ is. of course. strictly nOn-partisan, the
majority Of the newspapers composing
ill., We believe. being on the gold side OF
.ae question. Therefore this estima p
canno. be said 10 be a ps.,,isan one.
/ These Associated Press representatives
have been travelling with Mr.. Bryan
/ for q long time on his tour OF the coun-
Try and are experts az sizing up a crowd.
/ They had their hands full. however, on
The platform from which Mr. Bryan
spoke. and did no. take account Of ne
vast multitude out in the quarter stretch
in the dark, nor were they able to esti-
mate the immense jam of people in the
city who were endeavoring 10 get over
TO the Fair Grounds even after Mr.. Bry-
an had half finished his speech. There
were two Associated Press stenogra-
pliers to take Mr.. Bryan's speech. The
one who took The first half OF it was al
limos. unable to &c, from The Fair
Grounds to the Register Office. where his
notes were transcribed into typewriter
manifold copy for the printers and the
telegraph, on account Of the crowds in
I The streets that were still struggling TO
get to the Island to hear Mr.. Bryan.
+ YET the estimate Of these men, who are
experienced at sizing up crowds, is 3d.
GOO for the number on the grounds at
The time he estimate was made. Others
! who had been with Mr.. Bryan in several
States and who had more leisure to look
around and take in the multitude that
! extended away out into the quarter