The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-30


Jamestown, n. Y, August CIVIL
liam j. Bryan spoke tonight in the con-.
vention hall, at Celeron, on Lake Chau-
tauqua, two miles from this city The
determination of twice as many people as
the hall could hold to hear the Presiden-
tial candidate resulted in crush which
would have ended in loss of life if the
panic which for an hour seemed imminent
had not been prevented. The hall con-
tains seats for 5000 people, but fully 10,
600 were packed into its frail walls fight
ing for mere standing room an hour be-
fore the speech making began
Mr.. Bryan, Mrs Bryan, Mr.. and Mrs.
Joseph G. Sibley and members of the local
committee pushed their way through IL
crush to the chairs reserved for them at
O'Clock. The candidate was instantly
recognized and the cheer which his en-
trance kindled was one more intense and
shrill than any which has been heard
since the Chicago convention. All the
people stood on their chairs filing the
auditorium with n storm of applause
They did not give orderly cheers but sent
up a continued shrek which lasted sew
eral minutes. y choir on the stage
started to sing ''1'he Star Spangled Ban
ner, and before the end of the first sen
tence, was reinforced by thousands of
voices, making great chorus.
When Mr. Bryan was introduced the
trouble began. The audience climbed
upon their chairs to cheer and did not
climb down. Mr.. Bryan appealed to them
TO be seated, hut his appeals were in
affective. He stood for five minutes max
ing the endeavor and all the time III )re
people crowded into the doors and climbed
into the windows. There were thousands
outside and few policemen took them
back
Viewed from the platform the whole
auditorium was struggling mob, while
overhead men chung like monkeys to the
rafters. There were 500 people in the
center aisle and those in front were in
danger OF being crushed to death.
Women were shrieking and on the plat
form the few ladies there sat with white
faces. Mrs. Bryan smiled nervously, for
it looked as though the people below
would be pushed on the stage Mr..
Bryan, Mr.. Sibley and several committees
men took turns appealing to those in the
aisles and back of the hall to go out, but
they could not, although many tried One
man in the gallery yelled: "For Gods
sake, go outside or there will be panic:
people will be killed.
Another in the pit called out: Don't
speak, Bryan. Go home. This is dam
gerous.'
Mr.. Bryan said he would not speak and
started to leave, Mr.. Sibley making the
announcement that the meeting would
have to be abandoned unless part of the
audience could be driven out. Half II
dozen policemen struggled to clear the
middle aisle. Word was finally shouted
Il
speech. Thrtyfive minutes after Mr.
Bryan had first attempted to speak. he
made the second beginning and the
speech was providentially finished with
out accident. In the crowds outside,
however, many persons were squeezed
until they tainted before Mr. Sibley
created diversion by speaking from a
stand some distance from the hall.
The enthusiasm of the night apart from
It's troubles was greater than Mr.. BRYAN
has seen since the Chicago convention.
His speech was devoted to the financial
question and in beginning it he said that
II the people crowded so to hear about
free silver in the banner Republican
county he would not dare to bring them
out in Democratic county.
On the trip from Hornellsville, where
Mr.. Bryan spoke in the afternoon, to
jamestown the train passed small groups
OF country people gathered to see it.
Stops were made at Cuba, Olean and Sal
amanca.
At Olean Mr.. Bryan spoke from the
platform to 200, most of them oil men.
who had erected and decorated q plat
form beside the track and had q band
playing
Mr.. Bryan stood bare headed under the
blazing sun at Hornellsytlle this after
noon and addressed the enormous crowd
attending the Farmers Fair. There was
great applause and much quick repartee
upon the speakers part as the audience
asked many questions. His answers were
vociferously cheered, especially when he
told them that he had come so they
might see the leader of the so-called an
archists.
Hornellsville, n. Y, August 90 The
trip to Hornellsville was uneventful and
without speech making. People were
collected at the stations all along the
route At Attica 300 persons had gath
ered, and at Warsaw there were about
100
Hornellsville was reached at Ills a.
m. crowd of about 1000 persons,
headed by band, was in waiting. OBJ
posite the depot Eanner with portraits
OF the Democratic candidates was dis
played, and on the banner were the words.
Candidates of the toilers. We protest
against any foreign power legislating for
this country"
A procession was formed which escort
ed Mr. and Mrs. Bryan to the residence
of Alderman c. a. Dolson, where they
were entertained
This afternoon Mr.. Bryan spoke at the
fair grounds, where the .Hornellsville