Crawford avalanche., 1896-11-19
THE DAY AND THE DAY AFTER.
StrauGe 1ncidents of the Election
and Ute Ratification.

anu ute AhtluCntiOus
Every election day has its oddities and
comicalities, and the one now past has
proven no exception TO n general rule.
In fact. Now q. 1896, probably furnishes
more complete list of queer and unex-
pectcd happenings, of peculiar complica-
tions and irresistibly grotesque election
wagers than any election day on record.
The unusual interest manifested during
the campaign influenced many to high
strain of excitement, and reckless EN-
thusiasm led large numbers TO make
ridiculous bets, the fulfillment of which
has afforded considerable entertainment
for the community at large. A peculiar
feature of the last election day was the
list of fatalities due entirely TO excite
ment. A colored man of East Et. Louis,
ILL.,. cast his vote, walked TO the barn
near by where lie was working, hurrahed
for his candidate and died: Harrison Ba-
con, a pioneer of Cortland, Ohio, in GO
ing from his home to the polls, dropped
dead; Mrs. Mary V. Martin, wife of Il
prominent business man of Spokane
Falls. met her husband at the door cleo
tion night, eagerly asked for the news.
and expired instantly. The list of those
who went insane during the strain OF
suspense pending the announcement of
results. was quite large one. Of gen
eral happenings out OF the ordinary 'the
variety was extensive.
Robert porteous, a railroad auditor at
Manistee, Mich. ate boiled crow in the
presence of several spectators, to-pay an
election bet.
In Dagsboro Hundred, Del. where the
vote was tie last year, no election was
haI ha b., having haan Ha-
stroyed by Il mob.
Three Cinnamon voted in the Thirtieth
Election District of the Second Assembly
District Of New York. They We're Harry
Lee Sing, Domingo De Luce and james
White
At the Eleventh Precinct of the Fourth
Ward in Chicago. some delay was caused
by the stealing of all the pens from the
booths. 1t was finally decided 10 allow
the voters TO use pencils.
Two men were arrested in Chicago for
''larceny of one elephant" On election
night they went TO the winter quarters
of a circus and tried to get out the ele-
plant to head ratification parade.
Two ministers blowing horns marched
at the head of the nocturnal procession
which celebrated the defeat of the con-
stitutional amendment to move the Mis-
souri, State capital from Jefferson City.
AT the polls mt the Moncrief Springs
district. in Florida, the inspectors sat in
a building in which they were obliged to
hold umbrellas over the ballot boxes and
table to keep things dry. The inspectors
also wore their mackintoshes.
A Chicago enthusiast settled an cleo
tion wager by rolling a peanut mile on
a public street. He could not throw or
kick the peanut. but was obliged to keep
il on the ground all the time. and it took
him about four hours to pay the wager.
The story is that pretty schoolmarm
at Sellersburg, Ind, made an agreement
with one of the big schoolboys attending
her school that she would give him
sound whipping if his candidate won,
and he was TO whip her if il was other
wise.
Joseph Field, 104 years old, voted at
y. y. Owing TO his foot,
which was hurt last summer, and still |
is in bad condition. he had to be carried |
from his carriage 10 the booth. He cast |
his maiden vote in 1873 and has voted at |
every presidential election since that |
time.
One of the saddest young men shout |
4 certain Western town is youth of high |
social caliber. who WAS obliged to go TO |
church sociable clad in silk hat,
iress coat and boomers. Another young
nan in the same neighborhood will have
20 take care of the horses of the man he |
bet with for two weeks. and the dog
which sleeps in the stable does not like
aim.
Among some odd Chicago bets promptly
,aid was that OF a man who had to prom
made its most fashionable thoroughfarc
With the blacklist colored girl who could
De hired at an employment agency. take
Ter TO supper and escort her to theater.
Another had TO buy two tons of coal for
he other fellow and. after delivering it
n front of the winners yard. had TO carry
all into the basement in tin pail,
making about 300 trips in the process.