Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-20
BRYAN TAKES LEAVE
LARGE CROWDS SEE HIM AT THE
HOTEL AND DEPOT.
CONTROVERSY As TO The LIGHTS.
Statements from Both of the Eiec-
trio COMPANIES Regarding the
Lick of Illumination Mt the Audit
torIum-The Size Of the Audience.

ed. seen, and conquered Richmond, ana
gone on his way rejoicing. Nor IS this
all. for he has left thousands OF VIZ
einians more enlightened upon the great
issues Of the day and more intent upon
supporting the Democratic ticket this fan
than they ever were before. The great
meeting held here Friday night was the
topic OF conversation on the streets and
az the hotels. clubs. and cafes yesterday.
Gold-bues and Boltocrats tried 10 ridi-
cuIe the speeches delivered by Mr.
Bryan, but their criticisms fell fiat.
Every man. woman, and child who heard
the distinguished Nebraskan was deeply
impressed with his simplicity. his care
ful and thoughtful presentation Of the
currency question. his bold and courage
Gus war upon the backsllders and Repub-
leans. and by his manly defence Of
| Democratic principles. pure and simple.
Mr.. Bryan arose from his bed at the
| jefferson at O'Clock yesterday, and at
| once began 10 make preparations 20 start
out upon another day Of speaking. lie
/ ate a hearty breakfast with party OK
/ leading Democrats. who were going along
| with him. and was driven to the Byrd
I Street Station. reaching there few min
! utes before the train started.
a considerable crowd had gathered
at the depot TO see Mr.. Bryan Off, not
/ withstandng the early hour. They
cheered him when his carriage rolled up.
/ lie was kept busy for a few minutes
/ shaking hands and acknowledging verbal
| promises Of support. The nominee looked
| fresh aud well
I'm the immediate Bryan party were
| Senator John W. Daniel, Hon. Joseph
j.. willard. Of the State Committee;
| Hon. i. n. Smith. chairman Of the
! First District Committee; the committee
10 welcome Mr. Bryan 20 Fredericksburg,
/ consisting Of Chairman Clarence Nc
/ Cracker and Mossrs T. D. Cole. J. W.
/ Harris George w. Wroten. w. S. Bran
non. Joseph Rawlings Charles E Hun
/ ter. and Captain Thomas Wallace The
+ Alexandria committee was also along.
/ These gentlemen occupied seats i'm q
| crowded car. one Of two that made up
/ the train. and Mr.. Bryan was given a
seat where he could view the scenery.
. Through virginia particularly Dir.
/ Bryan has evincod q great deal or I'm
terest I'm battle-feils and the late war.
and ne s. obtaining am excellent his
tory Of tho war from the Fps OF his en-
/ tcriaiucrs.
AT ltlNl HthllHu II lNi-E crown llaN
/ assembled. Hon. j. Taylor EllysOn and
number OF prominent state and local
/ Democrats bade Mr. Bryan good-by
there.
/ a MEETING WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
Friday niehts meeting was unques-
| tlonably the largest and most demon
/ strative poiitic-i gathering ever held In
/ Virginia. II IS net believed that any
oil rar q ID m L.
ence of over 1900 people in any cam
paign I'm Virginia. The after meeting at
the Jefferson was also a remarkable one.
| The crowd was estimated at something
like 10.0o0 or 1900 and IN the street
throng were many leaders in Richmond
| society. Mr.. Bryan's two speeches and
that Of Major Daniel from the jefferson
balcony aroused great enthusiasm. Our
I popular Senator's earnest and eloquent
/ words In presenting the Nebraskan at
/ the Auditorium were pointed and efec-
/ tive. but the demonstration was such that
ne could not De heard well.
Some OF the boilers have been IN
clined TO belittle the meeting and create
/ the impression that Il was disappointing.
( The Times Of yesterday e. its report Of
/ the gathering said:
william Jennings Bryan delivered one
. Of his free-siver speeches last night be-
fore some 5000 people I'm the Auditorium
/ at the Exposition-GrounGs IL was eX-
pected that there would be some 5000
people present judging from the state
ments printed IN the iree-siver papers
here.
"The Auditorium. which seats about
1000 people, lacked a good deal OF being
full. and there were at least 1900 or 900
seats I'm the rear that were not occupied"
The Dispatches estimate WAS that the
crowd numbered about 1900. and this
was not at all exaggerated. The popular
/ impression, judging from conversations
. had with many persons who were on or
near the platform, and had a good OPP
uortunty Of observing the size OF the
great throng, was that the audience eX-
. ceeded 1900 I'm numbers. Some thought
there were as many az 20000 present
ESTIMATES or CORRESPONDENTS.
Perhaps the best judges Of the size Of
the crowd were the newspaper CORES
pJndcnts present especially those who
have been travelling with Mr.. Bryan
An Of these with the exception of the
I representative OF the New York World
"a pronounced gold paper-blar the Dis
patch oIt IN the figures used. The Wash
ington Posts special says that che
most conservative estimate OF the crowd
? is 1900" The New York journal. whose
+ Washington correspondent came down
% report the meeting. used the same
figures. and 30 did the representatives, OF
/ the United ANA Associated Press
agencies who have been with Mr. Bryan
oH his entire campaign. The two gem
tcmen last referred 20 occupied seats
on the platform ana could see the entire
/ audience.
n was generally conceded that the au-
/ dieqce that heard NJ. Bryan Was
/ larger by from 100 q 5000 than the one
that attended tEl Confederate concert
/ during the hte reunion. auS the Times
| in IT'S rapos, OF the concert estimated
/ that audience at 15oo
Controversy About the Lights.
The failure 10 have the Auditorium pro-
/ perry lighted icr the Bryan meet
Ing has been the subject Of a good deal
Of comment and both OF the electric
companies have made statements bear
ing upon the matter. The Dispatch yes
/ terday morning explained the hitch in the
arrangements. which made 10 necessary
for the repoi crS ana tie speakers 70
use keroserc-lamps. and only q few OF
them. while three bunches OF tucon-
descent lights furnished 10y the Richmond
Traction Company were the only other
illumination Afforded
Generd-Alanagcr Hablist0n. Of the
Richmond Traction Company Yesterday
afternoon had the following to say re-
eardiug thls matter.
Our company used every effort pos
sible under the circumstances 10 light the
building. The order was not given the
company 10 90 so until last Saturday
and / telegraphed Immediately TO various
parties about the lamps but ga not receive
/ information definite enough 20 order them