Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-02
THIRTY THOUSAND


Eow the Speech of Mr.. Bryan Was Re
ceived.
There is no method Of estimating the
number Of persons in a crowd with any
dsgree of certainty. and the Judgment
of persons who are familiar with large
crowds and who are accustomed 70
measuring them numerically. is perhaps
the very best authority, next TO actual
count Estimates of persons Who look
cd at the crowd last night varied. with
% 600 TO 10000 as the extremes. Tho
representatives OF the Associated Press.
who accompanied Mr.. Bryan, placed he
figures at 10000, which probably yry
closely approximates The ao.ual num-
Der OF persons who were present AZ the
meeting.
All concede that it was the largest
crowd which ever assembled at one
place in this city, or in this State. The
platform was erected at a distance Of
40 fest from the east side of the grand
stand. The stand has q seating capacity
Of about 1000. While Mr. Bryan was
speaking the stand containsl about p
700 persons. Between the speakers
stand and the grand sand, eXt5ndings
along the sixty-loot race track for a
distance Of $50 feet south and $50 feet
north of the speakers stand. Mr.. Bryan
looked out upon a sea o. up,urned faces
Packed like sardinGs' is a familiar eT-
preston. but it falls short in this con-
nection. The crowd was packed even
tighter.
At seven o'clock IN the evening the
grand stand was comfortably filled;
also the space intervening between it
and the speakers platform. The crowd
then numbered about 10000 persons,
many of whom came early and stood
Cor several hours. determined to secure
and hold a position whore the distin-
euished orator.could be b0.1 seen and
heard. After teven o'clock, every min
ute the crowd was augmented. For q
half hour the people came slowly, and
outer limits Of the crowd began 10 eX-
tend gradually In every direction.
Commencing about fifteen minutes be-
fore The arrival o. the head Of the es-
cort column. the people beg22 to~pSuf.
into the grounds. down the race course
and across the enclosure. Men, women
and children ran to secure advantageous
nositions in the crowd. All the fences
and buildings we're covered with hu-
manity. In less than twenty minutes
NOR than 1900 persons entered the
South Front and South Penn streeg
gq.es. and the entrance from the river
side.
The scene from the grand stand, upon
the entrance Of the escort parade, was
unusual and very pleasing. The diff
fcrent clubs were discerned by the long
rows of lights and countless sticks OF red
fire. and the martial music which ac-
companied them The column marched
ranidly across the enclosure. and the
audience cheered Justify for Bryan, re-
aiizing that he was within the grouhds'
although he could not be seen.
Previous to the arrival Of the paracer
Mr.. Chandler addressed Che crowd
He got an enthusias hic demonstration
al the outset by referring 10 Bryan as
the next President Of the United states.
Mr. Chandler made n very logical ana
forcible argument. and was listened 10
very auentiVcly. When the glare u ,he
sky to the north acquainted the crowd
with the fact tina Bryan had reached
the Island signs of enthusiasm began
to manifest themselves. and there "la
considerable noise in the crowd. This
was not disrespect for Mr. Chandler,
nor n lack of appreciation. but was
rather the spontaneous enthusiasm t1f
Mr.. Bryan. and the intense desire 10
catch q glimpse OF his face. Mr.. Chan
III. .-.r.,s.rrfrgn1 nf
confusion gathered volume, he re-
marked:
~ know from experience that If Mr.
Bryan is within ten miles OF place, u
is no use for anybody else TO Try 10
talk"
This provoked loud cheers. Mr.
Chandler attempted TO contlnua but hf
parade had by this time entered tho
grounds and he cOntented himself
a glowing eulogy OF the candida,e, lti
which he took his seat.
When Mr. Bry3ns carriage. drawn hy
its four milk-white horses, reached 20
speakers PLATFORM the immena uI'-
lsnce was in an uproar. The cheering
was continuous during The five minutes
which were occupied by Mr. Bryan IN
forcing his way through the multitude
which thronged about him 10 grasp Us
hand. and ascended the platform. Whtl
his handsome figure. and the features
with which every person De- familiar
were seen upon Che platform % Fa
cheer went up from thousand Jl
throats. Handkerchiefs, has. um1r j.
las were waved IN the air. and t1a p''p.'
strained every muscle TO get % g.lHp'o
of the next President The re-Hil VS.
q movement from the edges OF OFT.
crowd. which caused thousands 90 sway
forward, until the vast tafonR ""s
comureszed almost beyond ,l' point ~
comfort. This continued illJusAo''
the meeting, and it Is matter l'T Won
der that there were not some Serious
accidents, II indeed, no some .a,all- S'
Nfr. Bryan stood up on the p. ioIH'.
anl smilsd upon the crowd 10 '"so
20 Us magnificent ovation TO- ~1'
yvrquped In an OvercO8t. bItf3neI ls :
~ about mis- neck. He removed ms nat
and replaced IL with q travelling c-..
By this time the clubs had a...l nv, ,.
numbers 20 the crow. Loo''-5 o
from the speaker stand. 'le -t lu1-
have been inspiring I'D the sru,I,. -
for whom the meeting was arranged.
The banner and f3gs Of me c-uos W.
scattered through the audience. anu. anu -
erv secon man in the crowd alsp.syeo
badge or button on some colsg''uTss ,TSs
norton Of his wearing appe1Ie... ~ -
Yellow badges were few and lar DE-
Mr. Chandler wasted little time in IN
reducing Mr.. Bryan, and when the