The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-07-16
All the Country Surrounding
Pours Its Population Into
Salem,
To Do Honor to the Democratic
Candidate for the
Presidency.
Sudden and Violent Storm
Dampens the Afternoon
Proceedings.

SALEM, Ills, July l6.-It is doubtful |
if the natives of this town ever before
allowed their enthusiasm to bubble over
to such an extent. The scorching July
sun had scarcely appeared above the
horizon when the town was shaken by
a thundrous cannonading of anvils.
which were fred off at regular intervals
from sunrise until MONDAY This dis
charge Of blacksmith's artillery aroused
the people to an unusual state Of activ.
ity early in the day. Wagons loaded
with farmers from the surrounding
country began to arrive almost ut day.
light, and by noonday the hitch
ing racks around the business center
of the town. and ali the feed yards
and livery stables were crowded.
And they came in on excursion trains
from neighboring towns and adjoining
counties to take part in the great cele.
bration to be given in honor of William
president, who. So years ago, first saw
the light of day in this quiet. sleepy
country town. In response TO the
proclamation issued by the mayor, all
business houses in the city were abund.
antly decorated with flags and bunting.
and the portrait of the
DISTINGUISHED Citizen of Salem.
And nearly all the dwelling houses
were decorated with patriotic emblems
and flowers, and sprigs of evergreen.
At the corners of all the princi-
pal streets enterprising citizens
had erected lemonade stands and
ice cream booths, which luxuries they
dispensed to the sweltering multitude
at 8 cents drink and 10 cents a dish.
Nearly all the vehicles that ran through
the streets were adorned with Stars and
Stripes, and some of the more enthusi-
astic drivers of teams dragged out from
the dusty corners of the lbarns strings
of sleigh bells that have hung there
since the last snow melted away and
fastened them to the horses. The merry
tinkle of these bells in the scorching
rays of the hot July sun was a
crue. reminder of the cold brac-
ing air in which they originally
were intended to be used. The ladies
of the town and the surrounding
country, and there are many OF them.
and nearly all of them are handsome.
displayed their loyalty for the presi.
dental nominee, by appea, ing in white
dresses with red or blue sashes and
white caps, and over the visor Of each
was printed in silver letters William
J. Bryan
In the Courthouse Square.
People began to gather in the court
house square where big stand had
been erected for the speakers at the
celebration, fully two hours before the
hour for the demonstration to begin
The elm and maple trees which sur
round the court house had, like the
other trees of the town. been freshly
whitewashed and they were decorated
in addition with bunting and flags. II
was in this court house that Mr.. Bryan
years ago, made his first politica
speech; it was in this court house thai
his father for IL years presided over thu
circuit court.
storm Spoiled It All.
While the hundreds of people wht
had come here from all over this par
of the state to attend the Bryan cele
bration were assembling in the cour
house yard, a big, black cloud loomct
up in the Northwest. 1t approaches
with frightful rapidity. There wer
terrific peals of thunder and there wa
scattering of people in every direction
TO get out of the fast approaching rain
Many Of the people became pani
stricken, as they still had an unpleasan
recollection of the awful cyclone whicl
passed through this region few week
) ago. when St. Louis was almost ruined
Many of the teams brought to town b.
the farmers became frightened an
tried to break loose from the hitchin
racks about the square, so that for
time it looked as If q general stamped
would result
Spoiled the Fine Decorations.
At length the rain broke and it cam
down in torrents All the while ther
was a continuous flashing of lightning
followed by all uproarious booming {
thunder. In the space of ten minute.
the bunting. flags and draping of built
ings which had looked so attractive i
the morning were bedraggled All
almost ruined. But as the storm cor
tinued. the darkness increased unit
it was almost impossible to see acros
the streets. and in the houses Ugh,
became necessary. When it had raine
for almost l5 minutes the storm SCENE
to change its course II went around i,
the north of the town. but the rain COZ
tinued TO fall. II less than half a
hour the storm seemed &c have spel
itself ard it settled down to q sread
rain.
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