New-York tribune., 1896-07-24
CONVENTIONS DEADLY PERIL
CALAMITY AT ST LOUIS NARROWLY
AVERTED.
ONE cool. MAN DOUBTLESS SAVED A THOUSAND
OR so PoPULisTs NEWSPAPER MEN AND
TELEGRAPHERS FROM BEING
ROASTED TO DEATH.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

ROASTED TO DEATH.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
St Louis July 23-The Middle-of- the Road
people have been in a terribly "scrappy" mood all
day over the failure to light the Convention Hall
last night. All sorts Of conjectures rife. and
as is quite natural with party In which every
fellow is a leader and violent elements predomi-
nate the worst possible construction is placed
upon the incident. It is clear to the Middle Road
ers that the shutting off Of lights was deep
and damnabe schei on the part Of the Bryan
ite element to prevent big anti-Bryan demon
stration which. rumor had 1t in the afternoon.
was in course Of CESSATION at the Laclede head
quarters A Texas delegate Of much ferocty Of
men said to-day:
Foul work has been done. and sure as God
made little apples some one has got to answer
for it,"
Other expressions less violent were heard
constantly among the Southerners. They were
all wrought up over IT, and there has been
steady disposition IN their camp to wips up the
earth with somebody. The thirst parlors"
downstairs were the theatre Of a terrible sight"
OF Chewing the rag between invitations last
night and the darkness episode has had good
deal to do toward ntensifying the ugly feeling
between the factions There probably isn't a
ton who knows the truth Of the light matter
1t is. in fact. being kept dark secret by those
who know. Not line has appeared in the local
press pointing to the real cause and this Is quite
a tribute to the care with which the matter has
been guarded for st. Louis newspaper men are
famous for their brightness and vigilance. II is
not at all unlikely that this episode. not being
understood by either faction. may lead to results
not contemplated in the original scheme CT pro-
cedure. The Middle Readers are madder than
hornets and somebody must suffer. Before the
facts get back TO St Louis the results OF precipi
tate anger will probably have been realized
The simple truth Of the matter is this: j.
Anthony German. the noted Worlds Fair deco
rator. who supplied AMI owns the bunting and
other decorative devices Of the Auditorium. went
to the hail last night at 7:4O o'clock and found
the place in darkness. He ascertained that the
wires and lamps had not been inspected since
before the Republican Convention five weeks
ago, and that there many elements Of
danger which might develop into a calamity had
the electric current been turned Colonel
German and his electricians found. on a hasty
survey Of the situation. that number OF boards
and pieces of cloth had fallen or had been care
lessy placed in contact with wires since the ad-
journment Of the Republican Convention and
that there were four loose-end wires dangling in
dangerous proximity to the south wing gal
leries. these wires having been left in that posi-
ton by workmen Of the Missouri Electric Com
pany on the removal OF two large arc lamps
which were needed somewhere else in the COM
panys service. Two crossed wires were also
found and Colonel German said to-day to a
Tribune representative that had the current
been switched on. as II might have been by the
mere turning OF a key, such calamity would
have resulted would have paled the late tor
nado into insignihcance from the standpoint Of
the loss Of human life.
There are under the floors Of the Auditorium
more than 1000 wires-teegraph telephone and
electric light-which would all have been con-
nected with the powerful deadly current from
the Missouri Electric Company's generating
plant by means Of two foul wires had the switch
been turned on. The hall was already filled
with delegates and q large number OF spectators
who had come 10 witness the expected anti
Bryan demonstration. Had the key been turned
on and the current admitted the building which
is the merest tinder-box OF white and yellow
pine would have been fired In half dozen
places instantly. and before the thousands
in the building could have escaped. the great
structure would have been mass Of flames The
result can be pictured with hut slight magma
tive effort. It would probably have meant 800
TO 600 dead Populists. newspaper correspond !
ents telegraphers and the numerous other
classes who go to make up great NationaI !
Of this kind. There had Just been |
one Of the characteristic Western storms. Rain |
had fallen In torrents and everything damp |
inside OF the building The conditions were pro-
pitious and indeed. ideal for electricitys dead
ly play Had the key been turned on. calamity |
would have followed. The copduits TO the build |
ing were ready to be tapped with their great
voltage from high powered generators
Colonel German at once saw the peril Of |
the Convention and on his own individual |
authority he shut off the current. that II could
not be turned on with the lighting key. Then |
he left the room In which the connection was |
broken and locked the door behind him. He |
the bowling mob from the north stair |
way and listened with amused contempt TO the |
,urses that were being heaped upon the head Of |
he unknown mscreant that had deprived them |
II light The bright Marylander- Californian had |
lone :he unwashed. bowling multitude a greater |
49, haul IL.
out looked on and smiled with folded arms The |
decorations of the hall are worth something like |
81 900. and there insurance on them. |
Therefore. Colonel German had a slight fnan- |
,ial interest In preventing what must have been |
one Of the calamities OF the century.