The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-15
A Terrific Storm Ruins Sa-
Iem's Bryan Demonstration
People Fearing a Cyclone Are
Almost Panic Stricken.
GETS DARK AS NIGHT.
The Big Crowds Run For Shell
ter and Safety.
Exercises Will Be Held In the
Court House.

Salem. Ill, july 15.-It is doubtful if
the natives of this town ever before
allowed their enthusiasm to bubble over
to such an extent as it did today. The
scorching July sun had scarcely ap-
peared above the horizon when the
town was shaken by thunderOus can
nonadfng of anvils, which were fired
off at regular intervals from sunrise
until monday.
This discharge of blacksmiths' artil-
lery aroused the people to an unusual
state of activity early in the day
wagons loaded with farmers from the
surrounding counry began to arrive al
most at daylight and by noon the hitch
ing racks around the business center
of the town and all 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 here this afternoon
and evening in honor of VIM. J.
Bryan, the Democratic nominee for
president who thirty-six years ago first
saw the light of day in this quiet,
sleepy old country town. In response
to the proclama ton issued by the may
or yesterday all business houses in the
city were abundantIy decorated with
flags and bunting and the portrait Of
the distinguished citizen of Salem.
And nearly all the dwelling houses
are decorated with patriotic emblems
and flowers and sprigs of evergreen. At
the corners of all principal streets en-
terprising citizens had erected lemon
ade stands and ice cream booths which
luxuries they dispensed to the swell
tering multitude a 5 cents a drink and
10 cents dish. Nearly all the vehicles
that ran through the streets were
adorned with stars and stripes and
some of the more enthusiastic drivers
of teams dragged out from the dust
and corners Of the barns strings of
sleigh bells that have hung there since
the last snow melted away and fasten-
ed them to the horses.
The merry tinkle of these bells in the
scOrching rays of the hot July sun was
a cruel reminder of the cold bracing air
in which they were originally intended
to be used. The ladies of the town and
the surrounding country displayed
their loyalty for the presidential nOmi-
nee by appearing in white dresses to-
day with blue and red sashes and white
caps and over the visor of each was
printed in silver letters ''Wm. J. Bry-
an"
People began to gather in the court
house square where a big stand had
been erected for the purpose of the eel
ebratiOn, fully two hours before the
time for the demonstration to begin.
The great elm and maple trees which
surround the court house, had like the
other trees of the town been freshly
whitewas shed and they were decorated
in addition with bunting and flags. 1t
was in this court house that Mr.. Bryan
years ago made his first political speech
and it was in this court house that his
father for twelve years presided over
the circuit court.
On the platform along with the
speakers who had been invited from
all over the state to come and partici-
pate in the rejoicing of the people of
Salem, were the mayor and council of
the city and other distinguished citi-
zens. F. NJ. Kagy, who graduated in
the same class with Mr.. Bryan at Illi-
nofs college, Jacksonville, presided at
the meeting.
Later in the day while hundreds of
people were assembling in the court
house yard a big black cloud loOmed
up in the northwest. It approached
with frightfUI rapidity. There were
terrific peals of thunder. and there
was a scattering of people in every di-
rection to get out of the fast approach
ing rain.
Many of the people became panic
stricken a they still had an unpleas-
ant recollection of the awful cyclone
which passed through this region a few
weeks ago when st. Louis was almost
ruined. Many of the teams brought to
town by the farmers became frighten-
ed and tried to break from the hitch
ing racks about the square so that for
a time it looked as if a general STAN
pede would result.
At length the rain broke and it came
down in torrents. All the while there
was continuous flash of lightning
followed by an uprOarOuS booming of
thunder. In the space of ten minutes
the bunting, flags, and drapings of
buildings which had looked so attrac-
tive in the morning were bedraggled
and almost ruined
AS the storm continued the darkness
increased until it was almost impOssi-
BILE to see across the streets and in the
houses light became necessary. When
it had rained for almost IS minutes
the storm seemed to change its course.
It swept around to the north of the
town but the rain continued to fall In
less than half an hour the storm seem
ed to have spent itself and it settled
down for steady rain. It was an or
binary thunder storm but of unusual
violence and owing to the darkness it
caused a great deal of alarm.
At u O'Clock it looked as if it would
rain all the afternoon, County Central
Committeeman Samuel J. Smith, who
has had charge of the arrangements of
the celebration said that if the rain
did not stop the speeches would be
made in the court house.