The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
A HALLELUJAH WEDDING.
GREAT CROWDS SEE CAPT SCOTT
AND MISS STEVENS UNITED.

Ross Park In BinGhamten ThronEed ana the
Hiiirides Covered with Peopie-The Cers-
mony Performed while the Couple stood In
tho Pavilion Daring . Downpeur OF Fain.
BrNeHAMrov, Aug. 19.-Tho swollost wedding
In the history of this city was not attended
by as many people us witnessed the halle
lujah wedding Of tho American Volunteers at
Ross Park last evening. 1t was a wedding with
out frills. 1t was characterized by the utmost
simplicity. Rich and poor were invited, and
people came from miles around to see 1t. The
big pavilion In the park was crowded. Around
tho outside was an ocean OF faces. and up as far
as tho eye could SEQ on tho neighboring hillsides
was n noisy. laughing. jostling throng OF people.
Speculations were made as TO how long II would
take tho crowd to kiss the bride. The groom
was Capt. w. J. Scott and tho bride was Miss
Emma j. Stevens OF Canton, ..
The crowd was not as serious as guests usu-
ally arc at functions OF this kind. They made
all sorts Of observations about tho bride
and groom, but the couple did not seem
to mind 1t in tho least. They were to
all appearances tho most unconcerned
people in tho crowd. Just before the
ceremony was performed thoy sang Throw
Out tho Life Line" and tho crowd Joined In tho
chorus. The crowd did not keep very good
time. Tho Salvationists and those in tho front
ranks had finished tho first verso and were
BtRrtou OH tho ScCOnu Wnen the crowds on tho
hillsidcs wero finishing the first stanza.
"All start together" shouted tho leader.
'Somc of you people will never be saved II you
don't take hold of the life limo faster than that
They started again. but some of the people on
tho hill were still singing. Tho Salvationists
finished frat. About twenty rowe Of spectators
Immediately in front Of the pavilion were q good
second. The next twenty rows came in a lap DO.
hind the othors, and every twenty rows finished
in the same way.
"Some one ought to hang out the flag for that
crowd up there on the hill" said the loader;
they are distanced."
A mist began to fall. God bless tho RAIN"
shouted some one; ia 1t looks like a bridal veil"
Then it poured. and the crowd swayed toward
the pavilion. The bridal couple stood on tho
theatre platform outside the pavilion, and Capt.
Wooley thought II would DO best to yet under
shelter. He put the question to a vote. but tho
Salvationists in tho pavilion were In the ma
jority and voted against 1t.
arc not AFRAID o Of 'S water sa, he said; the wedding
win gG on, | guess tho bride de-, and Sl,s groom ;on. can an
sugar sugar and an II the sn groom oG1M isn e1n made hn Of e snit." Ism all
The rain continued and tho speakers on the
platform couldn't be heard twenty feet away.
Whether Miss stevens promised to take the
groom for her lawfully, welded husband. or
whether the groom made the corresponding vow,
lips. but their answers were drowned by the
noise made by the rain and the crowd.
lulS lS u UuptlSundl ram. bnOuIeU Ou0 OI inc
officers, land 1t Is intended especially for this
couple"
well. they are welcome to my SHARE"
shouted one OF the spectators.
The rain came down harder than ever. and
some one in the crowd suggested, that they. re-
peat Throw Out the Life Line" By this time
the reno was finished, and the groom
mounted a chair and appealed to the crowd to
come up and be saved. Tho rain continued, and
the bride, who stood on a chair beside her hus-
band. spoke in n similar vein. Tho appeals
sounded like irony to those who were getting
drcnched. Somebody in the crowd said that
they needed umbrellas moro than they did sal
walton Just then.
The rain is q blessing. but 1t has to fall on
the sinner and saved alike" retorted one of the
Salvationists.
This squelched the first speaker. and the
crowd guy ed him.
A praise, service followed, and tho bride and
groom took part. Tho bride is a rather pretty
woman. with a round. good-natured face. She
was attired in the regulation costume of the
Volunteers, and n white sash. which was thrown
loosely over her shoulder, was fastened at her
waist.
Before the service was over the rain ceased
and the bridal party took a special electric train
for the city. Tonight a reception was given
Capt. and Mrs. Scott.