The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-13
MAYOR WooD TALKED RIG FIT ON,
Although There was n Pistol Under Hls Nose,
at nm Oid-TImo Convention.

NJ nm Otd-Ttmc convention.
81 saw Col. Jimmy Kerrigan, grizzlcd. gray.
and picturesque, intently reading n newspaper
bulletin one day not long ago on upper Broad.
way" said an old.time New York State politi-
clan, and IL had happened that only tho
day before I had talked with Old Salt Tom
Alvord Of Syracuse, and the same day had seen
Con. Dan Sickles. This combination OF appari-
tons from the spirit land OF past politics brought
WILDLY to my mind tho memory OF a very lively
occasion in the incidents OF which all thrcc were
conspicuous, and OF which, 1 think, they are,
perhaps, tho only prominent survivors. That
occasion was tho New York Democratic State
Convention OF 1857.
81 was n young man then, living ut Syracuse,
where the convention was held, and was n wit
ness of it's exciting proceedings. Tho convcn-
ton met in the old wieting Hall, famous as n
meeting place for political conventions, and long
sincc burned. The Democratic party was then
split into the two notorious factions, tho Hard
shells and the Softshells. Both factions were
represented by strong delegations at the con-
~vcntion, tho leader of the Iiardshclls from
Now York city being Mayor Fernando
Wood, and the champion Of the Softshells
was Genoral-no, not General, for he
wasn't u General thon-but plain Daniel L.
Sickles. then, l think, n member OF Congress.
The hall was crowded with spectators TO the top
btuI III ~ koiIt " ' jug PO~N "
the character of many Of the heclcrs Of the OPP
posing delegations from New York, that there
would he some fun mingled with the business Of
the occasion. No one was disappointed.
Tho trouble began when organization was
ATTEMPTED. After hours OF the livcliest wrang-
ling that ever occurred In n political convention
in this o. any other State. the impOssibility OF
| cffecting n harmonious organization as one body
became more and more apparent, and the result
was tho organization Of n convention by each
faction. Thomas G. Alvord-tor Old Salt was
then u Democrat Of the hardest kind-was
elected Chairman Of the Hardshell Convention,
and John Strykcr OF Rome was called to preside
over the tumult Of the Softshells. Both OF these
conventions essayed to attend to business at the
same time. and IL there were stenographic re.
ports cxtant OF what Mayor Wood said TO and
to and about Mayor Wood and the Hardshcll
leaders generally, there would be no reading Of
"BBoth factions had a body Of heclers in the
hall, and they finally became impatient OF words
hand. and the excitement in the galleries among
the friends OF the opposing parties was such
that 1t Is a wonder to me now how 4 did not
unable to contain himself, left the Softshell
Convention. OF which he was a member. and
rushed over to the Hardshell Convention while
Fernando Wood was ut the height OF his most
violently eloquent oratorical invcctivc, lcvelled
The Mayor. although the muzzle of the pistol
was not a foot from his head. and Jimmy Ker-
rigan was in those days known as II man not
given to much elaboration when there was a
fight on that he had an interest in, did not cease,
but stood his ground. and increased, II anything,
the emphasis Of his remarks. Jimmy did not
fire the pistol.
This incident added fuel to the tuInult.
Mayor Wood had in his following a number Of
that gang of his supporters known, rs the Short
Boys. A leader among these was Nicely W GODS.
The Chairmen of the rival conventions sat on
the same platform. both continually pounding
the table with gavels or something OF that kind.
When the uproar was at its height, Nicely Woods
made his way to the platform. crcpt up the steps.
and, sncaking UP behind Chairman STRIKER OF
the Softshells. seized him and hurled him
bodily from the platform to the floor. several
feet below. Chairman Stryker was so badly hurt
that he could not rise, and he would undoubt-
eddy have been trampled TO death beneath tho
wild rush that his supporters. led by Dan Sicklcs.
now made upon the Hardshells, but for the
timely action OF n stalwart Softshell, whose
name ! do not remember, who lifted Stryker up
and bore him to n place of safety away from the
fight. The battle was short, sharp. and decisive,
and resulted in the stampede OF Alvord, Mayor
Wood, and their followers. They met at the EN-.
pire House and nominated a ticket.
Beyond a bad sprain OF his right ankle, Chair.
man STRIKER was found not to have received
any serious injury. The Softsheil Convention,
on motion OF John Cochrane. who had been
much in evidence, in his fiery oratorical way
during the proceedings Of the day, adjourned
until the evening. Chairman STRIKER hobbled
in on crutchcs to preside at the hour named
and the Softshells nominated their State ticket
and went home. 1t is not necessary to say tina,
But the party had a lot of fun putting them in
the field inst the same