Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-10-20

Presidential escorts had wheeled out Of
| the line of march was given to the vet
Grams of the Grand Army, who were
presenting the numbers.
Directly the Seventh infantry had
! passed, the President left the reviewing
stand, going into the club house. Three
cheers were given him as he left and
| the three cheers were near to being
! the death signal for many people. All
| day long the pressure on the police
lines at the two ends of the square in
the centre of which the Union League
club house is situated, had been enor-
NOUS. Time after time the best efforts
of the officers had been unable to with
stand the weight of the crowd. Their
lines had been frequently broken and
| the officers were well nigh exhausted
with their long hours of hard work.
They opened their lines, just as the
crowd in front Of the club house was
cheering the President and the crowd,
thinking some new excitement was on
fastened from both ends of the square
| toward the center.
SEEING THE AWFUL CRUSH
| that must inevitably ensue, the police
made desperate efforts to push the
! crowd back toward the ends of the
square, but without avail Detach-
ments of soldiers and marines were
hurried to their assistance, but in a
short time they, too, were powerless.
Finally, after desperate pushing, the
marines managed to clear small space
and forming in line they fixed bayonets
and standing shoulder to shoulder, they
tried to hold back the crowd. The thing
was, however, beyond the power of NOR
tai man, and seeing that the bayonets
must inevitably result in loss OF life II
kept on the level, the marines snatched
them off. and then it was all over.
Mariners, soldiers and policemen were
mixed in the crowd utterly helpless and
lacking even the ability to raise their
hands to their shoulders SO close was
the crowd packed. Tighter and tighter
the crowd became and then came from
women and men cries of distress and
calls for help. A large stand had been
erected on the north side of the square,
opposite the club house, on vacant
ground, upon which the new postoffice
is in course of erection. All along the
edge of this stand hands were reached
to the struggling crowd below, and hum
dreds of men, women and children were
dragged any how, every how, by the
arms and legs and collars into the
stand above. Cloaks, overcoats and
dress skirts were torn to shreds, and in
numerous instances torn completely
from the body of the wearer as the res
cuers above dragged them hastily over
the ratings. In many instances some
of those who were being hauled from
the jam would be halfway to safety
when those below would attach them
selves with frantic clutch to the up
going man or woman and they between
the pulling above and the pulling below
the
PERSON IN THE MIDDLE
would have d sorry minute or two.
After nearly half an hour of this sort
Of thing the crowd was thinned so
that a long breath was possible and
comparative quiet was restored. No
lives we're lost, but there never was a
more narrow escape from long list
of fatalities. The crowd still fingered
in front OF the club house and called
for the President. He was at lunch
con, but the crowd would not be de-
MED and the President stepped once
panied by President Revell, of the
Union League club. AS soon as quiet
was restored, he spoke as follows:
Il witness with pride and satisfac-
ton the cheers of the multitudes as
veterans of the civil war on both sides
Of the contest have been reviewed.
(Great applause). l witness with in
creasing pride the wild acclaim of the
people as you watch the volunteers
and regulars and our naval reserves
the guardians OF the people on land
and sea, pass before your eyes. The
demonstration of to-day is worth
verything-everythin to our coun
try, for I read in the faces and hearts
Of my countrymen the purpose to see
to it that this government with its
free institutions, shall never perish
from the face of the earth. Great ap-
plause).
Il wish I might take the hand Of
every patriot-man, woman and child
here to-day. (Applause). But l
cannot do that (Voice from the crowd:
But you've got our hearts prolonged
cheering)-and so | leave with you
not only my thanks, but the thanks Of
this great nation for your patriotism
and devotion to the flag" (Great
cheering).
After the conclusion of the Presi-
dents remarks there were loud calls
for Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter, but
neither of these gentlemen would
make his appearance and the crowd,
after cheering the President as he left
the club house for the home of Captain
McWilliams. slowly dispersed.
GEN. LAWTON