The record-union., 1898-10-20


liant marching and well-worn uniforms
added to the enthusiasm.
Directly the Seventh Infantry had
passed the President left the reviewing
stand, going into the clubhouse Three
cheers We're given him as he lefts and
the three cheers were near to being
the death signal for many people. All
day long the pressure of the crowd
on the police lines at tha two ends
of the square, in the center of which
the Union League clubhouse is situ-
ated, has been enormous.
Time after time the utmost efforts
of the officers Lad been unable to with
stand the wei51t 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 n front of the clubhouse was
cheering the President, and the crowd,
thinking some new excitement was on.
fastened rom both ends of the square
toward tie center. Seeing the awful
crush that must inevitably ensue, the
police made desperate efforts to push
the crowd back toward the end of the
square, but without avail. Deyach
ments of soldiers and marines wera
hurried to their assistance, but in a
short time they, too, were powerless.
Finally, after desperate pushing, the
marines managed to clear a small
space, and forming in line they fixed
bayonets, and standing shoulder to
shoulder, tried to hold the crowd. Tie
thing was, however, beyond the power
of mortal man, and seeing that the
bayonets must surely result in loss of
life if kept on the level, the marines
snatched them off, and then it was all
over.
Marines, 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 ana
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 cluo-
house on vacant ground, upon which
the new Postoffice is in course of con-
struction. All along the edge OF this
stand hands We're reached to the stru4-
Cling crowd below, and hundreds CT
men, women and children. were drag
ged, any way, every way, by the arms,
legs and collars, into the stand above.
Cioaks, overcoats and dress skirts were
in shreds, and in numerous instances
torn completely from the body oc the
wearer as the rescuerS above dragged
them hastily over the railings.
After half an hour of this sort OF
thing the crowd was thinned so that
parative quiet was restored. No lives
We're lost, but never was more mar
row escape from a long list of fatal
ties.
The crowd still fingered in front OF
the clubhouse and called for the Presi-
dent. He was at luncheon, but the
crowd would not be denied, and the
President stepped once more on the
reviewing stand, accompanied by Pres
ident Revell of the Union League Club.
AS soon as quiet had been restored he
spoke as follows:
Il witness with pride and satisfac-
tion. the cheers of the multitude as vet
Grams of the Civil War on both sides
of the contest have been reviewed.
witness with increasing pride the wild
acclaim of the people as they watch
the volunteers and regulars and our
naval reserves-the guardians of he
people by land and sea-pass before
your eyes. The demonstration OF to-
day is worth everything everything to
our country, for I read in the faces
and hearts of my countrymen the pur-
pose to see to it that this great Gov
ernment with its free institutions shall
never perish from the surface of the
earth. Great applause)
Il wish I might take the hand Of
every patriotic man, woman and child
here to-day. But I cannot do that,
and so I leave with you not only my
thanks, but the thanks of the 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 General Miles and General Shafter,
but neither of these gentlemen would
make his appearance, and the crowd,
after cheering the President as he left
the clubhouse for the home of Cap
tain McWilliams, slowly dispersed.