The age-herald., 1900-01-13
ST. LOUIS MOB
 GROWS VIOLENT
Surround Delegates Chamber
 and Try to Break In.
CROWD FINALLY PAClFlED
At One Time the sergeant-at-Arms Had to Draw a Revolver to Protect <
 Himselt-Troubls Over the
 Lighting Bill

St. Louis, January 12.-The agitation caused by the failure of the St. Louis house of delegates to contract for electric lighting for the alieys,i parks and city institutions culminated today in demonstration by cit izeiis at the doors leading to the delegate floor such as has never been witnessed be- fore in the city hall.
 ! A crowd numbering several hundred com pletely filled the corridors leading to the delegates chamber. They howled, hooted and hissed and at times threatened to break in the doors.
 The gallery was filled with city employees, and the committee of prominent business men appointed at yesterdays mass meeting to inquire into the neglect of the house of delegates drew to the building crowd of people as earlyyas 1 o'clock
 In the assembly were a number of well known citizens and tax payers, but there were scores of others who were drawn to the place by curiosity as to developments The gallery of the house was quickly filled to it's capacity while hundreds of citizens surged about the doors and corridors lead ing to the delegates floor.
 From time to time members crowded their way through the throng of people and were admitted through. the big door, Whlch was quickly closed afterwards.
 The door was in charge of Sergeant-at- arms H. L. Weeks and when citizens sought admission he tried to tell them that there was no room on the delegates floor for any one but delegates, and suggested that the crowd go to the gallery proVlded for their occupancy. His voice was heard bv but few, while the others seemed pos sessed with the idea that the members of the house were trying to exclude them.
 Every time a member reached the door way and was recognized by the sergeant at-arms and given admission there were shouts and cries and suggestions of Vio- lence.
 - At 2:9O o'clock the corridors had become so densely packed that passage through them was almost impossible. The sergeant
 at-arms had just admitted delegate and
 was trying with all his force to push the l doors shut when cries of 'break in the
 doors," .'soak him." "hang them," 'get a
 rope,p the people surged forward. Drew a Revolver Realizing in a moment that crisis had come and that his strength would avali | but little against the crowd which had now l reached the proportions of mob, the | door keeper let the doors swing open with l a rush and pulling revolver from his | pocket he faced the crowd, who rushed | forward into the entrance He did not raise |. the weapon from the level of his hip, nor | did he point it at any one, but it's appear | ance had a magical effect upon the crowd | and there was general scramble back l ward from the doorway. The noisy ones
 became quiet and the more conservative either withdrew from the building or urged 1 their comrades moderation.
 i Shortly after this exciting episode Dele
 gate William Tambyn passed through the | crowd on his way to the delegates room.
 Threats were made against him, and coun- l ter cries of "get rope" somebody take | a punch at him." increased in volume. As
 he passed by the sergeant-at-arms some | one in the crowd threw a rope through the
 open door.
 Several other exciting episodes took
 place, but finally several squads of police | arrived on the scene. The arrival of the | police sergeant and a squadron. together with a speech to the crowd from ex-Gov- | ernor Stanard, cautioning them to commit no overt act, had tine effect of quelling the disturbance
 After sufficient progress had been made | with business in the council chamber Dele | gate McPheeters went into the corridor | and announced to the crowd that the ma | jority of the house of delegates had given
 assurance that the lighting bills would be
 read for the first time today, a second time
 tomorrow and surely passed on Monday.
 The announcement pacified the crowd,
 which at once dispersed
 Tonight the situation in the different city | institutions was practically unchanged l MANY CIIccESSES