The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-11-16
HOW BRYAN NET DEFEAT.
He Slept Peacefully as
News Of Defeat
Came In.
As Mr.. PETTleREW SEES IT.
Croker Expresses Himself.-Bryan's
Explanation of the Defeat. scheme
to Re-Organize' the Democracy.


Explanation 0f the Defeat Scheme
to "Re-Organizs'' the Democracy.
In the face Of overwhelming defeat
in the nation and the vicious malice
OF the people Of his own city and
state, William Jennings Bryan is
still one Of Americas most remark
able men. While the telegraph in
.struments in his bedroom were rat
tling out the verdict against his plat
form election night, Mr. Bryan in ut
ter pace and rest, soundly sleps.
While hordcs Of correspondents turn
ed h.r parlor into busy workshop
and messenger boys stumbled oyer
her rugs and furniturr, Mrs. Bryan
was still the gracious hostess, enter
tanning her guests with matronly
dignity, seemingly thinking more of
their comfort than OF the stupendous
events Of the night.
When newspaper men were ad-
mittcd to the Bryan home Wednes-
day morning the peaceful atmos-
phsre and the positive cheerfulness
Of the place astounded those who be-
lieved tha, by some token a note Of
regret could bs discovered in the
home. Mr.. Bryan. looking fresh
frcm his long nights rest, was sit
ting in the study with his slippered
feet on the desk. Mrs. Bryan, bur-
led in huge armchair at his side,
was radiant in dark silk house
dress, and little Grace climbed from
father to mother, as if there was
nothing else in the world to think OF.
Mrs. Bryan was the only ray Of
light in the candidates home cleo
tion night. The early returns that
came over the wires were uniavor-
able, and State Senator Talbot,
Charles Bryan and james G. Dahl
man, national committeeman, who
read the dispatches, became gloom
Ter as the hours progressed, and by
IL o'clock had given up all hope.
Correspondents who had followed
Bryan from the beginning and hoped
he would win on account of their
personal friendship soon added to the
depression by their sorrowful faces.
Through it all Mrs. Bryan an
swered the door bell almost every
moment to ,sdmit some dusty mes.
senger 10y. 4 Occasionally she
glanced ut the returns, but never
neglected to be the hostess and to
look toward the comfort OF her
guests. Al 8 o'clock the indica-
tions were SO strongly against Bryan
that correspondents at emped to get
= statement from Mr. Bryan on bis
defeat.
.'He's sound asleep" said Mrs
Bryan, who was asked to carry the
message. ''Shall I wake hi,n?'
'Asleepl exclaimed the chorus
increduious!y. "And at this time
Does he know how it is going?" :.
: presume not, answered the wife
He has been asleep since Z o'clock
The thing was almost too remark
able to believe. None could realiz,
how man whose future depende,
upon the ticking at his bedsid
could sleep when the machine wa
SO busy.
Ia an hour they were informe
that Mr.. Bryan had awakened
glanced over the returns and hae
gone to sleep again. Then the cor
respondents began to grow dubious
Mr. Dahlmun, Mr.. Bryan's clos
y f4iend. consented to creep up stair
and see, and when he returned b
was astounded himself to repor
that the candidate was sound asleel
Still incredulous, the correspondent;
went softly up the stairs, wher
they could peek into the half ope
door. There was no mistak,
Bryan Vas storing. After that
was only question Of how soon Nj
Bryan would awake. AT IL o'cloc
his step Was heard and greeted by
rounG Of applause. The defeate
candid,,te appeared ~ the parlc
door. 10 bors il his hand di
pstch which conceded New York /
Mckinley and handed It to Il
correspondents.
Il u not % hopeful IS We cou
wish hs said, and then his hant
81 sought his p0c.ets and his wi
@ came to his side. s.s
II * have 10 stAtement % make 4
might boys, M he said, with hs
sss5izI 10. Il Nait until the retnrl
|s fs lors deaaite. \
BISs|s as Elon ~ someth him, sv.
!