The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-16
COUNTING OF THE BALLOTS.
Work Not Completed Until After 4
O'Clock This Morning.


O'Clock This Morning.
The count of the votes was begun as
soon as the polls closed. Some of the
managers wanted set supre-. but the ma
jority insisted on remaining to make the
count and a compromise was effected on
sandwiches and coffee. One watcher from
each side was admitted to the rooms
where TIE boxes were located and the
dc ors we locked, the crowd being strict
ly sdut On the outs de. This state of pri-
Nacy was maintained for some time, but
as the crowd on the outside diminished
and as it was seen the count would be a
matter Of hours this strictness was relax
ed and newspaper men and candidates
were permitted to move about through the
rooms.
The Osborne people had a feeling of
victory in their bones when the polls
closed and had had for some time, but
they had no idea of the sur prise that was
II store fer them. They were simply will
ing 20 take victory without being partic-
Ular as to the odds. The Liberals felt
that they were worsted, but were not yet
rsady to acknowledge it and expressed
the belief that some of their candidates
had pulled through.
1t was some time before informa lion be-
gun to percoiate from the closed rooms,
but when it did it was all one way, and
the enthusiasm of the Osborne supporters
increased accordingly. Naturally the first
thing which the managers did was to sep
arate the straight tickets from the splits
When this was done it was found that
Osborne had a majority of over 600 on the
straight tickets. This was revelation.
The Osborne people felt that everything
was theirs, while the Liberals knew that
II was only question of how badly they
had been beaten. The news was soon
spread about the streets and Osborne
shouters were very much in evidence
Most of the candidates were on hand
when this result became known. Mr.
Hartridge took his defeat with good grace
and gave no evidence of disappointment
He remained some time longer, satisfying
himself that the rest of the count would
not change the result already obtained
Mr.. Osborne seemed neither surprised nor
elated, though he expressed his satisfac-
ton al the result. together with the hope
that the entire ticket would go through
He remained until satisfied that this was
the case with one exception, and then
went home. He had been manager-in-
chief of the campaign, and had been prac-
ucaiiy without rest for over forty -eigiit
hours. Even a sweeping victory could not
compensate for further loss of sleep and
he went TO seek the rest which he
needed.
Ii was very evident from the large num-
Der of split tickets that the count would
be tedious one, and in addition to this
the managers showed determination to
be very exact In their work. even TO the
extent of spending some additional time.
The First district box No. l. from A 60
*, was the first to complete its count,
having more straight tickets than any
other box. This box contained go votes
end Mr.. Osborne received 40S, as against
1873 for his opponent The vote of the
rest Of the ticket was in pretty much
the same proportion. Shortly after this
the county box. including the Fifth
Sixth, Seventh and Eighth districts, fin
ished, showing a total of go votes. with
the Citizens having good percentage
the best of it.
1t was nearly midnight when box No
of the First district was completed, be-
ing also very favorable to the Citizens
ticket. The three Fourth district boxes
were completed between midnight and 1
a. m. The result was almost a stand off
in <his district, Mr.. Hartridge's majority
being very small, compared with what had
been expected, and the rest of the
tieket being in proportion. There
was another long whit before
the managers of the two Third district
boyes tn ned in their counts. In the Third
district as viii be seen. the tickets split
nearly even. some CT the candidates on
each ticket receiving ma1or.Ues over their
opponents. II was after o'clock this
mornirg when the eounting of the Second
oist let Y. te was completed. There was a
very heavy vote in tn box, about S00 and
a great many srh, tickcis as well. owing
to the number OF Osborne voters who
scratched Mr.. Collins in favor of Waring
Russell, Jr. AS de from tn the vote was
avily Osborne and Citizen and added
considerably t. The already heavy ma
jorides OF this ticket
Col. p. w Medium, chairman OF the
Executive Commi tee, remained at the
Court House until the count was finished
having determined that he would remain
and receive The returns from the mana
gers himself II was first Col Medium s
intention to have the Executive Commit
tee remain also in order that he might
officially announce the result as soon as
the voc was ccmrred AS none of the
commit eemen cared TO take the chance
n remaining up all night, however, Col
Medium announced hat a meeting Of the
comm ttee would be held in the city Court
room al noon to-day for the purpose Of
declaring the vote.