The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-13
LIGHT WANTED IN ST. LOUIS
THOUSANDS CROWDED CORRIDORS
or HOUSE or DELEGATES.
They Forced the Sergeant ut Arm. 20
Open the Doors and rhrcnts OF
Iynchina We're Henvd.

81 Louis. January 1s-Thc agitation
caused hy the failure OF the St Louis
mouse of delegates 10 centraci for electric
lighting for the alleys parks and city iu-'
stitutions eliminated today In demon.
strstion hy citizens at the doors leading
10 the delegate floor such as has never
been witnessed before In the city hall
crowd numbering several hundred COM
pletely filled the corridors leading to the
delegates chamber. They bowled, booted
and Kissed and at times threatened TO
break in the doors. The gallery was hlled
with city employees and the committee Of
prominent business men appointed al yes
terday's mass meeting 20 inquire into the
neglect of the house OF delegates, drew
to the building a crowd of people as early
as | o'clock, In the assembly were a
number of well known citizens. but there
were scores of others who were drawn to
the place by curiosity as to developments.
The gallery OF the house was quickly flied
TO its capacity while hundreds Of citizens
surged about the doors and corridors Lead
ing to the delegates floor From time to
the throng of people and were admitted
through the door, which was quickly
closed alter them. This door was In charge
4 of Sergeant at-A Arms Weakes and when
4 citizens sought admission he tried to tell
them there was no room on the delegates
floor Tor any one but delegates aud sug-
4 gested that the crowd go to the gallery
4 provided for their occupancy. His voice
I was heard by but few while the other:
j cd u-i+ h. ijna tkot he
4 members of the house were trying TO ex-
4 clude them. Every time a member
\ reached the doorway and was recognized
I by the sergeant alarms aud given admis-
sion there were shouts and cries and sug
gestions OF violence.
4 AT $50 o'clock the corridors had become
so densely packed that passage through
them was almost impossible, The sergean
at arms had just admitted a delegate ant
was trying with all his force to push tn,
doors Shut, when with cries of "Breal
!. in the doors!" Soak him." Hang him,'
Get rope!" the people smged forward
Realizing in a moment that a crisis ha,
come and that his strength would avail
but little against the crowd which haC
now reached proportions Of q mob tn,
doorkeeper let the doors swing open Will
a crash and pulling revolver from ,hi
pocket, be faced the crowd, which pushel
forward into the entrance. He did moi
raise the weapon from the level OF his hip
nor did he point it at any one, but II
appearance had magical effect upon tn
crowd and there was general scrambl
. back from the doorway. The noisy one
, became quiet and the more conservativ
either withdrew from the building o
urged on their comrades moderation.
Shortly after this exciting episode Del
egate William NJ. Tamblin passed throug
!, the crowd on his way TO the delegates
J room Threats were made against hil
, ard counter cries OF Get a rope!
:, Somebody take q punch at him. ii
. creased in volume As he passed by tt
. sergeant arms some one in the crow
: threw a rope through the open doc
!. Several other exciting episodes took plac
d but finally several squads of police al
: rived on the scene The arrival Of ii
: police sergeant with squad aud spec
from Ex-Governor stanard had the o
h feet of quellng the disturbance.
= After sufficient progress had been mac
q with business in the council chsmb'
i Delegate McPhetters went into tn co
: ridor ard announced to the crowd that Il
$ majority of the house Of delegates N
IS given assurances that the lighting oil
y would be read for the first time today.
e second time tomorrow and surely pass
Monday This announcement pacifed q
L crowd, which at once dispersed Tontg
: the situation in the different city instit
= tious was practically unchanged.