Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-17

a speech of thanks and then retired to
rest before the banquet.
For Hours. Before the Time
set for the opening of the doors, $50
o'clock, Madison Square Garden, where
Colonel Bryan and the head of the State
Democratic ticket, John B. Stanchfield,
spoke, was besieged by crowds. Throngs
gathered and massed before the two
main entrances to the building on
Fourth and Madison avenues, as early
as 2 o'clock, hoping to get in when the
doors were first opened. At 4 o'clock at
least a thousand people were in the
amphitheater. having gained admission
on tickets which had been distributed
and which were given precedence, even
over box seat tickets. About two hun
dred men from the different city de-
partments were on hand to act as ush-
ers, and at 5 o'clock the police details
arrived.
Deputy Chief COPYRIGHT, with nearly
a score of captains and a corresponding
number of sergeants and roundsmen,
was in charge. In the half hour pre-
ceding the opening of the doors the
policemen marched and countermarched
about the garden, the crowd cheering.
The policemen wore their dress coat
uniforms and white gloves.
AT $50 to the minute the sound of
exploding bombs outside the garden
announced the opening of the doors. In
stantly there wa a great rush by the
people from the Madison avenue hall
way and from the Twenty-sixth street
entrance, which according to police ar
rangements were to be kept clear for
ticket holders. In the first rush there
were a few women, who got seats near
the speakers stand. In less than ten
minutes every seat on the floor was
taken, and the crowd, which had be-
gun to pour in from all sides, attacked
the galleries. Five minutes later saw
the balcony and a part of the galleries
black with people. The rush was then
over, but there came a steady stream
through the principal doors, and all
empty seats were soon filled. The
crowd did not at first appear to be dem
onstrative. When UAe lights were all
turned on there came a brief cheer. The
big semi-circular electrical display over
the speakers stand bore the portraits
Of the two Democratic candidates, tine
Democratic emblem and
The Democratic watchword
credited to Mr.. Croker, I'VE wish to re-
main free people," in great letters of
light.
Then the band struck up a national
air, and as the people recognized Yam
kee Doodle" they got up in their seats,
with uncovered heads, and as they
waved thousands of small American
flags, shouted out the words of the
song
The garden was decorated in the ma
tional colors only. Streamers radiated
from the center of the roof, underneath
the skylight, to the heads of the iron
pillars over the galleries and ~festoons
of flags with the colors of the different
States lined the galleries. The speak
ers stand was draped simply with
American flags and red, white and blue
bunting.
At $50 o'clock the only seats re-
naming vacant in the entire garden
was an occasional box, the tickets for
which remained good until 7 o'clock.
The crowd vas orderly and frequent
performances by the band brought out
enthusiasm.
The arrival of prominent Tammany
men before the opening brought out
the first strong applause Of the even
ing. AS Z O'Clock approached, the hour
when Col. Bryan was expected to ar
rive, the crowd began to warm up.
The garden was damned. The police
kept the aisles fairly we'll cleared, and
back of the gallery seats there was not
an inch of available space.
Col. Bryan Entered
the garden at 7:15 o'clock. AS the
face of Mr.. Croker, behind which ap-
peared Col. Bryan's, was seen, the
crowd burst forth in one great pro-
longed yell. Every one stood tiptoe on
his seat and the garden was a sea of
waving flags. AS Col. Bryan, escorted
by Mr.. Croker, mounted the speakers
stand, the cheering was continuous.
The two climbed the stairs and made
their way TO the front, followed by the
reception committee. Col. Bryan and
Mr.. Croker frequently responded to the
cheering by bowling to the vast audi
cree and the faces of both were
wreathed with smiles.
Just behind the two as they mounted
the platform Mayor Van Wyck escorted
Edward NJ. Sheppard, who acted as
chairman of the meeting.