The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-20

was about the only thing to break the
solemn stiffness of the day.
Armory Meeting.
Such an outpouring as that at the
memorial mass meeting in the Ar
mory last night was a revelation, even
to the most sanguine of those looking
to its success. Fifteen thousand per
sons were within the building and five
thousand more, it is estimated, were
turned away.
In every other respect il was also
a fitting demonstration. The most
representative of the city's people were
in the audience; on the speakers plat
form were two hundred prominent men
from all walks of life; the speeches,
one and ALL the music, vocal and in
strumental, and the general spirit per-
vading the assembage. were in perfect
keeping in every way with the truly
momentouS occasion.
1t had often been said, and quite
generally believed. that ScrantOns
new Armory would see many a day
before it contained an assemblage that
would overflow it's immense audi
torium. An eleventh hour summons to
Scrantonians to do honor to the most
generally revered ruler the nation ever
saw, put these prophecies all awry.
After having filled all the churches
i'm the morning, Scranton was not con-
tent. 1t must needs also, in the even
ing. assemble ths largest throng i'm its
history, and. proportionately to it's
I.a. a 4 a.
lessly, that conGregated anywhere
yestcrday-day of immense assem-
blages though it was--to pay tribute
to the martyred nations chief and ex-
press sympathy for her, who, more
than any other individual, feels the
great loss that is so really great 1t is
felt wherever civilizations light is
shed.
Throng Was Immense.
The exercises were announced to be-
gin at 7.i5 o'clock sharp. Twenty
minutes before this time. every one of
the 5000 seats, with which the big
drill room was supplied. were occupied,
and the standing room was already be-
ginning to overflow, Half an hour
later the guards were directed to allow
the aisles to be filed and in a few
minutes every foot of space was taken
by those standing in the rear, and. as
they moved forward, thousands surg
ing about the doors crushed their way
in and filled the whole place like a
great mass of water suddenly given
vent.
In the gallery at the jefferson ave-
nue. end of the Armory, wera stationed
Bauer's band. the Holy Name society
of st. Peters cathedral led by Rev.
J. \, O'Reilly, rector, and chorus OF
scvcnty-five voices, organized under
the direction Of Tom Gippel to partici-
pate in the Correspondence schools
meeting at the Lyccum, which gra =
ciously gave way TO the citizens meet
ing at only a suggestion of the com
mittee-
Fifty feet in front of this gallery
facing the Adams avenue entrance
was erected spacious platform on
which were seated the speakers and
vice presidents.
To the left of the stand were SOC
chairs for the Grand Army men and
to the right an equal number "f chairs
| for the National Guardsmen. Eoth
organizations attended in uniform. the
veterans carrying furled and creped
| flags.
Facing the platform and along tn,
sides of the wall were placed 5,OO
chairs for the general public. TIL,
| Adams avenue gallery was also oper
to the public. The seats were scarcely
! sufficient to accommodate those wht
| crowded within the room. Three times
as many seats would not be too man,
for those who went TO the armory.
n somewhat perilous climb did no
deter women and girls from ascendn,
to the suspended grand stand in tn
| the center of the north side of tn
: building and the desire for a point o
! vantage led more venturesome men an,
boys 10 clamor up the steel archie
spanning the great auditorium. an,
seek seats on the horizontal glrder
| stretched between them.
The Decorations.
The interior of the armory had bee,
quite lavishly decorated with flags an
bunting for the convention of III
state League of Republican clubs
which yas postponed from last Tues
day. INTERVIEWING bands OF black an,
white transformed these gay embellsh
ments into appropriate decorations
1t was, altogether, a grand inspiring
spectacle, and one that will live lon
in the memory of all who witnessed il
The character of the composition o
the meeting was typifed by a little In
cident remarked by many, In the frs
row OF those on the platform was
quartette thai by an accidental ar
rangement of the chairs was set b
itself ana little removed from tn
others. Comprising this quartette wer
Bishop Hoban, head of the Catholi
diocese of Scranton: Rev. DIR. s. {
Logan, pastor emeritus of the Firs
Presbyterian church Rev f. p, Singer
assistant pastor of the Elm Park Meth
odist Episcopal church, and Rev. Il.
Melley, rector OF ST. Johns Catholi
church of South Scranton. Durin
the singing, as they stood up touchin
elbows and Joined in the rendition @