Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-25

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Rut q Multitude of Excited People,
Later n Lady's Escort Proceeded
to !;Eat Up,, Man Who Jostied H.f
Companion.
the crowd that surged back and forth
on Broad street last night was scattered
at half-past 10 o'clock by the snow-storn,
that struck the city at that hour Th.
streets were thronged with the expected
/ Christmas-Eve pedestrians, and there was
practically no decrease IN the nunnberf
tnat promenaded to and fro upon tt4
south side of the thoroughfare until ths
fleecy fakes began to fall. The first snow
OF the season was at first welcomed b1
the merry throng, who Were out for fun.
assume disagreeabIe form, and imme-
diately the big crowd melted away.
Shortly before II o'clock the theatres
turned loose their audiences, and for
ten minutes or longer the street was filed
with hurrying throns, but they were
Ss
Ing flakes, driven by stiff wind. beat
with disa agreeable force against the faces
OF the people who sought the cars in
their haste to reach home. The storm
was not anticipated. It was wet snow
that quickly melted when it struck the
pavements. filing them with slush an
inch or more deep. and making walking
thoroughly disagrseable.
a Fitting Climax.
The snow-storm was fitting climax
to one OF the l.veliest Christmas-Eves
that Richmond has seen for years All
during the late afternoon dense mass OF
humanity moved up and down Broad
street. and after nightfall the numbers
swelled into the thousands. Some were
belated shoppers, who had postponed un-
til the last hour the purchase of their
gifts. The shoppers were principally those
who pay for what they get. and take it
home with them. The mass OF people
who belong to tue parcel delivery class
had provided themselves with their stock
Of presents earlier during the week or
in the forenoon of yesterday. and hav-
ing relieved themselves of that very try-
ing duty. they turned their attention
entirely TO the enjoyment OF the eve
ming in the many ways that folks find
convenient on Christmas-Eve- Platoons
Of boys and young men, armed with that
novelty of torment. the percussion cane.
marched back and forth from First 10
Sixth streets for hours. firing -olley after
volley with the sharp report OF rif1a
crack.
There were few displays of fireworks
on the street. The crowd seemed to have
found the one thing that pleased 1t in
the percussion cane. and hawkers OF the
instrument did a rushing business from
a dozen or more stands within the dis
taEce of two blocks. They were sold for
the small sum OF five cents, and enough
caps were furnished for five cents 10
gladden. the heart of any small boy. but
the older boys found more amusement
in the applause than their younger broth
erS.
Looked for Excitement.
The stores were opend until a
late hour. and despite the attractions
on the streets they had their quota OF
It took very little to cause
excitement Just before o'clock drunk
en- man staggered ana fell near the COR
aer of Third street In a moment there
was a jam at that point. and hundreds
rushed from various directions, the crowd
gathering size like a rolling snow-oaii-
When this was over an alarm Of fire
was sounded from the corner of Sew
enth and Broad. The engines could be seen
coming from a. ulSldNCS. ehLt lilS tIllLiS
multitude broke for the street in their
zagerness to see on-comins staeds tearing
nadly down along the thoroughfare~
In less than a minute the steamers wers
by a dense crowd; and when
t was found that the fire was OF a
rifling nature everyone got back 20 tns
sidewalks. and the promenade continued.
LII eager for some new excitement tt
.ane quickly. for fight was started near
fifth street, and in a jiffy three policemen
we're surrounded by struggling throng
anxious 10 know what had happened.
\ woman had been roughly jossled by a.
nan. and her escorts were proceeding to
at him up, when he was hustled off b.
lis friends.
Wanted :SyVillie', Bad
Within another few minutes the storm
entre shifted to the cornsr OF Third
street. whittier the police van. It's gong
hanging loudly. was hurry:ng. There was
|. rush for an alley on Third street near
srace, and the cause was found \ young
ellow, filed to overhowtng. had decided
o go to sleep In the gutter. and all that
le could say when picked up by the Of
,cers was willie" "will.e.' Willie had
eft him TO his fate. and he was placed
n the patrol At the same time duskE-
lame got gay in the centre Of Broad
.reet near Third. and she was given a
he unfortunate who sought so earnestly
or his Willie
And Then the Snow.
Then there was peace: and it looked az
{ nothing more was going to happaa
o divert the attention of the crowd from
he ceaseisss walking. But about 1880
clock the first tiny flakes OF snow be-
AN to fall. They increased with force
within fifteen minutes. and coats were
UP close.y, and hats were pulled
own over the eyes. and everybody sx-
ept those who had determined 10 stay
ut all night began the retreat for home.
There were 40 serious disturbances on
he street The crowd was a good-ha-
aored one. And while possibly not filed
With the spirit OF the approaching holiday
T realization of the sacred event that
commentaries. there was plenty OF
hat peace on earth and good will TO men
hat is enjoined upon mankind at this
eason of the year.