The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-09-18
PANIC At
COLUMBUS

abrupt close COuHy
The surging cheering mob of peo-
pie that packed the Capitol grounds
and adjoining streets to witness the
unveiling Of the monument, became SO
unruly and unwieldy in its efforts to
see at close range, the bride OF the
year, Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth,
that she was compelled to drop the
star spangled drapery which enshrin-
ed the statue, and withdraw, while
the orations and addresses on the
program were postponed until night.
Nothing like the wild rush of people
was ever seen in Ohio before, and no
such mob of women in this country.
More than $4,000 people at least 40,-
900 of whom were women, pushed and
showed. yelled and wept. in mad en-
deavor to gain vantage points when
the distinguished guests appeared on
the platform, five acres Of swaying
people scrambled and pushed until
those in front were jammed against
the stands or crushed between those
in front and those behind.
SCORES TAINTED.
Scores of women tainted while thous-
ands were pulled and tossed about in
the throng, their garments torn, hats
unshed and their hair disheveled. Men
from the speakers stand pleaded with
the people to keep back, as those in
front were in danger of being suffo-
Gated. All the replies that could be
heard were derisive laughter, cries of
distress and cheers.
The women seemed to have gone
wild in their desire to look upon
princess Alice" Mrs. Longworth
alone seemed calm and unperturbed
Men feared the stands on which were
seated four thousand persons might
} not withstand the onslaught of the
mob in front, as many were climbing
up on the platform to escape the
crush behind them.
) ALICE TO THE RESCUE.
J 1t was feared that hundreds would
be killed should the stands fall. Then
= it was that Mrs. Lon5worth without
ceremony, stepped to the front of the
speakers stand, took hold of the rib
r bon that was suspended by rings to a
7 wire and led to the monument, hun
dred feet distant. The crowd paused
/ as she was recognized, and a mighty
s shout of greeting went up. The band
/ struck up the strains of President Nc
Kinleys favorite hymn, Lead, Kind
ly Light" as President Roosevelt's
daughter tugged at the ribbon, and the
: flags that yelled the statue of the late
3 president fell slowly to the pedestal
: revealing the bronze figure above
: Another cheer went up, and Mrs
, Longworth stood smiling and bowinG
. to the great audience.
e 1t was thought that her part in the
= program over, order would be restor
|. ed. Instead, the crowd made a wllC
, rush for the ribbon with which she
: had drawn the veil. t was torn into
; shreds and then a dash was made fol
: the wire which had held the ribbon
:, in place. Tie brass rings were tori
|, from it. Many people were in danger
(. of being injured by the wire, which
e the mob was trying to break inCC
: pieces for souvenirs. Unable to pro
t, ceed, Governor Harris announced thc
suspension of the exercises until night
THE WILD RUSH.
Mrs. Longworth in the meantime lef
q the stand from the rear and went t
a the state house. No sooner were tn
. troubles of those in charge of tn
,s meeting over, than Mrs. Longworth'
J. really began. Thousands of peopl
q made a mad rush toward her as sh
h and her husband were leaving tn
] state house Women bent on touchin
:, Mrs. Longworth surrounded her; n
ar football rush was more strenuous tha
ic that she got into. Policemen tried t.
v guard her, by forming a wedge an
forcing way to the street. Her au
tomobile however, was not at the gat
to receive the party. The greater poI
tiOn of the mob was behind and ther
g was no turning back. The police wer
=, powerless. Mrs. Longworth was hui
40 ried into an elevator in a nearby builG
- ing, whence a reserve force of polio
rescued her and escorted her and he
husband to the train. Mrs. Longwort
seemed to enjoy the experience.
- Its the worst crush / was ever in
- she said.
THE EXERCISES.
- - The exercises for the unveiIing
~ the Mckinley monument were held t.
night in Memorial hall and were a
tended by 2000 people. Speeches wei
~ delivered by Senator Daniel, of vi
- ginia, and Justice w. R. Day, of IL
- supreme court of the United State
~ with addresses by Governor Harri
~ Commander in Chief Browne, of Il
- G. A. R., and National Command
~ Kay of the Union Veterans leagu
10 The text of all were the beauty of cha
loa Of fn1 l.