Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-15
Rush Toward Stand Becomes So Great That
Many Women Paint
PEOPLE SOON WORKED INTO FRENZY
ppsals from Presidents Daughter and
Governor Harris Unavailing.
SPEECHES ARE POSTPONED uNTLEvENlNG
Addresses by Judge Day, senator
Daniel, General Joseph Mckay and
General Brown, Commander
in-Chief of Grand Army.

COLUMBUS, o.. Sept. 14-with a panic
threatening in a crowd estimated at 5000.
surging about the stand erected in the
capitol grounds, frantic TO secure glimpse
Of Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, the presi-
dents daughter, the exercises arranged for
the dedication of the Mckinley monument
were suddenly terminated this afternoon
after the statue Of the martyred president
had been hurTiedly unveiled by Mrs. Long
worth.
The prompt action Of the committee on
arrangements was regarded as most for
tunate, for the crowd was beyond control
and the shrieks OF women and children who
were csught in the crush was rapidly
working the crowd into a frenzy. Many
women tainted and were carried out OF the
crowd by the police. Two were so badly
hurt that they had to be removed in an
ambulance Both will recover.
Throughout the exciting scenes Mrs
Longworth remained cool and self-pos-
sessed. hut afterward she said:
1T was the worst crush ever witnessed.
/ have seen nothing like It in my trip
around the world"
crowd storms statehOuse.
Mr. and Mrs. Longworth had an exciting
experience In escaping from the crowd at
the capitol From the speakers stand they
went through a window overlooking the
platform into tho governors Office, hut they
were scarcely inside when the people began
to surge through the doors Then they at
tempted TO reach an automobile which was
waiting for them on the street, but once
outside they were caught in a surging
crowd Finding no immediate avenue of
escape they fought their way out OF the
ar,ffn
into the outlook building. There they re-
mained until carriage was secured and
.fhe police cleared way to 1t and they
were driven to Hotel Hartman. Later they
took train for Cincinnati
The committee on arrangements had ex-
pected an enormous crowd on account of
the presence Of Mrs. Longworth, but in
view of the solemnlty and dignity of the
occasion they believed the crowd would
easily be kept In restraint Under ordinary
circumstances the police arrangements
would have been adequate, but the officers
found quickly they were powerless to cope
with the crowd. Ne4a
Tiers OF seats had been constructed across
the entire west front Of the capitol with the
speakers stand in the center Four thou
sand tickets were issued for these seats tn
invited guests, and all were occupied.
west entrapce to the grounds facing the
street and the crowd was packed into this
space between the speakers stand and the
monument The exercises were set for 2:S0
and began promptly.
women Began to Speak.
II was when the band was playing the
overture that the danger Of panic be-
came apparent Suddenly women In the
crowd next to the speakers stand began to
scream for help. Then several women
tainted and were carried up 20 the stand.
The Rev. Dr. Washington GLADDEN. rose to
deliver the invocation. but he spoke only a
few sentences when the roar of voices
forced him 10 stop Governor Harris then
attempted to quiet the crowd.
Keep back" he shouted; you are crush
ing these people In front to death"
The governors voice could not be heard
twenty feet away. however, on account of
the din. The commotion then became so
alarming that those on the stand asked
Mrs. LonEworth to come forward in the
hope that a glimpse of her might satisfy
the crowd She came to the front OF the
stand and it was seen at once that some
thing must be done and 1t was decided
to unveil the statue at once. Mrs. Long
worth then pulled the ribbon attached to
wires which drew the nags covering the
statue aside A man hoisted on another
mans shoulder grasped the ribbons and
the wire and they were quickly torn into
fragments by relic seekers. The crush was
stopped for a few moments, but It was
soon renewed and Mrs Longworth again
came to the front Of the platform and
bowed to the throng. In the meantime
however. the committee on arrangements
All
evening at the Memorial hall and as soon
as Mrs. Longworth retired the announce
ment was made. The people struggling for
their lives In the crowd around the stand
cheered. but a storm of Kisses came from
people on the outside of the crowd who
did not understand tho situation.
Exercises In the Evening.
, The program OF exercises which had been
arranged for the unveiling OF the monu-
ment was carried out at Memorial hall to-
night. The Immense hall was filled with
people. Governor Harris presided. The
speakers we're William r. Day, associate
Justice Of the supreme court Of the United
states; John w. Daniel. United States
senator from Virginia; General Joseph No
Kay. Of Brooklyn. n. T.. national oomman-
der Of the Union Veterans legion. and
General r. b. Brown. oommander-ln-chief
OF the Grand Army Of the Republic
Mrs Mckinley widow OF the late presi-
dent. was unable 10 attend the dedication
exercises, but she was represented by hel
niece Mrs. Ida McKinIey-DaY.
Address by Judge Nay.
Judge Day spoke OF William Mckinley
as a type OF tbs best possibilities of Arnsri-
can life. Of his exalted ohAraqtsr and Q,
his services 20 the country, and concluded
an alo4usnt address fellows:
In the fullnsss Of life. with : miessaso "
good will and kindness yet fresh oh hi;
lipss meeting the people who delighted ID
testify that affection and Appreciation
which was his highest reward for falthful
and unremitting service, he was feiled u
e9rth fes no other sffsnse than thai, IN
his person, he represented the head 0f the
nation and stood for liberty, regPlAtAd By
law AID nef fer that VSkria6d nAsns.
whioh knows nd rsspsek fof ths lave q
God on mAA-
lite that not sTsn his slayer could strike a
him. WITH Slts ssnassasss. what miEhty
; sqSn{th! Desth peetP al on equal essgns
Tt4 han, ~ ha u Men. stHnds unveiled