The San Francisco call., 1906-09-15
Efforts to See Her Cause
Panic at dwelling of
the Mckinley Monument
ALL CEREMONIES
ABRUPTLY ENDED
Presidents Daughter Has
Exciting Experience With
Throng at Columbus, Ohio

PohAS ILL CdlCAC0 AL a CiOWQs CSliAAAdS SCo
at $4,000 people. surging about the
stand erected in the Capitol grounds,
frantic to secure a glimpse of Mrs. NIGH
olas Longworth, the Presidents daugh-
ter, the exercises arranged for the ded-
ication Of the Mckinley monument were
after the statue of the martyred Presi-
dent had been hurriedly unveiled by
Mrs. Longworth.
The prompt action of the committee
Of arrangements was regarded as most
Fortunate for the crowd was beyond
control and the shriel1ing of women
and children who were caught 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 ambu-
lance. Both will recover.
MRS. LoNGwoRTH COOL.
Throughout the exciting scenes Mrs.
Longworth remained cool and self-pos-
sessed, but afterward she said:
"It was the worst crush 1 ever wit
messed. have seen nothing like it in
my trip around the world
Mr.. and Mrs. Longworth had an ex-
citing experience in escaping from the
crowd at the Capitol. From the speak
er's stand they went through window
overlooking the platform into the Gov
ernor's office. but they were scarcely in
side 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
.surgsns srrowd Finding no Immediate
avenue of escape they fought their WAY
out of the Capitol grounds and aefoss
! Broad street into the outieok building,
There they remained until carriage
was secured and the police cleared
way. to it. They were then driven to
the Hotel Hartman. Later they took a
train for Cincinnati.
THRoNG BECOMES UNRULY.
The committee of arrangements had
expected an enormous crowd on ac-
count of the presence Of Mrs. Long
worth, but in view of the solemnity and
dignity of the occasion they believed the
crowd would easily be kept in restraint
Under ordinary circumstances the po-
lice arrangements would have been
adequate, but the officers soon found
the crowd.
Tiers of seats had been constructed
across the entire west front of the Cap
itol. with the speakers stand in the
Iscenter. Four thousand tickets were is
sued for these seats to invited guests
and all were occupied
The Mckinley monument stands a,
the west entrance to the grounds, fac
ing the street, and the crowd was
packed into the space between the
speakers stand and the monument The
exercises were set for 2:3o and began
promptly on time.
1t was not until the band was play
ing the overture that the danger of q
panic became apparent. Suddenly
J, women in the crowd next to the speak.
ers' stand began to scream for help
Then several women tainted and were
carried up to the stand. Rev. DR.. Wash.
ington GLADDEN. rose to deliver the in.
vocation, but he spoke only few sen
tences when the roar of voices forced
him to stop. Governor Harris then at.
, tempted to quiet the crowd.
Keep back." he shouted. You are
crushing these people in front te
death"
QUICKLY UNVEILS STATUE.
The Governors voice could not bt
heard twenty feet away, however, OF
account of the din. The commotioI
became so alarming that those on tn,
stand asked Mrs Longworth to steI
forward in the hope that a glimpse q
her might satisfy the crowd She cam,
to the front of the stand and 1t wa.
seen at once that something must b,
done and it was decided to unveil tn,
statue at once. Mrs. Longworth ther
pulled the ribbon attached to wire,
which drew aside the flags GOVERNS
the statue.
A man hoisted on another man,
shoulders grasped the ribbons and tn,
wire and they were quickly torn int,
fragments by relic seekers.
The crush was stopped for few mo
ments, but 1t was soon renewed AM
Mrs. Longworth again came to tn,
front of the platform and bowed to til,
throng. In the meantime. however, tn,
committee on arrangements had de
cided to defer the addresses until even
ing at Memorial Hall, and as soon a.
Mrs. Longworth retired the announce
ment was made. The people strugglin,
for their lives in the crowd around tn,
stand cheered, but storm of hisse
came from people on rne outside of tn
crowd, who did not understand the sit
uation.
The programme of exercises whicl
Continued ON Page >, Colum. :.