The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-10-25
AvERTS CATASTROPHE
President Roosevelt Prevents
Panic al Chattanooga.
CROWD BEYOND CONTROL

Women Carried OFF Their Feet in the
Wild Rush Of the Crowd to Get
Close to the Presidents Car--situa-
zion Became Serious.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Oct. 23.-Prob-
ably 10000 people were in danger Of
injuries at the Central station when
President Roosevelt's special train
rolled into the shed at 6:10 p. N. It
was a surging mass Of humanity that
could not be controlled. The demon
stration was so great that it was
practically impossible for the presi-
dent to speak. He made many at
tempts, but finally gave up. He
pleaded with the crowd to have a
care for the women and children; he
knew there was danger Of panic and
he did all in his power to avert
catastrophe The cheering was al.
most incessant and in the wild rush
to get close to the presidents car wo-
men were carried off their feet and
men had to fight back the avalanche
of humanity.
When the train arrived President
Roosevelt was riding upon the rear
platform. The cheers that greeted
the arrival OF his train, that began as
soon as the headlight cast its first
rays through the shed, were renewed
with infinitely more volume when the
presidents well known face and figure
came into view. The band Of the
Twelfth cavalry. which had come into
the city from Fort Oglethorpe for the
occasion, broke out with Hail to the
Chief" and all troops, volunteers and
regulars, came to a present. Hon. H.
Clay Evans was the first person recog-
nized by the president and was at
once invited to the car platform. The
president declined to shake hands. To
newspaper man who was standing
near the president said:
President Feared Panic.
"Do not ask me to shake hands; If
| begin there will be panic here.
That crowd will surge In here with a
force no power can resist. know,
for I've tried it before"
The president then glanced about
him, sizing up the crowd that surged
and cheered without any indication
that it would cease. Mr.. Evans held
up his hand, reckoning for silence, but
he had as well beckoned to q roaring
cyclone Or an approaching avalanche.
my fellow citizens" said Mr..
Evans, but his fellow citizens heard
him not. He wanted to introduce the
president. The crowd felt fully &C
quainted and deemed no introduction
necessary. Then Mr.. Roosevelt tried
his hand. He went to the right rail
The people in that direction cheered
and the president smiled. He leaned
over the rear rail Of his car and the
thousands In that direction cheered
He looked to the left and again g
tumult OF applause greeted him. He
could but smile and bow and wave his
hand. No human voice could pene
trate that great roar Of cheers. Pres
emily it ceased for little while. Then
with all his vocal powers, Mr.. Roose
welt said:
my friends and fellow citizens, b.
as quiet as you can and I'll try to say
o few words In appreciation Of this
magnificent ovation. This Is the mos
enthusiastic crowd and the larges
one that has greeted my arrival In any
city duTTiilliigE this great trip through the
Southland"
Then The crowd began to surge. Th'
president held up warning hand
"Don't, don't, don't, my good people
Remember there are women and chi
dren in the crowd. Try to be quiet
The president tried vainly to speak
The few statements he had uttere
had consumed nineteen minutes an
at 6:31 the train was signalled ahead
AS 1t rolled away the presiden
waved response to cheers that 70