The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-05-07
LOCAL OPTION WINS
How the News Was Re-
CeiVed
THROEGS OF PEOPLE WILD WITH 10Y
The Influence Of wOmsn Carried the Day
Enthusiastic Demonstrations Pasdes,
tic. etc etc.

Election morning, Tuesday, TO decide
whether this city shall 40 dry or
wet was ushered IN with rain, which
soon ceased, but the entire day was
cloudy, cold and disagreeable. the skies
Frightening In the afternoon for "A while
followed 10y showers.
At > A. NJ. the church bells began to
ring, aud hundreds OF ladies assembled
m the Presbyterian chapel to hold PRAYER
meetings. which continued every half
hour TIL the closing of the polls. At perl
DDS during the day the bells Of the Bap-
tist, Methodist and Presbyterian church
e. were ruug. Children. with banners
lying, paraded the streets during the
day IN the neighbOrhC~d Of the polls.
singing The Town l. Going Dry" Hot
coitse and sand witches were served in the
PIPER Ward in the Willis building ard in
large covered wagon in the street at
the lower polls by t. corps of ladies
hen the polls opened numbers of rep
resentatiye citizens. in owe rcoats and IN
der umbrellas. representing the two
sides, started To work. Thecontest was
spirited and the excitement intense. but
not a single harsh word was spoken and
no difficulty took place.
The polls closed at 1902 D. NJ Tuesday,
alter one OF the most strenuous contests
pectgncy. Around the two polling
places We're gathered more than two
thousand men. women. boys and girls
While there was "a feeling OF suppressed
excitement, the best of humor prevailed
The crowd was ready to guy any man,
without regard To wet or dry, and repre-
sentatives OF both factions came In for
their share. IL did not take over forty
minutes to count the vote. That OF the
upper ward was announced first as IL
majority for the "drys' This was met
with n yell Of y from the "drys" and the
crowd surged TO the lower word. swell
ing that already IN front Of the voting
place. a "a lew minutes the front door
oil the courthouse was thrown open and
Il msn Jumped over the heads Of those on
the front steps with the announcement
that the result was L. dry majority, and
the crowd sped up the streets to the
Baptist church, where the ladies bad as
sembled for prayer. The crowd. "A mass
OF irenzied humanity. followed and a
scene ensued which beggars description.
Women Rugged and kissed each other.
while tears OF JOY ra'ned down their checks
hats were thrown into the air, banners
and handkerchiefs waved at i there was
not an inch Of space from sidewalk to
sidew ak. The men were not far behind
iu ueihoustTAuonS OF lDN their shouts
filing the air Around the front OF the
Baptist church We're probably three
thousand people. while the interior was
packed. 4 procession was formed aud a
march begun Men and women. bows
aud girls, ia the middle If the streef. re-
g@rd.ess Of mud. singing aud shouting.
went down TO Commerce. thence down
Commerce 20 Main st, TO the railroad
aud on through the principal streets IN.
III exhaustion compe.ltd stop.
The pictures Of vacant stores ia Kan
sas Clty. Mo, which the liquors dealers
had displayed on the streets. were taken
up and carried in the procession as a sub
| Jet OF ~ icule. such "A scene has never
before been witnessed here The moth.
er- and daughters OF the men 81 Frrder.
icksbu7g were entitled To express their
| ! ~ over theSsult, Tor TO them il largely
due the victory they won.