The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-05-21
TAFT IN PANiiCs
CAUSED BY STORM
cLoupBuRsT BREAKS OVER CHAR
LoTTE DURING BIG PARADE.
DENSE CROWD BECOMES pANlckY
The Dense Crowd Just In Front Of the
Reviewing Stand From Which Taft
was Watching Mecklenbure Parade,
Got Excited--Nobody Hurt.

was watching Mecklenpurg PARADE,
Got Excited-Nobody Hurt.
Charlotte, N. c., May 20,-A cloud
burst broke over the city this after.
noon and caused panic in the dense
crowd gathered in front Of the stand
on which President Taft was reviewing
the Mecklenburg celebration parade.
No one was seriously hurt.
Live Wire on a Float.
In the midst of the excitement and
the fleeing of the throng, one of the
big industrial floats became entangled
with a live electric wire. The wire
sagged almost to the heads of the
people beneath. To add to the tur-
moil and danger there was loud re-
port and a binding flash not fifty
yards from the reviewing stand. The
cause of the explosion is not known.
Crowd Scatters. Taft Makes Way.
lions. Men and women alike rushed
for the shelter of the presidents
stand and the president stepped aside
to give as much room as possible.
The tremendous downpour of rain
was beating it's way through the can
vas roof Of the stand, and almost d.
rectly over the presidents head
great pool of water gathered, threat
ening to break down the covering.
Hero Cuts Canvas, Taft Drenched.
In the emergency some one brought
tall step ladder, man rushed up
and, cutting hole in the canvas, let
water down in perfect flood. This
quick action prevented any further
trouble other than the partial drench-
ing of the president.
Stands Pat Through Storm.
When quiet had been restored, the
president did not seem to mind his
experience in the least. He stood
smiling while the rain poured down.
Thousands of men and women were
drenched and many pretty costumes
ruined utterly. The president re-
manned until the last bedraggled float
went by and then was driven back to
his hotel.
immense Crowd Greets Taft.
Mr.. Taft was greeted by an i'm.
mense throng which had gathered at
the Southern railway station. A |
heavy rain fell during the morning,
but ceased just before Mr.. Taft |
reached the city. 1t required the SER
vices of several companies of militia |
to keep the cheering crowds at the |
depot in check as the president alight-
ed and made his way to waiting car.
riage. Mr.. Taft, accompanied by Cap
tain Archibald Butt, his military aide, |
was met at North Charlotte by 10. |
cal committee. Despite the cessation
OF the rain as the president arrived,
the weather continued threatening,
but 1t nowise interfered with the car
rying out of the days program until
the cloudburst came.
Interest in the president in Char
lotte at this time is conferred in the
attitude he would take in the Mecklen-
burg declaration of independence.
Endorses MeckIenburg Declaration.
Mr.. Taft takes the position that,
regardless of the exact language of
the declarations made in May, ITS,
full year before the signing of the
Jefferson declaration at Philadelphia
July A, 1776, the fact remains that
there was declaration of indepen.
dence on the part of the citizens of
North Carolina.
Charlotte, N. c., May 20.-President
Taft's presence In Charlotte today
lends notable interest to the annual
celebration of the signing of the Meek.
lenburg declaration of independence.
which, 1t is claimed, was the first
step toward liberty taken by the
American colonists. The presidents I
marks the elimination of
three-days' celebration.
The Mecklenburg declaration long s
has been subject of stubborn contro.
Versy. 1t is declared by its supporters
TO have antedated the famous decla.
ration of July 4, 1776, and has been
denounced as a myth" The differ. =
SASSS cSSWOSh Tie upuOlu6TS OF the
document and it's critics
ong have been considered irreconcil. c
able. 1t was with great elation, there. I
'ore, that the people of North Caro-. S
ina obtained the acceptance of Pres. I
dent Taft to attend the festivities of +
he closing day of the celebration in 4
1909. d
The president, who yesterday was a
he guest of Petersburg, Va, was met +
It the railway station upon his ar.
'lval here by an imposing committee C
u citizens and escorted to the Sci. S
"yn hotel. AS the regular Southern
'ailway train bearing the presidents
ar crossed the city limits, presi.
lential salute of twenty-one guns was
ired by the Charlotte artillery. 7
A Notable Parade.
Arriving at the hotel the president
leld reception, then with ccores of I,
lnion and confederate veterans for s
lis escort. the president, accompanied @
" Mrs. "Stonewall" Jackson, pro. ID
20