Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-17
ORIGIN OF THE WIDE-AWAKEs
Factor in Election of Lincoln Started
in Hartford, Conn, During
state Campaign.

The Hartford Courant of February 6, 1909,
publishes a letter from E. S. Yergason Of
that city which gives a short history OF the
origin OF the famous Wide-Awakes, which
organization became the marching club
OF the political campaign that resulted in
the election of Abraham Lincoln to the
presidency in 1860.
Mr.. Yergason's letter states that on the
evening OF February %, 1860, a republican
meeting was to be held in Hartford. to be
addressed by Cassius NJ. Clay Of Kentucky,
who was campaigning the state in behalf
of William A. Buckingham, candidate for
governor of Connecticut. After the meet
ing Mr.. Clay was to be escorted to his
hotel, the Allyn house, by a band of music
and the crowd. During the evening a large
truck wagon had been stationed In front
of a store at the corner of Main and Pratt
streets, with several barrels containing
old torches, burning kerosene oil. which
were to be given out at the close of the
meeting.
mot being content to wait" says Mr..
Yergason, ~ prepared to have one in ad-
vance. When the driver was not looking
/ captured a can from off its standard,
holding It under my arm and escaped to the
store, v,where j discovered that it. leaked,
badly, soiling my new coat With Oh. 4
said at once to the four other young men,
all employees Of the store (ralcott & Post,
that the old thing leaked and would spoil
my clothes. I then cut off one and one-half
yards OF black cambria, running a cord
through one edge, putting 1t over my
shoulders. with the glazed side out. The
others, d.. c.. Francis, 1. L. Francis c. r.
Hart, c. M. Fairbanks, procured torches in
the same way and also capes. using cur
tain rolls for standards. Then. being pre-
pared. we formed in line next to the band,
marching 10 the Allyn house, noticed by
all as something very novel for a political
campaign.
"rhe next day. February %. the Hartford
Press, published by Joseph B. Hawley &
Co, In describing the meeting OF the night
previous, said that Hartford was wide
awake. The enthusiasm created by our.
cambria capes was such that 1t was at once
decided We should form a club. appointing
officers, procuring new torches, enamel
cloth capes, glazed caps and be ready for
the next meeting. 1t was decided that we
should adopt the name of Hartford Wide
Awakes.' Thirty-six young men joined the
club that night.
This is the true history and origin OF
the Wide Awakes, creating enthusiasm
which elected our governor. William A.
Buckingham. April, 1850. 1t also extended
all over the state, and in the fail cam
paign clubs were formed in the cities and
towns OF all the northern states for the
election of Abraham Lincoln, our club re-
ceiving a letter from him acknowledging
his election to the enthusiasm created by
the Wide Awakes. ! have now my original
cape, also my enamal cloth cape worn In
the campaigns of 1850"
The w~ide-Awake spirit was prevalent
throughout the west. The capes were often
of different color Of glazed cloth. as were
the caps. Some we're red. some white and
some blue. Different companies used dis
tinctive %colors, and the great torch light