The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-23
Crowds So Dense No
body Had Chance to
See Fashion Display.
FIFTY THOUSAND
POLICE ESTIMATE
Though It Hardly Reached Half
That Figure, Street Car Traf-
hc Was Blocked, and People
Got Out of Jam Through
Fear That They Would
Be Trampled.


holiday records. a crowd, estimated
at 10000, jammed Its way into every
available foot OF space on Broad stree,
from Eleventh to Adams last night.
overhowing into the roadway ana
blocking car traffic for half an hour.
The Police Department admitted that
there had never been anything like II
in the principal shopping thoroughrare
before. While the multitude turned
out to see the gorgeous window dis
plays OF Fashion Week, the conges-
tion was SO dense that only a hanuruI
dows. There was constant danger or
injury in the crush, and after struE-
Cling for standing room and air, the
people finally cut into side streets ana
started honicward
SO far as any crowd can be, IT was
free from rowdyism But il was sucn
crowd as rendered the controlling cr-
forts OF the police futile. Led by
Major werner. the reserves battIed
valiantly to thin out congester areas
ana, hHaiIy In sheer desperation, drove
people from the sidewalks. The sight
seeing throng WAS good -natured ana
orderly, but anxious to see and to
move. and at times there were small
stampedcs at Fifth. Sixth and seventh
Streets. Several women tainted Ar
rests were few, although the chiefs
strons-arm sqocd was quick TO descend
upon men disposed to push
Progress Blocked.
The outpour!ng vastly exceeded
all expectations that from the view
point of the Retail Merchants AS
sociation the affair was a tremendous
success. even though the window ex-
hibits could not be examined. The
prospect of seeing something for moth
ing, of seeing other people and being
seen, attracted thousands on the fine
fall night. The vast bulk came afoot
but all available automobiles were
pressed into service, and men were
hanging on tho steps Of the street cars.
at $40 o'clock. when the congestion
was al its worst. street cars and auto
mobiles were hcmincd in by pcdes
( trians who had been forced from the
sidewalks and swept out in a wave
across the car tracks.
Possessed by common impulse
thousands in the West End began to
move east on Broad about 7:45 o'clock.
and thousands in the East End began
10 move west The two armies met
between Seventh and Fifth Streets,
and progress in either directions was
halted. Then police. led by Major
Werner i'll person, did splendid service.
Standing on the sidewalk at the south
east corner OF Fifth and Broad Streets.
Major Werner made substantial
wedge, which detected the westbound
stream into the street and allowed the
eastbound army to move.
Dispersed Quickly.
As quickly as il had collected the
crowd dispersed when 1t became ap-
parent that the window displays could
not be seen. Within twenty minutes
after the signal rocket had announced
the opening Of Fashion Week. two
thirds OF the throng had faded into
the cross streets and gone home, sat
isfed to wait until to-day to view at
leisure the wonderful offerings.
The schedule was run through with
out break and on the minute
Promptly ut 1856 o'clock the lights in
Broad Street were switched of, leav-
ing the crowd In unaccustomed dark
ness. AS the clock struck 3, the lights
flashed on, rockets fiared into the sky.
the window shades rolled up, while
red fire burned on every corner be-
tween Eleventh and Adams. An I'M
mense concourse. gathered at the City
Hall. in anticipation or seeing a dis
play OF fireworks. was disappointed.
No such display was on the program,
and only the signal rockets were sent
up when Mayor Ainslio officially de-
clared Fashion Week opened.
Telephone system Swnmped.
Even tho telephone system felt the
strain, and officials OF the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company said
last night that from to o'clock the
central switchroom was demoralzed
under a food of calls. Tho day shift
of operators leaving at o'clock was
called back and put at the boards with
the night operators to handle the
traffic.
Major Werner said It was the larg-
est crowd he had ever seen He re-
ceived no complaints. and although
there was some disposition to shove
when congestion became great, he
found tho crowd orderly. The forty
policemen placed on duty were lost
In the multitude According to the
police estimate. there were $4,000 peo-
ple in Broad Street during the night.
Secretary w. a. Clarke, Jr. of the
Retail Merchants Association. said:
ut was tho greatest sight l ever
saw and the largest crowd. The MEM
bers of the committee are unanimous
in saying that the affair far exceeded
our expectations. 1t was n great sue
cess The displays were beautiful, and
while not many could see them they
every ono will have an opportunity to
look them over. 1t was bigger than
anything OF tho kind ever staged In