about half past twelve o'clock
The boys howled like savages , and tripped each other over the railings and seats , boxed hats , punched the men in the back , and hid around their legs ; while the clerk went on with his reading , at more and more frequent intervals , of reports from other States and districts of the congressional field . The old-line Democrats were delirious with joy . The promised land was in sight . It was about half past twelve o'clock when Colonel Russell conceded Bradley 's election , and two stout men toiled up the stairs , bringing his forfeit of two barrels of apples . Amid wild yells from the crowd , they threw the barrels to the floor , where they burst , and sent Northern Spys rolling in every direction . Then came a wilder roar and scramble , that outdid everything that had gone before , and a surging mass of struggling men and boys covered the apples . They threw themselves upon each other 's backs .