New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-25
SNOW BATTLEON CHANGE
Clerks. Bereft Of Usual Xmas
Gifts, Bombard Floor Members.
KNAUBLAUCH JOINS GL00MS
charles P. Holzderber Starts
Snow Fight from Gallery
and Brokers Jump.

ana Brokers Jump.
Yesterday was rough house day on
che New York Stock Exchange and while
for a time it seemed that the Gloom
s.red with a large G-that had settled
OVER all Wall Street recently would put
damper on the spirits Of all concerned,
{, turned out to be some affair after all
There were no push ball games, as in
wears gone by. neither was the 9TH R"gi-
ment band there to play merry music,
but tie afternoon wound up to the salts
faction % all, particularly the clerks
and telephone operators.
As is usual on December % business
Was practically suspended after 1.3D
oclOcK. After an expectant half hour,
durinS which nothing happened, faces be-
gau 10 grow in length. Charles Knob
LAUGH, the official Stock Exchange cut
up who usually is at the bottom OF
every prank played on the floor" was
the picture of gloom. lie stood at
ticker and swore softly as he saw hard
times for Wall Street reflected IN the
quotations.
What ails Knaublauch?" was the ques-
ton, but none could answer. Last year
he advertised a celebrated band TO play
ON the Exchange, and when the time
came for its appearance dozen stald
members of the board marched out on
Inc floor with paper horns, Again. one
year. he was responsible Tor piano
mat found its way to the floor. and with
yanist dashed 10 the instrument was
showed ana whirled ali over the building
But yesterday there was not a word to be
had from him.
Snowfall Bombsrdment.
An hour of the time that is usually de-
voted 10 high links had passed, when
Charles p. Holzderber. board member for
the nrm OF Henry C1ews Il CO., started
the belatcd FUN.
Accompanied by another broker ne
slipped ont into Broad street and gath
cred up a basket Of snow. Then they
went 10 the visitors gallery and rolled
numerous snowballs which they laid
along the railing When all was ready
they filed their arms Taking careful aim
Holzderber raised his arm and sent the
first white missile toward the crowded
floor below.
Spat' II struck squarely on the bald
spot Of one of the most dignified brokers
on the exchange. and from that moment
until the end Of the next half hour the
fun ran fast and furious
Telephone clerks. who are particularly
moody because there were not even any
s. gold pieces TO match this year. caught
h.. in, nj
Abandoning their Gentler pastime OF
swapping folded papers with rubber
hands, they emptied every scrap basket
Of its rcsms of ticker tape and invaded
New street. When they concluded there
was one less thoroughfare for Commits
soner Edwards's men to handle Two
minutes after the several tons OF snow
we're brought in it was practically i'm
possible to see across the trading floor
50 fast were the snowballs flying.
For a few minutes every one took
friendly shot at every one else Digni-
fed old members who had not raised
their right arms TO throw anything since
they PLAYED baseball in tight breeches
and side whiskers. way back in the
ios found themselves hurting the frozen
missiles with might they would not
have believed they possessed
Clerks Attack Employers.
System was lacking in the place where
on other days of the year it is the by
word, until one telephone clerk, whose
firm had not even given him Merry
Christmas" as a gift, saw his boss on
the floor
lie rolled snowballs until he had
Dozen, then dug the snow out of his col
lar and made a dozen more. Others who
saw what was about TO happen joined
him The word spread that a concerted
attack was about 10 be made, and while
the "old boys disported with glee the
Young ones prepared for war. When the
word TO charge was given there was
roar that made that OF a lively opening
sound like a penny whistle. Before the
startled floor members realized what had
happened they were buried under an ava
snehe Of flying chunks Of snow.
The number Of persons who partici-
Iated IN the fun was between eighteen
hundred and two thousand, and the ranks
clerks ard employers were about
equally divided
Soak & 10 en-. boys!' yelled tall
pare clerk, named Green. And the boys
Old
fhey drove the floor members into
'srner before they recovered their sur
fsise but the employers quickly rallied
and for half On hour gave as good as
hsy took. II was declared q drawn bat
os when Il was all over.
"A collar shop across the street from the
s'oek Exchange did the largest business
y Us history. and at o'clock there Was
soDte
tnlGtHst --,.,-x, .t-En 7F