New-York tribune., 1918-11-12
Continued from page /

runaways. Germany's capitulation was
absolute. Victory was perfect.
II was shortly before 3 o'clock in
the morning that the Associated Press
sent its first flash over the wires.
few minutes later, the city raised its
first cry Of victory. The voice was
feeble in the beginning-only few
newsboys shouting "Germany surren-
dcrs!" along Park Row to the last
home going stragglers from the towns
night. life. These, then and there,
started the celebration, pounding each
other on the back and dancing madly
to and fro.
Workers Given Holiday
A few minutes later the first of the
air raid sirens, built to warn against
German attacks and used only to shout
her defeat, snorted out the joyful news.
Muniticn factories on the other shore
of the Hudson took up the call. In an
hour the city was humming like q bee
swarm. As engineers reported at the
great Office buildings to get up steam
for the days work, other whistles Joined
the tumult.
BY this time newsboys were shouting
extras in the farthermost Bronx, and
the city, reused hours ahead of time.
grumbled not, but snatching hasty
bite Of breakfast hastened forth to
celebrate.
Long before the usual morning rush
hour all car lines were jammed with
the crowds fastening downtown to
Broadway and Fifth Avenue. Men and
women, trained and accustomed to cele-
brating by reason Of last Thursdays
fasco, hastened southwark, armed with
devices. Few Of them had any intention
Of going to work, and those who did
found in almost every case the doors
wore closed against them for the day.
Human Flood Fills Avenue
City employees received holiday,
with the exception Of the long suffering
police, who were prepared for the most
gruelling time in their experience and
got it.
The early sun, gazing down on Fifth
Avenue, saw, not the usual assemblagc
of white wings" and the clerks hurry
ing along to work, but, instead, street
packed from building wall to building
wall with a vast assemblage, thunder
ing out their exultation in q haze of
flying confetti.
AS the day went on the crowds in
creased. The avenue, which had seemed
packed to capacity at an early hour,
held continually more and more, shoul-
dering, pushing, ploughing through in
"hying Wedges" but all shouting, sing
ing or blowing horns.
Crowds Obscure Approach
The broad white approach to the Lii
brary was utterly obscured in the
throng that swarmed over it. Banners
began. to appear, and impromptu pa
rades were formed, ploughcd ahead de-
terminedly little way and then were
broken up by the waves of humanity
that swept in upon them.
At noon the great crowd stood bare
headed while the Salvation Army Band
played "The Star-Spangled Banner"
The anthem ran from throat to throat,
until it seemed as though the whole
i'avenue were singing. Several hymns
followed-hymns Of triumph and
praise.
In the afternoon city employees, led
by Mayor Hylan and followed by work
crs in various stores and industries
throughout the city, attempted to stage
parade. But a mogul locomotive
would have stalled in attempting to
push its way northward through the
crowd that had massed in the centre of
the city.
The gallery in front of the Union
League Club contained score of NO
tables all Afternoon. Foremost among
them, physically, was JEFF Davis, King
of the Hoboes, who reviewed the human
tide that ehbed and flowed past with q