The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-12
GUT
LOOSE n HONOR
OF End OF VAR
Two Distinct Celebrations
Were Held Here Yes
terday.
NAS- 0gI
Noise Making Devices of
Every Kind in Use in
The City.

Pent-up energy and enthusiasm
was given an outlet by thousands Of
people yesterday afternoon and even
ing when, two distinct celebrations
were held on the streets Of Fairmont.
They furnished the safety valve, as IT
were, for the high tension brought
about by the war news Of the past few
days
Ten thousand people thronged
Main street between Cleveland ave
nue. and Quincy street last evening,
AID the crowd appeared TO be at ITS
height at 7:45 o'clock. The majority
OF the people were grouped between
Cleveland avenue and Madison street
and more especially in the vicinity Of
the Court house
Sidewalks and streets were literally
crowded with people and it was no
doubt the largest crowd FFairmont has
seen for some time Last nights
celebration was on the heels Of the
afternoon "thuse," but apparently o1Se
did not detract from the other a I'd
celebrators IN the evening were more
numerous, and many OF the afternoon
ceIebrators were on hand and In addt-
ton the people Of the rural comZnu1i-
ties and surrounding towns augment
ed the throng- Pedestrians for nd
walking on the sidewalks difficult at
times and they soon sought the
street, which was not quite so crowd
ed.
The crowd was orderly and every
body was in good humor and innocent
fun went the limit
Everybody had an American nag
displayed from porch or front win
dow, but in addition to that the st
majority Of people desired to go to
the commercial district and see what
was going on there. During the ear
" evening a series Of spasmodic pa
rades sprung up on Main street be-
tween Cleveland avenue and Madison
street. Several Of these torchlight
professions were headed by Mayor
Anthony Bowen and Charles W.
Robinson. Enthusiastic citizens. SOL
der boys in full uniform and scores
of mAsqueraders were in line. Ira
Smiths druJn corps was out SO taaF
everybody could watch their step. A
number of color bearers displayed
''oId Glory" Later in the evening q
large delegation from Fairmo7t
Lodge No. 9, Loyal Order Of Moose,
joined the parade.
Hundreds of meg, women and chit.
dren made this a joint peace and
Halloween celebration because tho
latter was abandoned owing to the
ban placed on gatherings because II
the ''fu" epidemic There were I'm
eel Sans, Charlie Chaplins, clowns,
sailor girls, colored make ups, sol
diers boys and others. All were arm
ed with horns, rattIes and various
kinds OF noisc-making devices. Some
men had revo1vers and shot blank
cartridges, while others set on dyE1-
mfte crackers, Roman candle, snark-
Iers( red fire and other pyrotechnics-
Several Of the local stores were open
to sell American flags, horns, confetts,
flowers, false faces and various novel
ties for the occasion. They all did
big business and7t was not long I'M
til a run was made on their stocks
and their wares reduced almost TO
nothing. Many persons unloosc1
confetti. This was of the regular
manufactured variety for the most
part, while Others we're home made.
newspaper having been cut to shrec9
for the purpose This was tossed
from a number Of down town build
ings upon the crowd below and It
made an unusual appearance. The
confetti supply Of the city was So
exhausted.
When it came to noise-making de-
vices ". S. Mayors scored q distincE
hit. He adroitly used the boiler on
the Casey South side bridge contract
as a calliope. BY making certain at
tachments tc the CYLINDER and q board
arrangement he managed TO run the
octave. An improviEed keyboard was
set up and an ordinary file was utH-
lied to guide the blowing Of the Tari-
Gus notes. It was very UNUSUAL. ard
Mr.. Mayors played ''The Star Span
gled Banner" Keep the Home Fires
Burning" Ny Country, It's OF Thee,
lover There" my OLD KENTUCKY
TTaI,Ia
Red, white and blue was in evi.
dence all over town and thousands Of
flags were displayed In the com
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