Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-08
CRUEL. BASELESS HOAX
Cont. nued iIom page /

life to go out on the street and say that
there was not a shred OF truth III the
wild and woolly tale that was sending
people out of their senses. Anybody
who tried to get word in edgewise
and declare the story TO be fake was
looked upon very nearly in the same
way a Parisan or a London crowd would
regard Hun in full uniform.
And all Wilmington and his wlic,
except a few level-headcd folks who
kept their wits about them and read
the news with discrimination, per-
cciving where the fake was palpabiy
a fake, started in on demonstration.
The thing was hastily flung together,
but it certainly was effective. The snip
yard whistles started it and the snip,
yard band, in the uniform OF work ana
not that of parade, headed the march-
ers. Tom Dick, Harry, Ilz2ie, Mary,
Jane and all the rest seemed to JON
in. Desks and counters lathes and ma
chimes, ships on the stocks, every old
sort of q job. was abandoned and the
workers of the ciA simply flung them
selves into the street to take part. Soldiers
and sailors took hand, High School
children marched, and Red Cross nurses,
and railroad men. trucks, big touring
ears and little Fords formed into the
line, loaded down to the guards, and
the demonstration became regular
saturnala, IN which the saloons took
large part ON the SIDE
And the thing kept up. There was
no stopping it until long after dark,
when the news began To pcrmCate that
there was not grain of truth IN the
report Then there was gloom. But
the crowds did not leave the streets
and the demonstration of joy over peace
turned INTO a plain wild night
IrNpING OUT THE TRUTH.
After common scncc had begun 10
reaSscrt itself and the truth rs SCI out
IN the special editions Every Evening
got out and circulated began To prevail
the telephone of the Associated lreSs news
papers were idle hardly minute. Every
Evening was beslegcd with inquiries
aS to what the situation MAS ldteratiy
hundreds Of queries vrr1 answered
and all in the same tenor lat there
was absolutely 10 cont rmatIon ~ the
story that the armisticc had been signed
Half a dozen doun-~tatc towns wanted
to know what was what having peaC"
demonstrations on the re and ready
to serve Milford and CLAYTON were
among the earliest III They were prompt
" told that if They wished 70 save ther
dignity and rcd fire they had better
postpone demonstrating until coahrma-
tory reports should he received
AMUSEMENT. TuCN Ehor.
well, what ID YOU know about that
was the basis oi the comment from the
inquirerS when 'hcy were told the thing
was hoaX ana from am zcmcrt Was
but short step to anger. tur people
don't like to hc hoaxcd especially when
the hoax involves such a dear and near
thing as peace Onc individual eol tight
inc mad the moment hc heard he had
been fooled
I'D like to get my hands on the
people who arc responsible for tins
he said I've got hay Ia he thick of
the fighting over there and has poor
old mother has been weeping tears If
iov that il 5 all over and that she c4n
expect to sec him come back whole t.
her and alive Now I've get to % tell
her that IT isn't so and | don't ike the
Job q little bit
Psychoogicallv, the demonstration was
quite a study. There seemed to bc TWO
elements in it-onc hout on making
as much noise and racket aS possible and
the other looking on. Those who were
demonstrating didn seem To care whether
the story was true or untrue, after they
had heard that tho latter was the ease
They were out 10 celebrate and nothing
was 10 be allowed to stop them The
onlookers. after they had heard the
truth and either verified or accepted II,
stayed out to sec what was gong on.
BITS or pEMoNsTRA rIoN HJMoR.
During the height ol the carly excite
mcnt at Tenth and Market streets a man /
in clothes that meant he had been dong /
his Eit-bcing bcvond the draft age-to /
help win the war stopped III front of some /
young women standing al The steps Of the
Church Euilding With a profound bow I
he held mp before the women small flag
on stick But the t'ag was not floating; .
il was hanging limp. having been loosened /
half way down the stick
Then the man who had been doing his .
best to help win the war spoke with .
hesitation, saving. y on know the Kaiser .
is gone? We'll. the flag Is Al half-mast /
Then he replaced his hat and went on to I
explain 70 Others why his flag was limp
One young woman, clerk IN i business i
place, had heard the news ana saw the .
crowds gathering She sent word to her .
mother on tine West Side 1T the citE. and T
before long the two We're parading on Mar .
ket street tn witness 4 scene such as
neither of them had ever seen and pro
badly viii never see ag;In With her face
agloW She watched the moving thou
sands and remarked. Well ] locked the (
store door and left Now am gong back .
again TO put away my looks and lock tho +
door again.
And just that sort 81 thing was done I
in MANY other instances II was impossible
for any body TO work. Of course. and from
the west. east north and south sides Of he
city the thousands who had heard thu, /.
distant rumble and blowing Of whistles
haste ned TO Marker street Ii was a great +
aggrcg alton Of humanity, and all were
happy over the thought that the terrible +.
strife was finished
SCENES WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
Such scenes as were eneacted wtr,
without precedent in this city Women
wept for Joy and men were not ashamed
TO be seen wiping tear drops from their
eyes.
Flags were flung to the breeze everv-
where, and never before. il seemed. did F
the sight of the Sta rs and Stripes arc. : .
such deep-roo ed emotions Of love and
veneration.
Germany has surrendered"
The glad cry flashed from lip to lip
everywhere Hats were tossed into the
air by enthusiastic men and utter stranger
rasped the hand9 Of the men nearest
them and shook heartily
Women in their homes learned the
rumor as though by magic. Mothers
who have sons in the service overseas
fell on their knees in their homes IN
prayer Of thanksgiving