Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-11-14
ALMA IN WILD
CELEBRATION
Joy-Crazed Crowds Started a
Terrific Din Before
Daylight.
EVERYONE TOOK A HOLIDAY
Coming of Peace Greeted With the
Greatest Celebration Ever Held
in Alma.

Some hours before the eastern
skies began TO take on the gray tints
of the coming morning, Monday. tele-
graphic word was received To the
effect that Germany hsd signed the
armistice terms, word that was Off
cial, and in a few minutes every
whistle in the city was screeching
forth its tones, TO awaken the peo-
pie of Alma and vicinity To the real
hation that the greatest day of mod
orn world history had come. a noise
IN which the bells of the city quickly
Joined in.
IL was Only few minutes before
The streets OF Alma, deserted save for
two or three bluecoats, were iammed
with people, cheering and yelling
kke mad, lending their voices to the
&n, making the beginnings of cele-
bration that will never be forgotten
Hles of boxes were quickly
Brought from their resting places in
back of the various stores and piled
high at the corner of State and Su-
perior streets, and with oil poured
over them, II was only an instant be-
fore a bonfire of great proportions
was raging, around which hundreds
sang, cheered and danced. with more
people arriving with each heeting
moment, TO join the throng and send
forth cheer that the greatest of
world conflicts had been brought 70
"a successful end for America and her
sturdy, steadfast, and heroic Allies.
Workmen, on their way to their
daily tasks, hesitated between work
and celebration, were lost, lost in
that joy-maddened crowd, which was
seeking every means of expressing
Its happiness.
When the day was still early
great parade was formed, in which
were the S. A. T. c. men of the col
hge, the college girls, the high school
students, the business men, the work
men from the factories. many liberty
trucks and many a hastily arranged
noat. Among the latter was an old
hearse, which had gone into the dis |
card. 1t was brought into use again
10 carry the "Kaiser's goat Anoth- I,
er had the Beast of Berlin" and still
another the remains of Kaiser Bill"
Following this parade, it was an
Dounced that another would be start
ed Immediately after noon. The /
stores all closed. as everyone wished |
10 take part in the great celebration.
and parade estimated by many to |
se over three miles and a half long.
was formed at the Republic plant, con-
hining all of the features which
were in the morning parade and a
ew additional ones. besides a great
many more automobiles. This wend-
Ell It's way through the streets of AL
ma, west to the college. then turned
cast and went 70 st. Louis. where /.
aided the residents Of that city to
celebrate in fitting fashion.
On Thursday afternoon Of last
week the first peace seport came
over the wires, and, il is believed.
m the memory Of the Oldest in
the city Of Alma was never
40 stirred as when the news came
fltering in that the war lords Of
Germany had cspifulated and signed,
IN armistice and that the war was ,
lone. The Alma Record got out an
'xtra.
The Republic workmen formed .
nto line. Flags were brought forth d,
nd nailed TO any convenient carry ,
ng contrivance. Jack Eddy trotted ,
ut his giant red racing car and with !
lttorney Ezra l.. Smith, Purchasing :
lgent Wilber, and Herbert l.. Shar- ,
ach, took his place at the head Of Iu
he rapidly forming procession. c
IL was a momen'ous Thursday and
o many citizens and school children [
lambered into the military trucks d
nd other vehicles TO take part IN !,
Continued on page four)