Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-11-12
VICTORY CELEBRATION.

VICTORY CELEBRATION.
II was the most enthusiastic and
universally joyous. and from that
standpoint, the greatest celebration
in the history of Yorkvillc. This was
the celebration that followed yesterday
morning on the receipt Of the news
that Germany had signed the armis-
tice terms proposed by America and
the Allies to Germany.
The armistice was signed at S
o'clock Paris time. which. according
to Washington time. was midnight
Sunday. The news was sent out
from the state department at Wash.
ineton at $50 o'clock a. m, and
reached Yorkville at O'clock, only ~
minutes later. Within a very few
minutes aftcrward the people were
awakened by the honking of autoino-
bile horns, explosions of dynamite. the
firing Of shotguns and pistols, and the
loud singing hum and clang Of the
up and down the different streets.
The first news came from the central
telephone office. The night operators,
Misses Minnie ThOmasson and Mamie
Barnwell. had been on the alert all
night, listening for news that was
soon to break. They were in constant
touch with Charlotte, Columbia and
other cities, and at o'clock they got
the word from the Charlotte Obscrv-
er that the great event had happen
ed. Having in mind the previous pre-
mature reports. the ladies confirmed
ENlfere, and then began waking up the
people.
About this time there came mes
sage from Mr.. NJ. L. Smith of Clover
to John r. Hart. Esq, Of Yorkville.
bringing the same news. Others
seemed to have been sleeping, but Mr..
Hart responded Immediately. Jump
ing into his car as soon as possible
after he could get into his clothes. he
rode through the streets. honking and
shouting. while Mrs. Hart began to
occupy her time assisting Central
with the pleasant task Of spreading
the news.
Within a matter Of twenty minutes,
1t was a Chistmas. the Fourth Of July,
and Thanksgiving, all rolled into one.
Men, women and children began to
pour into the streets and drift to-
ward the courthouse corner. while the
cracking Of shotguns and pistols, and
the booming Of dynamite could be
heard from all parts Of the town.
I.ights appeared in the churches. all
hells BEGAN ringing and the factory
whistles Joined in the enthusiastic din.
Along about half-past four o'clock
4 bondfire was lighted at the court
house, and while the crowd. which
had now begun TO fill up the streets.
was still shooting and yelling, some
hody suggested n prayer meeting.
pev. DR.. Cillespic and Rev. ]. l.. Oates
approved the idea and the unhesitat-
ing manner in which tho big crowd
urged into the courtroom attcstcd
the heartiness of it's sympathy.
II Is true that boys and men con-
tinued to firc their guns and pitols as
thnv vailed to and uD tho front st"ns
and some kept 1t up until they had
,rosscd the front portico to the en-
france of the building: but once in
side all became attentive and rev.
nrent.
There was no set programme. to h"
surc, The whole thing had hccn too
i-,rromptu to admit Of ANYTHING like
this: but as the assemblage knew
what Il was there for further pro-
gramme was unnecessary.
Jno. r. Hart called the meeting to
order with the announcement that all
felt Il to be fitting time to give thanks
to the Almighty God because 1t had
been His pleasure to confer this price
less blessing on humanity; but observ-
ing Mayor johnson enter the room as
he was about to proceed further, In
sisted on surrendering the chair.
yor Johnson. although preferring
to allow proceedings to continue as
they had been commenced. assumed
charge and requested Rev. ]. L. Oates
to lead in prayer.
Mr.. Oates responded In an earnest
acknowledgment Of the love, mercy
and wisdom Of God. He returned
thanks for the guidance and guard
ianship that has been manifested
throughout all the trials and tribula-
tions through which the world had
passed. and thanked God for the brave.
splendid Americans who had vindicat
ed the right on the battlefield. Also he
asked for Gods special blessings upon
the men of the armies still In the field.
and returned thanks that II all means
that the kingdom Of Christ Is at last
making itself manifest to the world.
Next Mayor Johnson called upon
Rev. DR.. Gillespie, who made a most
three-minute talk in which
he described the news Of the morning
as the answer to the prayers that
Christians In America and throughout
the world had been offering up all
these years. One great meaning OF II
~ nd
west, and in fact Christians Of the en-
tire world were now really getting to-
pether under the banner of Christ He
Concluded his remarks with praise and
thanks to God through his Son, the
Lord Jesus Christ. cloud applause.)
Mr.. W. D. Grist responded to call
from the mayor with brief declara-
tion that this Is the second most mo-
mentous event in the life Of humanity.
The first was when the angels Of God
announced to the shepherds Of Gallilee
that on that day a child was born a
savior Of the world. The meaning Of
the announcement that God had made
through other instrumentalities that
morning was that after two thousand
years Of turmoil and strife. light had
triumphed over darkness and the
world has at last become subject to
the kingdom Of Christ.
Mayor johnson next called for Rev.
r II. Waugh or Rev. T. T. Walsh to
pronounce a benediction. but neither
OF these gentlemen happening to be
nresent. Rev. ]. L Oates mounted a
chair and led In the singing Of the long
meter doxology. which the assemblage
Joined In.
The meeting was closed with ben
ediction by DR.. Gillespie