The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-11-08
WHEN kE0KUK WENT WILD
ON SURRENDER OF HUNS

young men and handsome girls fol-
| lowing a decrepit old car which drag
ged some old tenders over the rough
brick street paving. The Red Cross
car with its big insignia was ahead
of carload or men making more
noise than four boiler factories. Some
of the automobiles had really i'm
pressive decorations, and some were
bizarre enough to suit the excitement
of the day.
Both the Community and the Keo-
kuk Concert band played exception
ally well in the streets all afternoon,
and played nearly all the time.
Tho Greeks Were Enthused.
The Greek colony in Keokuk
seemed specially over1oyed and patri-
otto at the idea Of Germany being
stopped in her mad career Tor mittel
Europa.
They shouted and waved flags and
were wildly demonstrative. Some OF
them insisted that everybody in the
street remove hats whenever a flag
was near, which was manifestly i'm
possible with the street full of flags.
unless everybody stood bareheaded
All the Ilne III llS udNup
The day and night demonstration
proved the Greeks to be hundred
plus in patriotism, and this time
America and Greece have exactly the
same ideals.
Two Different Kinds Of Patriots.
The fire bell of the Sixth
street station was kept ring
ing continuously until after 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon by the
patriotism of three very small boys.
After the high school crowd were
worn out jerking the rope and quit,
two little kids took hold and kept up
the bell ringing. Then they were
Joined by third very small boy. and
the three kept on the rope for an hour.
Mrs Sarah Cook, Of Messengerville,
has three sons in the army in France,
and Mrs. Isabel Galbreath of Twenty
third street and Plank road, has three
sons in the 313th infantry. These two
colored women came down town with
flags and wearing their blue starred |
service flags on their breasts. and on !
invitation OF Mayor Lotion were CIV |
en- the place of honor in the extern /
pore afternoon parade in Main street |
.
Bells and Whistles.
That bell on the Sixth street fire |
station probably rang more strokes /
yesterday than the total OF its half !
century or so of signaling. 1t stopped /
seldom for rest and rang about /
eight or ten hours. Volunteers con-
stantIy pulled the rope.
Some of the church bells Joined the
chorus during the afternoon. and Rev.
James w. Gillespie. of ST Peters, en- |
kept the janitor busy at !
the bell rope That bell rang six differ |
ent times after the janitor rested be- |
tween times.
The bands started first with patriot !
ic airs and war music, but by evening !
had progressed into telling about a |
hot time in the old town tonight and
that the gang was all there-which 1t
was.
Whistles tied down reduced boil /
er pressure, but as often as the steam !
got low the furnaces were fired up
while the whistles rested. Factories
using electric power, as practically all
here do. extemporised steam plants,
and the Electro-Metals used steam
derrick car boiler to actuate the whis |
tie.
Rain Could Not Dampen Ardor.
When the foggy drizzle became a
steady rain before o'clock in the
afternoon, it did not make much diff
ference to the joyous throng.
When the downpour became rath-
er heavy, many OF them would take
refuge under awnings in front Of
stores. But many others staid out, and
all left shelter at the first sign OF
rain lessening. In the meantime, those !
in automobiles kept going and making |
noises.
The Spanish war veterans were |
out early in body with the fine BAN /!
ner OF their camp flying over them |
the G. A. r. blue buttons were in evil !
dence from the beginning, but its |
members could not march much nor /.
make much noise. so they expressed /
themselves in smiles and handshakes. |
Incidents Of the Day.
Somebody must have had goat ;
very handy Early in the proceedings /,
there appeared one on a truck, with /
big sign labelling it as the kaiser's I
goat
Flags appeared almost at once on /
the fronts of many Main street build |
ings and made beautiful decoration I
for the street.