The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1918-11-14
HOW WE CELEBRATED
(PEoPLE WILD WITH DELIGHT
OVER END OF THE GREAT
WORLD WAR
A Monster Parade Organized and
Thousands Took Part In I'm
promptu Celebration

Thousands Took Part In I'm
promptu Celebration
The widest and most enthusiastic
crowd ever seen upon the streets Of
Butler assembled Monday night to
celebrate the end Of the great war
The news had been received within :
few minutes after the glad tidin8s
had been flashed from Paris that the
end had come to the long and costly
struggle, and the people at once 10
came impatient to show their Joy.
Throughout the day there were lit,
tie celebrations Of different kinds
but all seemed disposed to walt until
the shades Of night, when a real old
time jolliflcation could be held.
In the afternoon q meeting was.
held at the probate court room and
committees were appointed to arrange
for. celebration which would show
In a fitting manner the joy Of the peo-
pie over the wonderful news.
The committees got to work at
once. and by 200 O'Clock everything
was in readiness. Material was on
hand in the northeast corner OF the
court house yard for monster bon.
fire. What mattered it II the grass
was killed and some Of the small
trees were endangered? Better to
Kill all the trees than to lose one
more Of Bates county's gallant boys
who were taking part in the great
struggle across the water. The trees
could be replaced and grass would
again grow where the fire was to be
kindled.
At 1880 a big parade, headed by the
Butler Concert Band. marched
through the business section of the
city. And it was some parade! in
front of the band, carrying big nag.
marched Frank Green of the U. s. 5.
Minnesota, at home on furlough. A
big tank, equipped with the. necessary
number of six-inch guns, was a fea-
ture of the parade, and all along the
line of march from its sides spurtek
bursts of flame. A big float, bearing
the workers of the local Red Cross,
followed the tank and from it there
was a constant stream Of colored fire.
works. The Home Guards in. full uni
form and armed with shotguns came
next, and they added to the din by
firing blank cartridges all along the
line of march. Came next the Boy
Scouts and the Camp Fire Girls, fol.
lowed by long line of marchers and
autos, and at the end of the parade
came the gayly decked fire depart.
ment. the horses seeming to be filled
with the, spirit of the occasion and
making desperate efforts to break
way from the driver and add to the
excitement. '''.
1t was some noisy parade, and the
ear-splitting din could be heard for
miles in the country.
The parade finally halted at the
northeast corner of the square around
the big bonfire. Emerson Campbell
had hastily erected big telephone
! pole with a cross-arm, and on this
arm were strung effigies represent
ing kaiser bill and his six unwounded
and unframed sons. Many shots were
taken at the effigies before the flames
reached them and blotted them out.
: At the bonfire the band rendered a.
number of patriotic numbers. there
was long, loud and lusty cheering and
noise Of every kind which the mind
Of the small boy could think Of. And
the older people were Just as eager
to show their enthusiasm.
The demonstration at the bonfire
lasted for more than an hour. Aftss
the big crowd had scattered some
what the Camp Fire Girls and, tho
Red Cross used the remains of the
bonfire for big weinie roast.
The big crowd gathered with aston
ishing rapidity. At $3.50 there were
few people on the streets, but in q
half hour they began arriving in
throngs, and the wonder was where
they came from. But all during the
day telephones were basy notifying
the country people Of the good news
and telling them to be sure to come
in to the demonstration, and It looked
like most Of them In = radius of TWEEN. !.
ty miles were here.
There was no otatory. Every fel.
low was celebrating IN his own way
and had NO time or inclination for
speeches. It was noise that Vas
wanted. and plenty Of II.
In the abaence Of . cannon. anvils
were, requisitioned and added to the
noise and could be heard for many
miles.