Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-07
BE0lAM BREAKS OUT
AS CITY GETS DOWN
TO CELEBRATING
RUM0RS RUN RIFE
WIDELY ENTHUSIASTIC SAW IN
ARMtSTICE but CHANCE FOR
IMMEDIATE RETURN OF our.
BOYS FROM OVER THERE =
LOOP ALIVE WITH EXCITEMENT

fendemonium has its reign in OF
tawa Saturday night and far into Sun
DAY morning. Thousands of people
driven to widest enthusiasm by the
reported upheava in Germany's mil
itary aspirations. turned the loop in
TO bedlam CT sounds as they cele
DRAFTED the announcement that Berlin
Was about to capitulate, and was on
ner knees begging for peace.
Many driven almost frantic by the
report America had been called upon
to act as sponsor for a peace confer.
ence OF all belligerents, saw in the
move cessation OF hostilities at
once and the speedy return of the
boys from over there. Some became
30 wildly enthusiastic they expected
smbarkations for home to be started
forthwith 5y the American Exped,.
tionary Forces.
The fever to "let lose" Spread like
contagion and soon reached the most
conservative folk who looked upon
the German plea as merely the first
step toward the beginning of the end
but they joined in the revelry with
hist as much fervor as did those of
the more radical element. Within
Few moments of the time that tel
egraph wires buzzed the announce.
ment Germany was to make new
appeal for peace, the report spread
over the city like wild fire.
People Rush to Loop
The fame Of patriotism reached TO
every nook and crany of the town.
In half an hour every person. who
could get out, tumbled from bed and
joined the merrymakers in one of the
greatest impromptu celebrations of
Ottawa's history.
The report came to Ottawa in
wire from the Herald Examiner Of
chicago, to Mayor +. +. Bradford.
The message bore the cheerful It'd
ings Germany was going TO make
another peace bid, this time upon
lines In closer conformity with allied
terms than they had ever offered be.
fore. The Chicago newspaper stated
the news was too good to be kent
from the people until they could re-
ceive 1t thru the regular channels
and called upon the city to celebrate.
Then followed reports that Chicago
and all the rest Of Illinois was wild
with joy at the sudden switch in
events. Ottawa took up the cry and
Joined the hollabaloo.
Fire Bell Sounds TidInas.
The celebration began with a con.
tinued sounding of the fire bell.
When the alarm kept up its clatter
without cessation. residents who were
In their homes began making inouir.
les. Many rushed to the loop, afoot
Or by any sort of vehicle they cooll
Impress into service. The report
was received at about 1916 and al
|11:tO o'clock the downtown district
was alive with cheering crowds. BY
1880 the celebration was in full
swing. Parades were hurriedly form.
cd and marching to music furnished
by flentrichs band and Nliller's Drum
Corps continued far into the Sabbath
morn. Flags were gotten out and
llned up In the procession with es, q.
lin pans, ash cans and any ,ning Else
that would give out great quantities
OF noises were impressed into service.
Merry tataos were beaten upon them
as the hastily formed procession
swung into hne to circle and recircle
the loop. Prof Charles Heinrich
summoned eight or ten of his bands.
men and they volunteered their ser.
vices to make the occasion complete.
The Drum Corps spring into line
as tho they had been waiting for Just
some such event string OF auto.
mob'les several blocks in length
brought up the rear footing their
horns and with their occupants wav.
Ing flags and wildly cheering Old
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