The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-10
Blackoui Termed Success;
No Hysieria During Test


theater concluded shortly after II
p. m, as did the Little Theatel
production might of Jan. 16."
Mills. Plants--Led by the grea
Seattle Tacoma shipbuilding Co.
most industrial plants in the Ia
coma area deliberately abandoned
their night shifts, owing to th'
difficulty which employees woult
have had in reaching their jobs
In the same way. most plant,
which ordinarily start work befor.
daylight postponed operations un
til later in the morning.
Restaurants. Beer Parlors, etc
All were closed during the black
out.
And 10 was almost everything
else. Some 400 volunteer air raid
wardens saw to that. In all pre-
cincts throughout the city they
were active. pursuing every glim-
mer of light to its source and See
ing to ii that the Grant light was
Immediately doused.
Newer has the city OF Tacoma
80 rapidly obeycd orders as it did
last night" Mayor Cain praised.
Coz -sidering that IL was the city's
first experience in this sort of
thing, think the citizens should
be highly praised.
LAuds Police. Volunteers
There were NJ people injured
as in Vancouver, B. c., nor were
there any vandalous acts as in
Seattle. Tacomans can be proud
and. in turn, they should be proud
of their police department and the
hundreds Of air raid wardens who
patrolled the city in the darkness.
They were magnificent. No less
was industry. CO.
operation of industry cost 1t a lot
of money"
Tacomans. tyros at blsckout pro-
cedure, generally did not seal their
windows to prevent light escaping
They merely sat In their homes in
total darkness. discussing the
blackout. occasionally peeking out
= window TO get good look at
what a blackout looks like. They
were undoubtedly impressed.
To begin with. it was an ex-
cssdingly dark night, with thin,
cold mist falling. Clouds hung
low over the city. Except for the
wardens and 4 few others. there
were no persons on the streets,
nor were there automobiles.
Took II In Stride
Tacomans. as nearly as can be
told. took the blackout in stride.
They took IL seriously. but they
didn't get hystericsl over il.
From q traffic point of view
Tacoma's blsckout was more than
a success. Police reported the night
passed with far fewer than the
normal number of minor collis-
ions and law violations.
While the station phone operator
was swamped with calls. nearly all
were from vigilant citizens calling
attention TO lights burning. The
weary fire department operator
also reported an all-night seige of
calls on all subjects. but mainly
over continued operation of the
traffic blinker lights.
There are So lights throughout
the city, and in the general black
out their red and amber flashes
were visible for miles like light
house bescons.
Chief Makes Requests
II the blsckouts are continued,
-hough. Police Chief Einar Lang
seth said. he will have all the
lights switched OF. They must be
turned out individually.
The Chief made two special re-
quests TO Tacoma car owners.
Please do not use your cars in
the blackout unless il is absolutely
Necessary" he pleaded. land above
all. desist from the dangerous
practice Of parking cars on the
streets at night"
There were many cars parked
over the night even on such ar
teries as No. Yakima where some
cars were certain 10 be operating.
even in the blackout.
AL police cars We're getting
special blackout dressing up Tues
day. Both front and rear bump
ers and tenders were being coated