Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-25
Reporter Trying
BIadkout Stroll
Sees the Light
Nv JOHN CREEPY

through Detroit'S loop during a
total blackout. ~-~
There's one difficulty, however.
You can't do il.
Not. that is, unless you are
authorized 10 by the Office of
Civilian Defense and have an arm
badge to prove it.
So equipped. / made the tour
last night. Here is the log of
my trip:
1851 p. m.- Grand River and
CaSs. Everything normal. Street
and store lights ablaZe. Autos
whiZZlng past. We dodge across
street at risk of life and limb.
A siren in the distance. peeps up.
9:5S-More sirens join in, hit
ting il up 10 powerful crescendo,
Augmented by squealing brakes.
9:59-Grand River and Wash
ington. Traffic is stopped, except
for one or two stragglers who peer
around frantically for a place to
park. One by one. store lights
pop out.
IO:OO-Now it's official. Traffic
is motionless. but street lights
still are on. Their light reflects
the faces of a row OF customers
sitting at a soda counter in a
darkened drug store.
10:01-A police car cruises by.
"Douse that cigaret," policeman
calls. 1t is doused.
I0:02-Three soldiers are stand
ing in a doorway at Grand River
and Griswold. Hey" one says,
seeing our arm badge. why
don't you get those light out?"
We explain that it's not our func-
ton.
IO:O3-Grand River and Wood
ward Crowds are lined along the
buildings, violating the rule
against five or more persons con-
gregating. A policeman looks
fiercely, but apparently decides
there's nothing he can do about it.
1904 - Approaching Campus
Martius. The crowd. lining the
tcurbS now, is grumbling about the
| fact that street lights are still
on. Its a fake!" boy shouts.
Somebody must be asleep" a
woman murmurs. Nobody seemed
TO know the street lights were not
due 10 be turned off until 10:05).
IO:O5-They're off! And though
we'd been expecting it, it's a shock
Just the same. Such utter black
ness! The crowd, in chorus, gives
"a long shuddery gasp Stepping
tffrom the curb we stumble, unable
to see our feet.
-ft.e6-Our eyes adjusting. we
see the outlines of buildings. We
become aware of the moon, and
of the beacon atop the Penobscot
Building.
IO:O7-For a moment there are
no emergency cars. no lights at all
TO mar the blackout. The crowd,
which must be gaping, aweStruck,
as we are, makes no perceptible
sound. 1t is as though we were
alone, at the bottom of a deep
Icanyon.
1O:O8-Feminine voice from a
coupe at the curb: Nov, Horace
no kissing"
1O:09-The crowd awakens. A
boy walls like a timber wolf. A
couple of other boys take up the
call.
1O:IO-A block away red dot
traces an arc from the sidewalk
to the gutter. Somebody tossing
away a cigaret. We understand
now. the reason for that no smok-
ing rule.
l0:ll-Michigan and Washing
Iton. AT first glance it seems all
of Michigan is lit up. Lights
shimmer from windows. from
Ichromium trimming.
II 1O:12-Most of the light are
reflections, we see now. Appar-
lently the source is one store be-
Tween Grand and Clifford. There
seems to be a crowd in front of
lit. We rush towards it,
II 10;13-The crowd in front Of
the store is angry. A young fell
lows sees our arm badge and
tasks: Can we break the windows.
Hike they did on the West Coast ?"
1--WE smile noncommitally, Some
one else says, Go ahead and
break 'em. Nobody's going to
stop you" The young man Shakes
his head NO" he says, Il want
specific instructions.
Il I0:14-We move away. The
young man. apparently still UNI
decided. asks someone in a parked
car: You got tire wrench or
something"
1O:15-A million sirens yelp al
once. Starters whr. Lights pop
on every where. like some fan
tastic animated sign, People rush
from their doorway Ravens
Everything is Just as il was al
1857. There's not a trace left
except our arm badge,
a bit regretfully. we take il Off
your Own Horoscope" by