"Two Celebrations" from the November 15, 1918 Door County Advocate
Two Celebrations
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Sturgeon Bay, With Other Cities,
Commemorates Allied Victory.
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REPORT FALSE THURSDAY
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Armistice is Signed Later, However,
and Entire Nation is Delirous
Over Welcome News—Kaiser
and Crown Prince Hanged In-
numerable Times.
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In common with every city, town, and hamlet in the land Sturgeon Bay has twice celebrated the signing of an armistice assuring an end of the great world war which has been waged ever since that fateful August day in 1914 when the Arch Duke of Austria was assassinated.
As stated in the last issue of The Advocate a report that the armistice has been signed was received here last Thursday and the entire city went wild over the news.
As soon as word was received on Thursday, the celebration started. Whistles were blown, bells rung, and every one was mad with joy, over the "reported signing of the armistice. The kids of the city immediately began collecting old boxes and other inflammable material for a bonfire.
Plans were immediately made for a monster Celebration in the evening. The loyal old band was, as usual, on the job, it being called out early in the evening. The crowds congregated in the streets early in the evening to partake in the funmaking.
The Kaiser was carried through the streets in a hearse, on the sides of which were inscribed such epitaphs as "May His Dutch Soul Rest in Hell." Old Wilhelm was also hanged in effigy on the Bank of Sturgeon Bay and Woolworth corners.
Then the crowd surged over to the campus where the big bonfire was lit. Crown Prince Villie was tossed into the flames, the band played a few selections, the younger folks staged an Indian war dance and a general good time ensued, The crowd did not disperse until late in the evening and it was for almost everyone, one big celebration.
And then came the grand anti-climax.
It was learned that the report which had been sent to this city by A. N. Dier of Milwaukee, was unofficial and that the armistice had not been signed.
Just a Practice.
The general consensus, however, after the report had been denied was that it was just a practice for the real celebration when the armistice really was signed.
And then the second report of the signing was received, early Monday morning, the celebration really started. But this report was confirmed by all the authorities before it was accepted. It was delivered to the press associations by President Wilson, after the military authorities in France had been cabled for confirmation.
Monday Biggest Day.
Monday was the biggest day in years. When the news was received early that morning it was announced to the public by the ringing of bells and the blowing of whistles. Slightly before sunrise, at about 4:00 a. m. the Kaiser was again hung.
The crowd that had gathered paraded the street at the early hour making a great racket with the horns, drums, and other noise-making instruments which they had. At 3:30 a. m. the celebration started and it lasted until late into the night.
Mayor in Charge.
Early in the day the following proclamation was issued by Mayor E. S. Saar, who took charge at the celebration.
To the Citizens of Sturgeon Bay:
Official confirmation having been received of the signing of the Armistice by the Allies and German Empire, it has been suggested and urged by members of the City Council that a celebration be held this evening, and that the celebration be held under the auspices of the City Council.
Now I, as Mayor of Sturgeon Bay, do hereby proclaim and make known, that a celebration will be held at the Public Square at 7:30 o'clock, this Monday evening, the 11th day of November, 1918, and that the City Council have charge of the same.
Let us all come together, with hearts filled with feelings of patriotic devotion for the Stars and Stripes, the emblem of Freedom and Human Rights, that was waved by the breezes in France, and carried forward by the best and bravest in all the world, OUR OWN AMERICAN BOYS.
Let us appropriately celebrate the joyful tidings — that WAR HAS CEASED and peace has come to the whole world.
Signed E. S. MINOR,
Mayor
The mayor appointed committees to arrange the different features of the day.
In the afternoon the shipbuilders of the two yards, the Reserve Company, Boy Scouts and others formed in line for a monster parade and marched through the city and over to Sawyer. Upon their return from the Fourth ward, the Home Guards fired several rounds at Kaiser Bill when the fourth volley was fired poor old Wilhelm dropped. All of which goes to show that that the members of Company 14 are all dead shots, even though they have had no rifle practice.
After the Parade in the evening, another big bonfire was lit, the Boy Scouts having collected the material in the afternoon. The Kaiser and his palace were thrown into the flames; confetti was thrown; the band played; and one and all, young and old, joined in celebrating the downfall of Wilhelm II. The drafted men who returned that evening joined in the fun and a Forestville delegation with a five-piece band was also on hand.
Whole Nation Mad.
The news from all parts of the United States is the same, the whole nation went "bughouse" over both reports, but the biggest celebrations were held on Monday, as there was more time given to prepare for it.
The Kaiser was burned, hanged and buried innumerable times, with his famous son running a close second. It is estimated that the damage done by the crowds, delirious with joy, will run in to seven figures.
Everybody joined in the celebrations everywhere, the older and more sedate Americans, from the president down, helping Young America celebrate the event.
Numerous Results.
There have been, in the city, various results of the celebrations. The committee in charge of the raising of the quota for the War Work Drive are encountering many who feel that on account of peace having been declared that they need not give to this cause.
Another result of the celebrations was the spreading of the Spanish influenza. Physicians state that there are several eases which have been reported which it is certain were caught at the demonstrations.
A result more on the humorous side is the way the false report wrecked havoc with the morale of the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department. Last week within 24 hours after the demonstration on Thursday there were two calls sounded for the men to report and many of them believed that this was another premature peace celebration and failed to report.
["delirous" in the subheading is the correct spelling. A copy of the Proclamation at https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/api/collection/tp/id/56341/download includes a line at the end referencing the planned parade, which was omitted in the Advocate’s version.]
Courtesy of the Door County Newspaper Archive
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