How Hickory Heard the Joyful News, Nov. 11 1918

From the Hickory Daily Record, Nov. 11, 1918

Hickory Hears Joyful News

Hickory awoke this morning and celebrated.

The news of the armistice first reached Hickory from Charlotte in a telephone message to Mr. John M. Stephens, suffering from flue, and he proceeded to call up several people, among them the editor of the Record.

Then a long-distance call came from Raleigh and Mrs. George Starnes was told to ring that bell. Which he did. Nearly every house in town flashed a lighted window.

The Record force assembled, also John Cilley, Dave Smith, W.E. Miller and a number of others, and in a few minutes the linotype had set up the copy that had come over the long-distance telephone. Then Manager Miller made up the form, Edgar Lytle and the editor saw that the papers were printed, and Lytle hit the streets with a bundle of papers under his arm. Later Charlie Bagby joined him.

Mr. George Harper, who with Mrs. Harper and Fred May, was down from Lenoir last night to receive the extra, was telephoned and he and May put out again for Hickory. Morning newspapers forecast the surrender, but the Record was the first paper to carry the official news.

It was after 8 o’clock, however, before the real excitement started. A number of plants dismissed their employes for the day and Hickory people, some of them wearing masks, proceeded to celebrate. Some plants managed to operate until noon, with a partial force, but all turned out at noon, and the crowds came to Hickory. Whistles and bells had sounded and the air was charged with the good news.

An incident of the early morning was the arrest of Chief Lentz, Sergeant Sigmon, Deputy Sheriff Kennedy and later Mayor Yount. City manager Ballew this morning escaped the lock-up with the mayor and police force. Mr. Starnes ran the big truck out to help out the noise, and later somebody rescued the officers. As soon as the city manager heard what was going on, he put off down the road. At any rate, Hickory was celebrating.

And the celebration continued during the day. It was impromptu, and never organized, but it was celebration just the same. An organized celebration may be impossible on account of the flu, but the rejoicing here, spontaneous as it was, shows the good feeling all round.

Hickory will have some more celebrations, but the greatest celebration when the boys come marching home.

The real celebration will take place tonight at 7:30, however, when the grand parade will take place. The Kaiser, a straw effigy of whom has been made, will be attended to properly at the Henkel stables. The flu—the Record has thought of that and the consequences—but they say the parade will be held just the same.