Rumors of Peace, and Peace

Around noon on November 7, word reached Hobart that Germany had surrendered and the war was over. According to the News, "A parade was at once formed in order to give vent to feelings of those who took part, many of whom had sons in France." The newspaper went to press with a bold headline: "Germany Surrenders" — followed by a more tentative sub-head: "Accepts Allies Peace Terms?" and a comment that the report was attributed to the Chicago Herald-Examiner, the source of a similar but erroneous report on October 6. The parade may have gone forward, but apparently the general celebration fell apart as uncertainty mounted. (An unnamed source in Gary later bragged about not having fallen for the rumor at all, stating: "We kept right on making munitions.") By 2:00 p.m., though the United Press was repeating the peace story, the Associated Press quoted Secretary of State Robert Lansing as saying that the government had "not been advised of peace being signed." By the time Friday's Gazette went to press, it could do no more than tack a big, bold question mark onto a big, bold headline: "Germany Accepts Peace Terms?" The weekend passed quietly.

And so, when whistles shattered the silence at 4 a.m. on November 11, people were slow to react. Feverish flu patients heard the noise, and wondered if it wasn't just another crazy dream; tired parents beside their children's sickbeds heard it, and had not the energy to make inquiries. People who had thrown themselves wildly into previous celebrations now heard the report of peace and hesitated between "Third time's the charm" and "Fool me thrice …?"

But as the hours passed and dawn came, so did confirmation. This time it wasn't just a rumor. This time it was really and truly true. The war was over.

By 9 a.m. no one doubted any longer. Hobart declared a general holiday. All the businesses and schools closed. People poured into the streets. The crowd gathered around the high school building and formed itself into a parade, led by Marshal Fred Rose, Sr., with Benjamin Graham as color bearer, both riding horses supplied by Ross Graham, whose six-year-old son rode a little pony all decked out for the occasion. Next came the members of Company K, bearing the new quick-firing rifles they had received just the week before. Swarms of children carried flags, bunting and such decorations. They were followed by trucks full of young people "with every conceivable instrument and device for making a noise." The only noise-makers they lacked were fireworks.

The noisy crowd marched as far north as "Canada," as far south as the "J" tracks, and then assembled just south of the Nickel Plate tracks. There attorney Roscoe R. Peddicord led the cheers for "President Wilson, the allied generals in France, the American soldier boys, and the mothers of those in service." After the cheering came a moment of silent prayer. And then the crowd broke up. Hundreds of them, including Company K, left for Gary. That town was now making up for its calmness the previous week. Its parade went on for blocks, its celebration for hours. All the steel mills shut down, their workers free to rejoice in the streets. "Broadway was one mass of humanity," said the News.

Even the regular Hobart town board meeting, scheduled for that evening, was postponed; how could anyone attend to such mundane business at a time like this? — The war to end war had been won. The world was at last made safe for democracy.


Sources:
♦ "A Welcome Peace." Hobart Gazette 15 Nov. 1918.
♦ "Germany Accepts Peace Terms?" Hobart Gazette 8 Nov. 1918.
♦ "Germany Surrenders." Hobart News 7 Nov. 1918.
♦ "Hobart Celebrates End of the World War Monday." Hobart News 14 Nov. 1918.
♦ "Local and Personal." Hobart News 14 Nov. 1918.