Ruby Robieson Bennett - Lowry Tales #5

This story happened in Dooley, Montana – but the central character is James A. Robieson who was station agent in Lowry and it was written by Ruby and appeared in the Pope County Tribune.

Railroad Station Agent Heard It First

December 1, 1983

Pope County Tribune, Glenwood, MN

First Word of 1918 Armistice big news in Montana!

(Editor’s Note: In today’s world of instant communication from anywhere in the world via radio and television, most people don’t realize that as recently as 65 years ago, getting word of a major event in the “hinterlands” was quite a feat. Ruby (Mrs. Bob) Bennett of Lowry relates here how the World War 1 Armistice was relayed to a small town in Montana where her father was the depot agent.)

This account of the WW I Armistice was brought to my attention recently by a very old friend dating back to my “Montana days.” She had been my “baby sitter,” our “hired girl,” who became a schoolteacher and, now 79 years of age, is living in retirement in California.  She took part in this electrifying occasion and even this many years hence she pours spirit into the story.

The year was 1918 and the month and date Nov. 11. The hour was 10 p.m. The scene a little town named Dooley, in northeast Montana, near the county seat of Plentywood, still on the map.

The hero of the story is my father, the late James A. Robieson of Lowry, station agent in that little prairie town.  Dad excelled in telegraphy; his keen ear was ever alert to the “wire,” even when off duty. Living upstairs over his office, he’d often listen in on off-hours, and would routinely check before bedtime, especially during those war-weary times, such as we endure now.

There were no radios, nor TVs, in those days, so the “wire” was the main source of late-breaking news, Dad’s alone to hear and to convey to all people in his area. Thus it was he caught the message at 10 p.m. on that famous historical date: The Armistice has been signed at 11 a.m. European time, and the war is over!

Hastily he summoned the “dray man” and the horse-drawn “dray,” then additional helpers moved the fire bell from its original position onto the dray; from there they went up and down the town streets clanging away, waking the sleeping town, shouting: “The war is over!”

As people awakened, they realized the fire bell noise was not coming from atop the jail on the east side of Main Street. As it came nearer and nearer, they saw lots of people following the dray, banging on tin pans, wash boards – anything that would make noise. All were yelling, “The war has ended!”

People hastily dressed to join the crowd, learning the “why”, then also shouting the earth-shaking news.  They followed the bell up one street and down the other, round and round the town; repeatedly traversing the few, small streets, as excitement was boundless.

At last the whole town from old folks to babies, assembled by the pond between the drug store and railroad tracks, where kids skated and rowed boats in proper season.  Somebody commandeered a few grain doors from the railroad and build up a huge bon fire in the ring of stones on the pond shore. Forgetting rationing, the village merchants raided their own store shelves, supplying bread, buns, wieners, catsup, mustard and some butter. They even cooked up a “boiler full of coffee.” The whole town had a real picnic to celebrate.

Then began the impromptu patriotic program: prayers, singing countless war songs, hymns, and much reciting of poetry. Those days, school children memorized lots of poetry.  My friend recalls her recitation: “The American Flag” by Joseph Rodman Drake. Due to its lengthy patriotic description I shall reward you by sharing it in part:

When Freedom from her mountain height

Unfurled her standard to the air.

She tore the azure robes of night

And set the stars of glory there.

Then there was “Paul Revere’s Ride”, “Liberty Bell” and so many more. Night was far gone, only the younger, the smaller had gone home; some never moved from the scene of the joyous outburst all night long. However, it came time to get back to the work-a-day world, so weary villagers proceeded to their duties. Two schoolteachers directed the school children to the schoolhouse, all in no condition to study.

They did manage to get through arithmetic and spelling before recess time came. The two teachers and pupils then all lay their heads down on their desks, forgetting to wake up until long after noon. Even the janitor slept on the hall floor!

Ruby Robieson Bennett
1983