City skeptical of Hitler’s death
Seeing is believing, so report is doubted
The report of Hitler’s death greeted Pittsburghers as they left their jobs last evening and they stampeded newsstands to buy “extras” telling of the long-awaited event.
But they took the report with a grain of salt.
“Oh, that’s his double!” said a woman as she peered at the big black headlines.
“That’s just German propaganda!” exclaimed another homeward-bound worker.
Bet he’s a suicide
“Seeing is believing – I’d have to see him dead!” said still another.
“I wonder if it’s true.” “Oh, that’s his stand-in.” “I’ll bet he committed suicide.” And so on.
Even among those who apparently believed the report, there wasn’t the elation that might have been evident at an earlier date. “That’s good,” said one “Extra” purchaser, “but it came too late.”
A soldier laughed. “Damn! I had designs on him myself.”
Good thing he did
A pretty office worker, reading the headlines, remarked: “So he died. That’s one good thing he did.”
An elderly man, glancing at a newsstand, opened his mouth in astonishment and, without a word, bought a paper.
Fervent eulogy
Some of the younger and less inhibited citizens let out whoops ay they heard the news, but their elders, by and large. just tucked their papers under their arms and went on home.
The most fervent eulogy was muttered by a husky individual who stood with his hands in his pockets, considering the event.
“The son of a bitch,” he said, and turned away.