The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-28
LIVING IN BOMB-PROOFS.
Atlanta Consti tuition.

The COnfederateS naQ nOtnlDS HOio to do, SO far as fortifying the place was concerned. Under the personal supervision of that accomplished en- gineer. Colonel l.. P. Grant, of Att lanta. the city bad been made the cen- ter of circle of almost impregnable forts and breastworks, and thousands of stout negroes, impressed for the work, had cut down every tree and shrub within mile of the fortlfica- tions, in order to give the guns full play. as we'll as to prevent the enemy from stealing a march upon the works.
 Still, the city was not cnt off
 communication with the outside world. Two roads, the one to Macon and the one to West Point remained open. and over these lines poured a continuous stream of refugees. Sher- mans army extended in a crescent, stretching perhaps two-thirds of the way around the town. The Federals lost no time in placing their big siege guns in position, and then the shelling commenced in earnest.
 The first spasm of fear was over and the citizens strengthened their bomb- proofs, and calmly prepared for the worst. The men moved about the streets as usual, discusssing the topics of the day, and lodging an occasional shell. The ladies busted themselves with their household matters, with their ears on the alert for the we'll known sounds of danger. Many times during the day busy house.. wife would unceremoniously drop her sewing, and gathering her little ones together, would make wild and pre- cipitate plunge for the backyard where the family would quickly dis appear into the bowels of the earth, there to remain until there was Hull in the storm of lead and iron.
 Most of the shells had percussion caps, and, as fully three-tourths of them had struck on the wrong end, they failed to explode. Many fuse shells were fired, and at night these presented beautiful appearance, re- sembling so many rockets. At first there were few causalties in the city. An exploding bomb would tear up several rooms in hodse, or when 1t fell in the street deep hole would be left, big enough to swallow an army wagon with its mules. The people, however, were SO watchful that they managed for time to escape injury. It was no uncommon thing for lady to walk some distance to see neigh bor. Sometimes she would be caught on the way in pattering shower of shells, and then she would run merrily into the nearest yard and huddle down in bomb proof, perhaps with perfect strangers. But that made no differ ence. A common danger made every body acquainted, kind and hospitable.
 People living in the vicinity of tall steeples and the smokstacks of mills and factories had @ hard time. The enemy's guns were trained upon these permanent objects, and sometimes their fire was to hot for anything. Then, too, the outgoing trains made a rumble that could be distinctly heard by the outside gunners, and random shots were constantly fired as feelers. What added to the discomfort of the situation was the activity of the siege liar. In the classification of liars this particular prevaricator has heretofore escaped. But his genius deserves at least a passing mention.
 "Do you know that Sherman is going to open fire with 300 cannon all at once?" quietly said one citizen to another.
 "Great heavens! Is it possible? How do you know?"
 "I don't know" replied the other "but 1t seems to be well understood that it is a fact. Sherman has de- manded the surrender of the city by q certain hour to-day, and if we refuse he is going to wipe us up with his big guns."
 "But can it be trues"
 "Yes, l think SO. Some of the fcl. lows around headquarters heard al about it. Pm going home and move my family down into the bomb proof
 Each day some such rumor wal started. Nobody had time to investi. gate. The only thing to be done un. der the circumstances was to hay, rything ready for a nasty run t cover.
 One hot July night the members o alittle family in the southern part 0 the city sat on their piazza trying il vain to obtain breath of cool air Occasionally fuse shell ascended witl whish into the mid heavens an, burst with deafening explosion The watchers were not much afraid O these missiles, as they could see thei approach long way of. Suddenl, there was thunder-clap in the mex yard. Several panels of the fenc were knocked down, and few stra, fragments of shell knocked of two o three of the banisters of tho piazza.
 In lees than ten seconds the tamil IA. I2 NA-l | !