Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-10-28
RELATES HORRORS OF
SMELLING OF ANTWERP

londonderry Diederich, the
United States consul at Antwerp, es-
capped with his family from that city
by motor car. This is his account Of
the bombardment as told to the Daily
Chronicle correspondent:
For days we heard the sound OF
heavy gunf1re and were told of the
fall, one after another, of the outer
forts. 1t soon became apparent that
nothing could avail against the great
German cannon, and In conjunction
with other neutrals we endeavored to
mediate with the Germans, to spare,
at any rate, some of the most valu-
able buildings of worldwide interest
But the negotiations failed to lead to
q successful result.
II had intended to remain In Ant
werp throughout the bombardment,
/ was told to clear out of the city, as
it's destruction was inevitable.
Il did not realize until almost too
late the horror which was coming.
At IL o'clock at night we were going
to bed, when we were reused by
frightful noises in the air, reminding
us of previous visits Of Zeppelin.
Soon we realized that the lombard
ment had begun, and then / had the
most horrible experience of my life.
II went with my family to the base
ment and we crouched there all night.
The shells, falling every few minutes,
came with a dreadful whistling sound,
followed by a thunder clap Of explo-
sion and collapse of buildings.
Opposite the consulate is the
Home for Old Folks. It's front was
torn out by a shell. Some of the
debris was scattered over my house,
and then shell came over US, and
fell on a two-story building, crumpling
1t up entirely and setting it on ire.
After this another shell blew out
our street AS the dawn came we
were wearied out and the members
of my family collapsed utterly from
fright and the strain.
so we decided to endeavor to leave
the city. l succeeded In communicate
ing with my chauffeur and got my
car. but l did not know where to go.
being left with nothing but what we
had on and exposed every moment to
exploding shells.
with my wife and daughter and
two servants and a refugees child l
crossed the pontoon bridge over the
Scheldt. 1t took us four hours to do
this, the streets being filled with
every kind of vehicle and a dense
crowd of fugitives. The scene was
indescribably dreadful, everybody be-
ing moved by the same desire to get
away from the awful horror.
From Antwerp to Client the roads
are a mass Of fleeing humanity. AS
we left we saw vast volumes of smoke
arising from Antwerp from the burn
ing buildings and blazing petroleum
tanks. Instead of two hours to Client
it took us three, owing to the traffic
One of the German big guns situated
near Vilvorde and large number or
comparatively smaller guns have
Joined In the bombardment.'
Big Guns Not Used on City.
Paris-The German commander at
Antwerp says the famous 16@-inch
guns were not used on the town IT.
self. They would have been used,
however, had the surrender not oc-
Cured when it did. The commandant
is sending word to Belgian fugitiyes
in Holland to return as soon as possl-
BILE. He said the German losses are
trifing. He insisted that several thou
sand English, French and Belgians
who have been captured were glad to
fall into German hands.
A Dutch reporter escorted by the
commandant went through the streets,
but saw no sign of Belgian life ex-
cept a few straying dogs. German
soldiers were walking about asking
their way. The town Is little dam
aged.