Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-14
SLEEPING ANTWERP
AROUSED BY BOMBS
OF ZEPPELIN RAIDER
Philadelphian Receives Let
ter From Eyewitness to
First Attack on Doomed
Belgian City.

The dropping Of bombs on Antwerp
from the first Zeppelin which attacked
that city is graphically described in a
letter received by a Philadelphan from
Edward A. Biggin, of the Atlantic Line,
| Missouri. The first Zeppelin attack was
made August 26 at l:2O a. m. The ac.
| count of the eyewitness is as follows:
II arrived in Antwerp on Monday and
l shall give you my experience in a city
attacked by an airship.
Everything had been fairly quiet in
Antwerp since the outbreak of war. The
city was known to be one of the gayest
and most interesting ON the Continent
and the people seemed to have little fear
for their town, as they placed great re-
lance on the strong fJrtificatlons, with
out thought of its being attacked from
another direction.
Monday night an unusual quietness
seemed to prevail and every one went
about in whispered conversation little
thinking of the calamity that would be-
fall their city long before daybreak.
"At midnight it was afine, clear starlight
night, but with no moon when, about 20
Tuesday morning, the throb of an engine
from an airship could be heard in the
eastern sky and as seconds elapsed
terrific roar could be heard bringing ter
ror to o'the hearts of all the now awakened
population. Then a huge airship could
be seen sweeping down on the city, ap-
parently very close, about 800 feet up,
just clearing the house tops. Then over
the town, four streaks of fire appeared
to drop from the airship in quick sue
cession, followed by heavy reports as each
shell burst, shaking the whole town. AS
each shell exploded searchlight from the
alrship would be directed upon the de-
struction and havoc each had done. The
whole population were out in their night
attire. 1t was pitiable to see men, women
and children running in all directions;
some crying, some kpeeling praying with
fear Some seemed to have gone quite
mad at the continual cannonade of guns
from the forts and the means of the in
Jurcd. The -airship was then seen to drift
away as quietly as 1t appeared, leaving
destruction and death in all objections.
"The Germans apparently had their
target mapped out for each bomb, but
in every case fire was badly directed.
Unfortunately nearly every shell burst in
the poorer quarter, wrecking houses and
killing and wounding the dwellers while
they slept.
THE first bomb, which was intended
for the barracks, fell in small residen-
tial square off the Falcon Place close to
the shipping and apparently burst before |
reaching the ground, as pieces of steel |
flow in all directions penetrating the |
stone houses.
Another bomb, which caused the most
fell in Exchange street near
the Bourse; 1t was undoubtedly intended |
for the Royal Palace, not 400 feet away
On Place de Metre. In this case the house
was entirely blown up, causing several
leaths.
THE next was directed for the Palace
lie Justice, on Boulevard de Arts, but
.sFNln Ia1 L., D,.A Il Il.
~; this also burst before reaching earth,
md stonework and pillars on half the
treet were torn away.
The fourth and last Internal machine,
should think. was dropped for st. Eliza
'eth's Hospital, on Rue Paob, but fell
n the Botanical Gardens adjoining.
loughing up the ground to a consider
BILE depth and wrecking columns and
Masonry surrounding. In each case all
he windows in the vicinity were blown
ntirely out.
THE whole town now Is in hourly fear
nd dread of the Zeppelin's returning on
mother terrible errand, and Antwerp Is
ow town of mourning and darkness.
It o'clock every evening all lights in
he city are out Tramways are all |
topped, bridges are all closed, the only
ehicles on the street are required to have |
pecial passes, people are in their houses
I darkness, as no lights of any descrip-
on are allowed; the city is absolutely
ark after the hour of s p. M, and such {
eople as are in the streets are being
ontnually held up by the guards and
ave to produce permit.
such is now the state of the city of
ntwerp, only few weeks ago a scene
gayety and pleasure, and / am very
lad to know I am now back in London I
fter the horrors I experienced last I
eek" I