The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-05
TOpekan In Antwerp Describes
the Siege of That City.
Belgium Is in Ruins; Material
~ 1t Has Passed Away"
The FLIGHT TO HOLLAND
Pathetic Crowds of Refugees
Flee to Neighboring Border.
Former T0pekan Is Bitter
Against German Policies.

VAAOA 1OpCAou 40 DACtCA
Against German Policies.
The following interesting letter has
been received in Topeka by the rela-
nected with a large industrial firm of
Antwerp:
The Hague, Oct. II, 1914.
Dear Mother and Family:
hand news of events in Antwerp for the
last few days. We have had many
epasms of nervousness in the city since
the war began, but the crucial one came
last Wednesday morning when we read
In the papers the announcement Of the
commandment of the fortified position that
ninent and that all who wished were at
liberty to leave.
We had heard very little news during
the previous week and few OF us realized
how desperate the situation was. We had
heard cannon for a week and knew that
on the previous Friday holding the city
government was ready to flee but on
Saturday Winston Churchill came to Ant
werp and we were greatly relieved by the
reports that he had told the commandant
to hold out for reinforcements were be-
ing sent by the English. who would hold
the city. On Sunday We. saw some of
them and the spirits of the people went
Up to normal again.
Sound of Cannon.
After reading the notice on Wednesday
morning we were down of course and de-
cided to close up the factory completely
that afternoon. We were so busy that We
could not think of the situation all day,
al.ough we remarked that We could not
hear any more cannon. We did not I'M
derrtand this because we had confidence
that the English were prepared to hold
the place since they had undertaken it.
ants notice meant that bombardment Of
the inhabited portion of the city was GER
tain.
There were a great many people who
loft on Wednesday. as there had been
before whenever nervousness reached
crisl Six of US Americans had dinner to-
gether and went home about 10 O'Clock,
expecting that the night would be quiet
was asleep at about II o'clock and
the town was as quiet as usual since the
siege began. At II o'clock sharp I was
awakened by the scream of a shell and
realized at once that the play had begun.
I lay in bed until I heard the third 20
screaming by. ending in deep boom" a
little. further on. AS the house was Of
occupied by two women. I decided to
dress and go to the basement of the fac
tory which is of reinforced concrete. I
coat and went out Into the street. My
house and the factory are in the south
end of town directly in the path OF the
streets. many Of them crying and moan
ing. I hurried along with shells scream
Ing above and falling in every direction.
| tnvoluntarily lodged into the door ra
that it would do mo good II it landed
near.
Shells Screamed Overhead.
II reached the factory safely ~ having
peared to be small pieces of brick or
mortar. I went down into the coal cellar
:Se nna aa yss as Tne ses
overhead at the rate of four or five a
minute, sometimes ending near with a
terrific crash. Our building is high and
the night was not struck. Once 1 heard
a terrific crash of bricks and glass and
proved to be that the upper portion of a
house opposite was knock up against our
building. At daylight the number OF peo-
our people came into the factory. One Of
the girls from the Office. who was not
paid the day before, came in crying bit
til she was more composed and then
learned that her house had been struck
and burned. Fortunately no one was in.
1ured except her mother slightly. asked
her what the family expected to do and
she had no idea. All 1 could do was to
give her twenty dollars. which ! am sure
send her to join the others.
Fled Before Bombarlment.
A little later we decided to fly with the
others. so l went home after handbag
ter4ifyin ew trip h Of half hour. FOR was
constantly in the danger gone or direct
line Of fire. No shells landed closer than
hap The nix Of us them started out.
leaving practically all we possessed. We
walked towards the north, trying to keep
which the shells were coming. when we
reached the first corner there was ter
rife crash and man came running
ing from his wrist He had been struck
by a pi~ce of shell probably. but ! hope
not SERIOUSLY we buried r; en- ~. With the
few minutes felt that we were out of the
danger zone.
River of Fleeing People.
The crowd soon converged into a road
leading to an opening in the Notifications
to tie north and became mighty river.
It was a sight never to be forgotten. An
inextricable moyng mass OF people. carts.
trucks and bundles Of every description
We were travelling lightly and passed
when we could those more heavily laden.
or encountered by children. the old or In
firm. In about two hours We got little
thunder OF the cannon and shells became
and to eat bit OF chocolate / had moi
had any breakfast and It was then noon
SO did not feel very strong.
inexpressible. The city lying in the brigh,
October sun. appeared tranquil from thai
distance, only the sound OF the cannoni
in the distance and here and there the
smoke of a burning building mounting w
slowly in the calm blue air. Then w
looked on the human river slowly strug
cling by and extending for miles In thu
distance. as far ~ We could see and
further we knew. because 1t had started
s TT