River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-12-03

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i New York was consistent
,=zsSsSssSSsH with the rest of the strategy
sSsSg of Japan Prior to engaging
the city's defenses the feet had sent
wireless message demanding surrender
rhe mayor and his advisers still chung
TO their belief in the ability of the forts
on Sandy Hook to defend the city.
They returned a refusal. Whereupon
the Japanese engaged and silenced the
forts after an hours steady lombard
ment with the new aerial bomb. which
proved terribly effective.
Without waiting they Immediately
steamed into the lower harbor and pro
ress two cruisers and battleship
struck mines and We're completely or
partially destroyed.
A fourth was hit by a bomb thrown
from a strange aeroplane which darted
above it and disappeared.
They set about their terrible task i'll
cold blood A bomb was launched
against the Metropolitan tower. 1t
struck we'll up near the top and burst
in a binding sheet of fame, which
seemed to wrap the monoith of stone
and steel in fiery embrace.
The tower shook. bent, and as the
loosened stone and brick broke from
its setting in the frame terrible cas-
cade of debris poured downward into
the street, while cloud of powdered
brick, stone and mortar rose and drift
ed north and west before the wind.
The second bomb struck lower down.
with similar effect, save that now the
entire framework. driven entirely out
of plumb and partly riven asunder,
toppled like a great tree and fell with
an earth shaking roar across the street
and the lower buildings. At the time
the streets were full of people, and the
loss of life was immense.
A roar as of mighty cataracts rang
through the canyons of the streets. 1t
was the noise of the falling walls OF
buildings, of plunging, splintering
brick and rock, which hurtled from its
high emplacement, carrying death to
whatever living thing it struck. Fires
broke out and burned unchecked
AS the destruction spread the Japa-
nese ceased firing their bombs and sent
up numerous aeroplanes equipped with
smaller explosive grenades. which flew
over the city in all directions. casting
their explosives upon crowds and
houses and adding to the demoraliza.
ton of the helpless wretches who
found themselves caught in the mael-
Strom of fate.
Under the miniStrat1onS of Bernice
her aunt opened her eyes. and the
girl half carried. half dragged. her to
couch and lifted her upon it.
A loud roar filled Bernice's ears. In
half comprehension she saw the wall
back of her aunt's couch crack and
break asunder. the solid masonry biz
lowing inward directly toward her.
Then. like a flicker in a motion film.
the solid mass broke up. After long
time she stirred and moaned. With a
great effort she opened her eyes. The
pale sunlight of a smoke clouded sky
was pouring in through ragged gap
in the wall of the room. With con-
seiousness came recollection, and she
looked for her aunt. Where the couch
had been was tumbled mass of brick
and plaster and lathing A sickening
fear gripped her heart. She staggered
to her feet and crept dizzily toward
that tumbled pile.
Then she stopped, and strangled
cry burst from her lips. She had
caught sight of thin hand protrud-
ing from beneath q tumble Of bricks