The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-11-13
Night Of Terror in Antwerp Is
Described by Newspaper
Correspondent.
MANY LOSE THEIR MINDS
Psychological Ravaee a Greater Ca
lamity Than the Material Havoc
Germans Fight Fires and Put
City In Order at Once.
BY JACQUES osELs.

Antwerp found the city gates guard
cd by strong detachments OF marines
Ihe encircling forts flew German flags
white with black cross and crown
on the corner. A German flag also
huttered in the wind on top of the
cathedral spire, 500 feet up. My mill
tary pass, given me in Brussels, read
lily admitted me to the city, one area
of which sad suffered terribly from
the boutardment Apparently, the
Germans had concentrated their fire
on this Iection and seldom altered the
range.
The principal damage, however, was
the fesult Of fires, the origin of some
of Which is doubtful. Numerous fires
broke out after the Germans entered
ard it was difficult to control the
hames, as the water supply was inter
rupted, owing to the destruction of
the pipe lines from the reservoirs
neai Fort Waelhem through an ex-
ploslon.
Germans Fight city's Fires.
The Germans fought the fires with
energy and courage. They formed
bucket brigades to bring water from
all available sources. They also aid
ed the inhabitants to save their goods
and chattels. When these were piled
in the streets they placed guards over
them and mounted patrols we're scat
tered throughout the city to protect
property OF course, the people gen
orally had fed, but adventurous and
dangerous characters remained and
prowled through the streets after
nightfall. saw no looting by Ger
mans in Antwerp.
Some Of the people died of fright
during the bombardment and others
lost their reason. Few families passed
through the ordeal without one or
more Of their members suffering men.
tai disturbance. Probably, on the
whole, the psychological ravsge was
a greater calamity than the material
rayage. Persons on every hand still
are so upset and so strangely changed
that they seem like different individ-
uals. Watching men and women at
dinner or luncheon, the observer no |
tices how their hands tremble as they
lift the food from the plates to their
Tells of Night of Terror.
The first night of the bom5ardment |
produced narrowing scenes. Women |
and children, rudely awakened in .
he middle of the night, left home half
lad and rushed along the pitch dark
streets, PAM stricken by the con-
inual bursting of shells above and
lround them. Before long the sky
vas red with the reflection of burning
l was told by eyewitnesses that the
pectacle then revealed in the streets
vas like an awful nightmare. Con
used masses of terror mad people
ushed this way and that. Old men
md women were carried out C the
Iouses and the sick were brought out
nto the streets and borne along in
he arms of he well. Mothers were
cen hurrying on and distTactedly
aIling for their children.
1t is alleged that there was a head
Ong race for the city gates, which
,ere found securely locked Those in
uthority had escaped before the
helling began. No police could be
cen and every soldier was at the
ront. Nobody appeared and there
,as no natural leader to effect a sem
lance of order The confusion and
espair reigned unabated until dawn,
-hen the crowds escaped.
Wish Refugees to Return.
The riverside is eloquent of the
estruction of war. The floating
ridge was blown up by the retreat
lg Belgians and the wrecks of the
oats that supported the bridge can
till be seen half submerged The I
erman steamers held as prizes were
endered useless by damage to the {
ngines. Detachments of soldiers
'ere busy at the docks loading confls- I
ated goods and an unbroken stream of :
,agons moved toward Brussels carry [
lg merchandise, ammunition and
BOD. with all of which Antwerp was
tocked to overfowihg.
The German government making
efforts to induce refu-
ees to return to their homes Bills
ave been posted guaranteeing public
afety and some of these bills have
cen sent to Holland for distribution.
he fugiuves are returning in increas-
lg numbers, though the town is still
cad.
1t should be remembered that the :
ulk of the population escaped before 6
ne bombardment began and the ter :
ors described happened to those who {
emained in their homes in spite of :
ne warnings of the authorities They r
ad no idea of what a bombardment =
'ould be ike and no MOTTO of the +
srrifying and disastrous effects of the =
erman shells. d
All the stores are selling food +
tufts. They were ordered to be f
.Oo-oO0oo-o~~-~-o-~-o-o~~ ~-~-o--o-o-oo.