South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-21

cathedral for the Shrapnel began
crashing through the roof and walls
&C regular intervals OF the wounded
prisoners inside at least $50 suffered
further wounds as a result Of the
bombardment Of the building. Four
hundred inhabitants OF the town are
reported TO have been killed by Ger
man shell fire. All day Friday and
Saturday and Sunday the incessant
cannOnade went on. 1t became
monotOnOus and the French soldiers
encamped south of the town grew
tired Of the never ending scream Of
shrapnel, and the smoke which rolled
upward from the bursting shells At
times the smoke from exploding shells
became dense and black IN volume,
and then the soldiers knew that some
building was burning and that its
smoke was mingling with the volumes
from burned powder.
Fire I'm Dozen Places.
At times the city would be on fire in
dozen places. At times as a shrap-
mel struck a burning building, mil
lions of sparks would float up through
the smoke.
The population began to flee on
Thursday, Rheims being a big city Of
10000 souls. All day Friday. Satur-
day and Sunday the exodus went on.
The fugitives carried their portable
effects and most of them were in tears
at the thought of leaving their homes
at the mercy of the German artillery.
The famous cathedral Of Notre
Dame dates back TO the 18th century.
The kings of France were formerly
crowned there.
The national monument, for such
the cathedral was, is only blackened
mass of ruins. The stone walls which
stood beneath the storms OF so many
centuries, are still upright, but IL is
doubtful If the church can be restored
even IL the artillery fire should be dis
continued now.
Cathedral Takes Fire.
Although the historic edifice had
been pounded by shells all day Friday
and Saturday, II did not catch fire
until yesterday. More than 500 shells
fell around the cathedral yesterday.
Buildings in different quarters of
the city were flaming and the wind
was carrying the fire from street TO
street when a shrapnel set fire 10
some scaffolding on the eastern end
OF the church where workmen had
been making some repairs. Soon the
whole network OF poles and planks
was burning briskly.
Then the old oaken rimbers of the
roof became igntted and the ceiling
Of the native edihce began TO burn
Blazing pieces Of carved woodwork
were dropped onto the floor setting
fire 70 the straw upon which the
wounded German soldiers were lying
Then the .panelling and altars caught
fire. Next the pews and other furni-
ture was IN flames. The wounded,
practically all OF whom were too weak
10 rise to their feet, began calling
piteously for help.
Save US save US" cried the wound
ed men, struggling weakly TO crawl
from their perilOus position in the
straw.
Riot Against German Prisoners.
The French doctors and nurses al
once began the work Of carrying these
helpless captives from the building
Some OF the Germans were still in
uniform.
Outside Of the cathedral was a knot
OF tOwnspeople and soldiers. When
they caught sight OF the German uni
forms they broke into furious cries OF
denunciation.
Kill them," cried the angry
French. One French soldier levelled
his gun at a wounded German officer.
The other soldiers in the crowd hoist
cd the rifles TO their shoulders, and
for a moment IL looked as though
there would be wholesale slaughter OF
the wounded Germans.
Suddenly a little priest. Able An
drieuX by name. leaped in front OF the
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