New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-12

/ than twenty minutes the whole affair
was demolished. Safe exit from the
city was now cut Off. A Red Cross
( officer met standing by the quay had
been a spectator of the blowing up OF
the bridge.
any Cod" he said, running for
ward, ait is awful"
How are you going 10 get out ?" he
was asked.
I'm going TO stay here and look
after ny Wounded he replied.
In further talk with him il was
learned that the greater part OF the
previous midday and that tf>fe was
nothing then to stop the Germans from
entering the city save a handful Of
/ Belgian soldiers in three or four OF
/ the forts. At o'clock a shell struck
+ the town hall Fox and the others took
refuge in the cellars Of the town hall.
So far as could be gathered, the re-
naming inhabitants of Antwerp must
have assembled about this neighbor.
hood, groups taking refuge in the small
and stuffy cellars, where Developments
were anXiously awaited.
Town Hall Hit Again.
There must have been hundreds OF
people sheltering underground. They
included the Mexican and Dominican
consuls Why these stayed is not
known. as none of their people were
left behind. They were the only CON
suls remaining in Antwerp. About
S:15 another shell struck the town
hall. SCATTERING the upper story. and
That was the German way of telling
b tho huryornaatar N hurry nm
There was tense feeling as tidings
were waited Of some sort or another.
A quarter Of an hour later NJ. De Vos
went out in his motor car toward the
German line 20 discuss the conditions
on which the city should be sur
rendered. Another shell struck a fur
ricr's shop opposite the town hall.
The place burst into flames. Several
of the gendarmes who had stayed be
hind were occupants Of the cellars. and
two Of them Immediately rushed out to
force their way into the shop in order
that they might extinguish the fire.
They found the door locked. 1t took
them ten minutes to force an entrance.
By this time the fire was burning
fercely. AZ great personal risk, one
Of the gendarmes made his way to the
top floor of the premises, and there en-
deavored TO beat out the flames with
a piece of timber torn from the tract
ure Of the roof. His efforts were futile.
and he called for water. Soon after
a Flemish woman brought him two
pailfuls, which Fox had carried TO the
house. and after a half hours labor
the fire was eXtinguished. The pro-
prietor of The shop was among the
people in the cellars across the way.
The news that his house was afame
was broken 10 him, and he rushed into
the street. He gazed for a moment or
the scene and burst into tears, like a
child "The brutes," he said.
At 9 O'Clock the bombardment OF the
city suddenly ceased. and II was under
stood the burgomaster had by this time
reached the German headquarters.
Still all waited, painfully anxious TO
learn what would be the ultimate fate
Of Antwerp. Belgian soldiers hurried
by on their way to the front. A num-
Der paused lust as they reached o
tobacconist's shop which had been
wrecked by shells, scattering the stock
into the street.
Antwerp Fades from View.
At 1890 o'clock proclamations were
posted on the walls OF the Town Hall
Urging all in the city TO surrender any
arms IN their possession and begging
for calm demeanor in the event of
the German occupation. A list was
also posted of several prominent citi-
zens who we're appointed TO look after
the interests OF those Belgians who
remained. Just before noon a patrol
OF cyclists. armed and mounted gen
darmes, who had escorted the Burgo-
master to the gate Of the city, in
formed Fox and the others that the
Germans were entering by the gate Of
Malines. Hastily taking their bicycles,
the party prepared to make their way
ever the Dutch frontier. As they
passed along the quay, by most time
~ stroke OF luck, motorboat was
found standing by. IL was manned by
u Belgian and his mate.
"Can YOU take us to Flushing" he
was asked.
"Yes," answered the Belgians.
"How much ?"
zone hundred and fifty francs each"
All were in that boat in thirty sec
ends and in another thirty seconds had
started down the Scheldt. By this time
the Germans were in the city. The
commander who led in the victorious
troops was General Won Besers. At
good ten knots the boat raced down
the river. In twenty-five minutes 1t
reached a bend which blotted Antwerp
from view. As the corner was rounded
the occupants turned for the last
glimpse of the disappearing city. The
cathedral was still standing, its tower
dominating the surroundings. Here
and there volumes of smoke were ris-
ing to the sky.
II took twelve hours to get 10 Flush
ing. On each side of the river thou
sands Of refugees were fleeing from
the invaders. They swarmed along the
banks in continuous lines, vast pill
grimage Of hopelessness. Many were
laden with such Of their household
possessions as they had been able to
rather at almost a moments notice.
Where the Scheldt becomes Dutch
property we we're stopped by the Gus
toms authorities and submitted TO a
rigorous examination. The Dutch Of
fcials for a time believed the party
were either Belgian or English officers
escaping. but eventually they were
satisfied. Upon arriving at Flushing
the town was found il a tremendous
state of excitement Great crowds OF
refugees were thcre-ten thousand or
more-and the hotels we're choked.
MANY of the wretched people had left
their homes absolutely without any
money. and were forced TO camp in
the streets.
There was a vast crowd waiting 10
oct on the Flushing and-Folkestonc
boat 10 England. and il appeared i'm
possiblc TO get TO England that night.
However. after discussing the posi-
zion with the superintendent OF the
line he very kindly obtained berths.