The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-09-29
Miss Boppart Sees Destruc-
ton by Shell Dropped
From Zeppelins Circling
Over French Capital.
WARNED OF INVASION
Band on Tennessee Playing
National Airs Brings Tears
to American Refugees Af-
ter Flight to HaYre.

Miss Bertha Boppart, daughter Of DR..
"A. Boppart, of North Eighth street,
was one Of three hundred Americans
who were in Paris September 1, when
the Germans were twenty-five miles
away and expected at any time to
break through the lines and invade the
French capital.
Miss Boppart returned to America
On the Olympic, which sailed Septem-
ber 16. There were $500 passengers,
including many Germans who were
said to be fleeing from their own coun-
try because they did not sympathize
with the war
After leaving Friedburg, Switzer-
Boppart departed from Geneva on a
train provided by the American en-
bassy. The trip to Paris required
twenty-six hours and was made with
out thrilling incidents.
In Paris, the Americans were given
list Of hotels at which they could Sc
cure rooms. That day twenty-eight
men were sent out to warn tourists
that a German invasion was expected
and that Americans should leave Paris
for Havre on special trains.
Near Exploding Bomb.
Three German war Zeppelins were
seen flying over Paris A bomb
struck a building three squares from
where Miss Boppart was staying at
the time.
I'VE heard the report of the bomb
and went out to see what had hap
pened," she said today. "The damage
was not great. 1t was said the Ger
mans intended to destroy the station
that we had to use to get train to
Havre. ~f'S~+''
when we were warned to leave
Paris there were about three hundred
Americans who got on the train. The
baggage was taken to Havre in car
loads, and l have not seen mine since
] left Paris. We left at I o'clock in
the afternoon and reached Havre at
10 O'Clock at night.
There was such confusion at Havre
that we could not get rooms and could
not find our baggage. AS the train
did not go into the station, we told the
cab driver to leave us there. We had
to sleep there until 4 o'clock in the
morning. Soldiers were there waiting
for the trains, and a number were
sleeping on cots around the depot.
"All Americans were in little parties
with some one acting as leader. The
man who lead our party told us he
had good news. Then he took us out
and showed us the smokestack Of the
warship Tennessee. I stood in line
at the American embassy for two
hours to get ticket.
when we were finally taken to
the Tennessee I can not describe our
feelings. The band was playing "The
Star Spangled Banner" and "My Coun-
try 'Tis of Thee" Tears came to the
eyes of many. Then we left and were
taken to London, where we felt like we
were in a free country again.
Miss Boppart secured passage on the
Olympic, which was supposed to sail
September 8. All sailings were post
poned one week, and the steamer did
not leave until September 16. Mr.. and
Mrs. ID. G. Reid, their daughter and
sOn-in-law were among the passengers
Miss Boppart was met at New York
by a former Richmond girl, who be.
fore her marriage was Miss Maude
Betzold. Miss Boppart has since spent
several days at Asbury Park visiting
friends