The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-25
American Describes Rain
of His Chateau by Germans
united States Flags Respected by English Troops Then
kaisers Forces Completely Destroyed William
Payne's Home Near Paris


William Payne OF New York, whose
chateau. "Au Fond des Forets," at Rosoy.
en-Multeau, Disc. thirty-eight miles from
Paris. was wrecked by the Germans early
in September. az reported in THE Sun OF
November =. mas written the following
account of the AFFAIR and the condition
in which he found his property:
THE English arrived at the chateau
on Wednesday. September .. and out Of
respect for the three American flags con-
spicuously displayed the officers did not
enter the chateau. but slept in the three
chauffeurs bedrooms in the outbuildings
In the park and elsewhere. The Engls h
Ulcers being greatly fatigued asked our
head gardener e 1t was possible to have
a bottle OF good wine. The gardener
answered that the American proprietor
had the key OF the wine cellar. but that
he himself had some excellent wine. which
he offered. II was accepted and the ofii-
GERS We're quite satisfied
The next day, September 3. as the Ger
mans were approaching in great numbers.
H., English left without causing any
damage whatsoever to our property. The
Mayor of Rosoy. the town policemen and
many others who remained Informed me
on my return to Rosoy that II e German )
occupied our chateau. as well as those OF
the Mayor and others, from that date
until the 9th, when they were pushed
back toward scissors and Rheims by
the Allies. They also testified that the
three American flags were torn down by
the Germans on arriving: one large one
from the front of the chateau and two
smaller ones from the two entrances.
Interior Wrecked.
NO words can describe the condition
inside the chateau. of the lawns the
alleys and the wooded park, after the
Germans had LETT. In fact Of the many
thousands Of dollars worth OF personal
property there is not enough left of value
TO pay transport TO Paris and commits
sion on sale. All armors, sidebodrds,
Vitrines. writing desks. cll sets in nineteen
bedrooms and elsewhere were opened by
bayonets or heavy tools. and all broken
in many pieces or ruined. All articles
taken from them were either broken,
torn up, destroyed Or taken away. MI
objects dart Of value were taken away.
All genuine silver. such tea and coffee
services. dining room service, gold and
silver dressing tuilettcs. silver mirrors
and candlesticks were taken away. All
that remained were a gold glove strotcher
silver nailbrush cover 'naticned out
and destroyedD and a CtndlestiCk broken
In three pieces and some plated silver.
M table and other glassware and most
of a porcelain table service. all Of a large
pharmacy stock. perfumeres. &c, were
taken or smashed into small bits. All
ancient lace bedspreads. lace curtains lace
pillow cases and various pieces OF ancient
lace. as well as household linen OF every
sort. were used for the wounded. TO wrap
around the dead before buryng. torn
up or taken way.
Bedrooms DcstroS
Nineteen bedrooms IN the chateau and
outbuldiugs were furnished complete. Npt
one blanket, sheet. pillow case or older
down coverings American o. foreign, re-
main. All curtains We're pulled down and
soaked with blood and nth, Innings torn
out. destroyed oI used FIR covering tn"
wounded. All bed and lounge mattresses,
pillows. springs and furni;ur" vcrc soaked
with blood medicine or Nth. &c ~
clothing, shoes or hats were left q over
s2 value belonging to my wife scls or my
q git servants. Some dresses of my wife >
were s'dshed with knives and left hang
ing in wardrohcs Shoes were taken or
what were left had pieces cut out o.
"xxN' cut in tfem across the to" cap.
"Of over a thousand bottles OF wines,
including 1850. 1854. 1889. 1882 and 1893
champaGncs. some IN maguuns and c'g'-
boams (contan four quarts, 1860, 1870