Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1915-10-14
BOYS CHAINED TOGETHER
AND BURIED ALIVE
Hid in Cellar Three Weeks and Did Not
Take Off Clothes for Months - Has
Ring of Stricken Soldier who Law for
Days Calling for Water and Help.

Days Calling for Water and Help.
reported to Tribune representative
Mrs. Marie Paenhuys arrived in Min
eral Point, Sept. %, from Tirlemont,
Belgium, to -1ake her home with her
daughter, Mrs. Will Lang. She and
her husband went to Belgium two
years ago. They owned property and
had relatives there. Mr.. Paenhuys
died a year ago and was buried in that
country. Mrs. Paenhuys intended to
remain there few months and then
return to her children in America, but
the war broke out and she could not
secure passage and was compelled to
stay there, under unfavorable condi-
tons, until last month.
Tirlemont, the city where she lived,
and where she owned four houses and
other property, was only few miles
from Lovaine, one of the largest Bel
GUM cities, which was entirely des.
troyed when the Germans first entered
that country. They then went through
the smaller towns, including Tirlemont,
burning houses and damaging crops
and property. When the citizens heard
that the German soldiers were on their
way to their city they crowded, as
many as could, into large public
public building. Mrs. Paenhuys went
with them at first but thinking she
would be safer in private house, as
an American citizen, returned to her
home A bomb was thrown into the
public building by the Germans and all
the inmates were killed At this time
Airs. Paenhuys' relatives in this coun-
Try received word that she had been
among those killed by the bomb. The
soldiers burned most of the houses on
i he street where she lived, stopping
Just three doors above her OWE. Sew
eral of her nearest neighbors were
burned to death. They did not burn
her house, probably because she was
an American, but broke in the doors
and smashed all the window panes
She and two Of her neignbors hid in
her cellar for three weeks and for
months did not take Off their clothes.
She buried two trunks of clothes in the
cellar and was able to keep them and
bring them here with her. They bored
a hole in the cellar wall and watched
the invading soldiers from there for
Il was dangerous TO venture out. The
Germans had charge Of all business
houses, etc, and people could not get
their mail and were allowed only a
certain amount Of groceries. Butter
and lard were soc per pound. meat SOC
per pound, coal SOC per bushel and soap
25c per pound. They lived mostly on
cheap bread, potatoes, corn meal,
crackers and soup. Sixty cents a day
were the highest wages received.
Large families barely existed. After
the three weeks the German troupes
left the city. only few remaining to
take charge Of the stores and business
places. Conditions were a little better
and people came out Of the cellars and
lived in the few houses that were
spared.
Mrs Paenhuys witnessed some terri
Bile scenes. A Belgian soldier was shot
down in front Of her home and the Ger
man guards would not allow anyone to
touch him. He lay there three days
crying for water and help She com
forted him all she dared and before be
died he gave her a silver ring. An old
lady, 80 years Of age, and her son were
found in a hiding place; the soldiers
shot the son in his mothers presence,
then made her walk three miles before
they killed her. Four Belgian boys were
chained together and buried alive a
few miles from Tirlemont.
Mrs. Paenhuys had two neices in g
convent in Paris before the war but
has not heard Of them since. They
were either killed or taken prisoners
by the Germans or rescued and taken
to England She also has nephew
in Brussels who assisted her in secur-
ing a passage to the United States.