The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-25
DESCRIBES AIR
RAID on LONDON
Haddon Chambers Tells Of Re-
markable Thoat0r Scene.
ONE ZEPPELIN NEARLY HIT.

Fragments Of s~hrapnsI Fell on Roof Of
Playhouse - Thrilling Spectacle ~
Huge Flashes Of Light Searched Sky
For Raidins Air craft-5oom Of Guns
Terrific.
L have not yet seen a Zeppelin. Many
OF my friends I'm London have been
more fortunate. and my valet. William
Hogg, had the experience OF his life
the other night as you shall hear pres
emily. says Haddon Chambers. the
playwright. In a wireless message TO
the New York Times.
On the night OF the great raid an
American friend. Mr.. Marcosson. dined
with me at the Carlton. We disputed
during the dinner as 10 whether we
should walk the streets in the subdued
night afterward or visit the st. James
theater. Marcosson. who was all for
the theater. carried the evening. and
we Just missed seeing the Zeppelins
and gained seeing an English audience
under fire.
BY 1890 o'clock we were with Lady
Alexander In her box next the stage.
The act opened with a scene between
two men played by Sir George Alexan-
der and another actor. 1t had only
been In progress a few minutes when
the guns began to boom most furious
ly. They sounded as If being fired in
the street outside. At first no one In
the house moved. but presently a Sec
tion of the gallery arose and started
for the doors. Small blame to them.
as fragments of shrapnel actually fell
on the roof above their heads.
Panic Quickly Qusilsd.
Alexander stepped to the footlights
and said: Ladies' and gentlemen,
should 1t become advisable to leave the
theater ! will tell you. Meanwhile 1t
is at least as safe here as outside"
There was a round OF applause. and
the gallery sat down. In no other part
OF the house had there been a move
ment.
Alexander her came to our side of
the stage and said to me. "Haddon.
would o mind asking Helmsley to
come around to me when he Is not
busyY" Adopting his tone. ! called out
from the box. Certainly | will. old
chap" The house seemed tickled at
our intimate tone and laughed consid-
erably while the guns continued TO
roar.
One Zeppelin Apparently Hit.
The statement OF my valet. William
Hogg, Is as follows:
ION Wednesday l went up to High
gate. just outside of London, to see my
wife. There had been a raid on Tues
day night somewhere on the east coast
SO naturally we talked about it and
wondered If we should ever see a Yep
pelin. We were soon to have our wisl
gratified.
"We went to bed about 1890. A
about a quarter to ii We were startled
by a loud boom. ! said to my wife
'Zeps.' We got to the window. and w
saw a wonderful sight.
From where we were it seemed a
il the world was a theater and we wer
In the best box. There. suspended II
a horizontal position. outlined by
wonderful dark blue sky studded wit
stars, was an oblong object like a hug
bar Of gold. That was the Yep. Hug
flashes Of light were searching the SIX,
for her companion. II she had any
while one ~searchlight held her to view
THE boom Of the guns was terrific
and flashes Of the bursting shrapnt
shells located by the fash as they burs
was as wonderful a sight as you coul
wish to see One gun which SCENE
more powerful than the others. wa
making fine practice. getting neare
and nearer at each shot Then the guI
ners seemed to get the range. and
shall burst right at the rear end Of tn
Yep. immediately followed by a hug
cloud OF smoke. I yelled, My Coz
she is hitr Immediately she began I
50 FROM the horizontal to the perper
djcular and In q few minutes had pas,
"a upward into = cloud and disaI