Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-05-19
AN INCIDENT OF
THE WORLD'SWAR:
.
4 Happened to . Reporter
- '. A. mitchell

| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When the great European war broke
out l was q reporter on an American
newspaper. Young and full Of vigcr. l
found It impossible to content myself
picking up unimportant items when
great armies were In conflict beg
ged to be sent either to France or to
Germany AZ a war correspondent
There were persons at hand who were
better able than to write descriptions
OF battles, but was chosen because
the proprietor Of the paper, having
been soldier In the Spanish-American
war. knew the dangers i would likely
encounter and that young fellow OF
twenty-five was better able to face
them than an older man.
Everybody knows now. what no one
knew then. that newspaper correspond
ents would not be allowed at the front
found 1t out when arrived and de
termined. since could not give battle
pictures. to send my paper scenes In
the wake OF war.
/ found II easier to penetrate ter
ritory occupied by the allies than by
the Germans. so i took the direction
Of lesser opposition. on the same prin-
ciple that water flows. ! entered Bel
GUM at a time when the Germans
were hammering at the Liege forts. Il
was not long, however, before the al
He'd retreat began. and for my purpose
Of writing up scenes Of the country
over which the tide OF battle had
passed l followed the armies south
ward This put NE In the rear Of the
Germans.
X WIN be remembered that where
the Germans passed through certain
district given up to the growing OF
grapes and the manufacture Of wine
they helped themselves to the stock on
hand. came one evening upon one Of
these vineyards where the grape was
grown. turned into wine and stored In
cellars The place had not only been
fought over. but had suffered from the
occupation OF an army corps. when
/ arrived the troops had Just left and
there was not person on the place
1t was evening. and. though confess
I shuddered at the desolntion about
me. took melancholy interest In ex-
rlorfng the premises.
Singular II was and impressive to
walk through large rooms. In some Of
which were the wine vats and some Of
which had been used fer bottling. each
apartment being devoted to a separate
purpose The premises looked as II
hurricane had passed over them. There
were vast rents In the roofs and the
walls. while In the interior shells had
been exploded. knocking the winemak-
ing apparatus to pieces.
Coming to stairway leading below
the main door. went down and found
myself in a wine cellar Judging by
the empty bottles scattered about, ev-
cry drop Of wine had been drunk. The
sight reminded me OF the scene Of an
ORGY tho morning after It had taken
place and the banquet room deserted
BY the jewellers.
There was sad fascination in wan
dering through these cellars. passing
from ono to the other. They were
dark. but found plenty Of partly
burned candles lying about TO give Ine
light. passed through several cellars.
in all Of which the bottles had been
emptied. then entered one IN which
were only casks. turned the faucet
OF one on the lowest row and found It
empty Then trying one on higher
| tier the red wine gusbed forth. Evil
| IDENTIFY the stock had been only partly
drained.
| Penetrating a narrow passage at the
| farther end of the room. descended
several steps and came to an iron door,
While examining 1t ! heard voices on
| the other side. They were not the
voices Of men. but of women.
1t struck me at once that whoever
the persons were they had shut them
selves in there to escape the fighting
that had rolled over the place. With
the reportorial instinct strong In me, I
desired to Interview them. knocked
on the door
! IA III tux tfurEl anu
all was still. ! knocked again. and re-
eeiving no reply called out in tolera BILE
French:
''rhe soldiers hare gone; there Is no
danger
l heard nothing for few moments;
then sweet feminine voice. evidently
near the door. asked
"Who are your
"A citizen. an American"
HAS the battle ceased?"
Eyes. and the troops have moved on !"
"Are you sure there are no Germans
on the placer
Il have seen none
/ could hear that those behind the
door We're debating. but not what they
kaid. Presently some one tried to move
a bolt on the farther side Of the door
and after sofae effort succeeded. Then