Evening journal., 1915-01-13
NEAR death when
German bombs fall
Wilmington Girl Describes
Scenes in Paris When Avi-
atorS Drop Shells on City
SAYS BRITISH
ARE CONFIDENT

bombs that were thrown, and that I
considerably damaged the surround
ing property, is not an especially al
Turing experience despite the thrills 3
attached. and it goes without sayins
that there are few persons who wound
actually enjoy such an experience.
Yet that is what befell Miss Caroline
HQhccker, daughter of Mrs. Sarah J,
HOmcckcr. of no. 40g West Eighth
street. during her soiourn in Paris
after the declaration of war had
been made in Europe. And this rs
how il happened:
Miss HOieckcr was In the Care Saint
lazarc, where she had gone to get her
ticket III advance and 1t was while she
was standing ia line with hundreds of
other persons also anxious to yet their
tickets, when suddenly at tie far end
of the station there was % great COM
motion in which the noise of motor,
the explosion of bomb and the erie,
/ of the crowd were so commmglcd that
/ tor a while the greatest confusion ne gn-
ed. Investigation proved ihc comm1tinn
TO have been caused by the dropping of
a bomb from German acroplanc on
one par, nf the station of Saint Lakaro.
! Fortunately. however. the station was
only slightly damaged and mo- ono was
killed. A few minutes after this eN-
citemcnt had subsidized somewhat. am
other bomb was dropped this time on
the Senate Building. but like the first
one. not great deal of damage was
done
"You see" said Miss Honecker.
there was such a mob of people End
the Saint Lazare is such huge
place that by the time I really be-
came aware of what was happening,
1t was practically all over. / saw
the aeroplane. however. and did not
feel positively safe until ! was back
IN my own apartments once more.
However, had il not been FOR the
anxiety of my relatives and friends
do not think l should have left
, Paris at all, as the situation there
is most interesting"
Asked to describe the situation
Miss Hoffecker interestingly resumed
, her narrative.
1T was ON Sunday afternoon, July
20. that the situation first became tense
though there had been, previous TO TIM
time, of course. many wild rumors ailoa
and secret conferences held among tn
high state officials. had kept the pcopl
in state of alarm and general unrest
still it was not until this Sunday after
noon that the situation really hecam
acute On that afternoon i Wake
down the boulevard and cycrvwher
, standing on corners on the steps q
Y buildings and houses and in the dool
ways were groups Of people, the mos
OF whom were anXiously scanning III
newspapers. and the determined expre,
sions ON their faces told in mute al
l. peal of the emotion aud stress of min
I'd under which one suddenly found himse
A. laboring.
RS On Saturday night of the week 70
ne lowing. mobilization commenced an
&c Paris was put under military law an
was declared in state of siege. A
most instinctively as it were Par
= emerged from its gaiety and usut
i abandon of spirit and became at on,
sober, serious, grave. lmpressiv,
l. Well / should say il was. The veI
e thought OF Paris being other tina
4 sunny happy and bright was nothir
E. less than appalling.
y, Miss HOffecker paused a mOmen
y Then in answer TO a question: as
10 whether some of the scenes reported
was declared were true or not Mi
re Hofecker said:
IT mo, Paris took the news of Il
u declaration with marked fortitude
n, spirit. there being comparatively fe
il emotional or sensational scenes el
acted on the streets. The awful new
it was received by Paris silently.
c. tightening of the lips. wan. pale fac
d telling a mute story OF sleeple
nights. tear dimmed eyes and chokiI
at voices being the only outward sigl
r of deeper feelings and other tn;
&c these silent demonstrations the pc
es pie of Paris took the news stoicall
ne heroically. Just as Parisians take q
a. the big moments and the immen
70 things of life That air of friyOlii
~ of superiiciality and of reckless aba
u don that has ever characterized q
III life of Paris is merely the veneer
III life itself. and when the big mOmen
arrive II is then that one glimps
%, the strain of deeper feeling and tr
patriotism that stirs the hearts
'VV these people. Oh, il is wonderful
~ Paris" exclaimed Miss Hoffccker
- burst of real enthusiasm on h
subject.
49, Continuing. Miss Hoifeckcr told he
- the streets literally swarmed wi
=. people. and how on Saturday nigl
~ after the declaration of war had be
80, made, mobilization commenced al
=. Paris was put under strict militia
~ law and declared in a state Of siel
~ at was strange. almost weird,
nj watch Paris at that time All {
!. hshts we're turned off at s o'cloC
~, cafes, restaurants. theatres and shol
uI