The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-09-28
DESCRIBES AIR
RAID on LONDON
Haddon Chambers Tells Of Re-
markabla Thoator Scene.
ONE ZEPPELIN NEARLY HIT.

Fragments Of shrapnsl Fell on Roof Of
Playhouse - Thrilling Spectacle as
Huge Flashes of Light Searched Sky
For Raidins Air craft-eoom Of Guns
Terrific.
have not yet seen Zeppelin. Many
of my friends in 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 to 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 1920 o'clock we were with Lady
Alexander in her box next the stage.
The act opened with scene between
two men played by Sir George Alexan-
der and another actor. 1t had only
been in progress 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 Sec
ton 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 QueIIed.
Alexander stepped to the footlights
and said: Ladies and gentlemen
should 1t become advisable to leave the
theater l will tell you. Meanwhile u
is at least as safe here as outside"
There was round of applause. and
the gallery sat down. In no other part
Of the house had there been move
ment
Alexander then came to our side OF
the stage and said to Inc. "Haddon
would you mind asking Helmsley tC
come around to me when he Is moi
busy?" Adopting his tone, | called out
from the box. Certainly will. ole
chap" The house seemed tickled a
our intimate tone and laughed consid
erably while the guns continued t.
roar.
One Zeppelin Apparently Hit.
The statement Of my valet, William
Hogg, is as follows:
"On Wednesday l went up to High
gate, just outside of London. to see IN.
wife. There had been raid on Tues
day night somewhere on the east coast
so naturally we talked about 1t ant
wondered If we should ever see ZeI
pelin. We were soon to have our wis
gratified.
I'VE went to bed about 1890. A
about n quarter to | we were startle,
by loud boom. said to my wife
'Xeps.' We got to the window. and W
saw wonderful sight.
"From where we were it seemed n
If the world was a theater and we wer
In the best box. There, suspended /
horizontal position. outlined by
wonderful dark blue sky studded wit
stars, was an oblong object like hug
bar of gold. That was the Yep. Hug
flashes of light were searching the ak
for her companion, II she had an.
| trht no bnr tn In
"The boom of the guns was terrlfi
and flashes Of the bursting shrapn,
} shells located by the fash as they burs
was as wonderful sight as you cOul
, wish to see. One gun, which SCENE
more powerful than the others, WI
making fine practice. getting near'
and nearer ut each shot Then the gul
ners seemed to get the range. and
shall burst right at the rear end Of Il
Yep. Immediately followed by hul
cloud Of smoke. yelled. My Co
she IL hitr Immediately she began
go from the horizontal to the perpel
, dlcular and in few minutes had pas
peared.
1T was all over In twenty minute
l and 1t all seemed like dream. | hl
Mr.. Chambers little dog with me. aI
he had got through the window on
the roof and was barking at the Zt
, for all he was worth For some tin
afterward we heard loud. whirriI
- noises. which we found out the ne,
day were caused by the aeroplanes tr
| In 80 h.