The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-06-13
GIVES GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION
Memory of First Raid Ch British
Coast Still Fresn-Captain
Did Not Hear of Recent Naval
Battle or Kitchener's Death
Until Reaching Brunswick.

gone by since his narrowing eXperi-
ence, the adventures of Frank Smurth-
waite, of West Hartlepool. England
during the German raid on that city.
were still fresh in his mind yesterday
as he sat in the cabin of the British
steamer Wearbridge off the Downing
docks and quietly told a representa-
tive of the News about the first sensa
tional raid of the Euronean war.
The .Wearbridge, in command of
Captain Thomas Smith, as courteous
an Englishman as everIsailed the sea
came TO quarantine Sunday and moved
up to the wharf yesterday. Captain
Smith also lives near West HartIepool
and was at home when the lombard
ment of that town began His experi
ences are only slightly less sensational
than those of his chief engineer. Mr.
Smurthwaite, who was right in the
thick of the fight
The bCmbardment began early in
the morning of December 16, 1914.
while Mr.. Smurthwaite and scores of
companions were at work in the plant
of the Richardson Westgarth Engin-
eerlng company, one of the largest in
England. The German ships ran in
close to the coast with the British col
ors flying to deceive the enemy On
being challenged by the coast batteries
at West Hartlepool two of the vessels
answered correctly but the third failed
and the battle, one-sided as it was.
began.
Mr. Smurthwaite says he heard the
guns booming but at first thought the
coast defense cannon were practicing
AS the roar became louder the word
Zeppelin" was passed about. Then
a great shell came crashing through
the roof of the building in which he
worked and the entire force made for
the gate house. Before they reached
the house a she'll carried it down in
mass of wreckage and the crowd of
Workmen and engineers turned back
Mr. Smurthwaite finally succeeded in
getting into the main road and start
ed on run for his home.
His first thought was to reach home
and protect if possible his wife and
child as well as his sister-in-aw and
his motherin-law, who were there. AS
he ran through the streets he STUN
bled over dead and dying men but
dared not stop to render aid or seek
Identification. S hells were falling al!
around him and at one time, during
the heat of the bombardment, it looked
like a hail storm. Buildings crumbled
to the ground as huge masses of steel
crashed through them, while the
screaming of the shells was enough
to drive one crazy, he said. In fact
many residents of the city have not
recovered from the effects of the
bombardment.
Mr.. Smurthwaite saw the gas works
burst into flames and knew that one
of the biggest works of the city was
doomed When he reached home he
found his family safe but badly scared
Hundreds of citizens fled from the
town, taking anything they happened
to put their hands on in their excite
ment. One woman, he saw, had a
string Of sausages around her neck.
One man was holding on to a huge
copper kettle which he had seized in
his frenzy thinking it was something
of value. The roads leading to the
country were crowded with people
who sought to escape the terrible
shrieks and screams of the German
shells. And all the time, the Germans
at the coast batteries put up a game,
but useless fight against great odds.
The bombardment lasted less than
an hour but it seemed much longer.
Three days later, false alarm was
sounded and caused quite a panic
among the populace. The report was
that the Germans had landed on the
beach and were preparing to attack
the town. This rumor proved to be en-
tirely unfoundcd. The attacl. was
such surprise that none was pre-
pared for it, but with the present reg
ulations it could hardly happen again.
Constables have been appointed 10
patrol the coast cities and if an enemy
approaches, either warship of Zeppe-
lin, the people are warned to stay in
doors and wait until the storm passes.