Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-25
REMINDED BY AIR RAID
OF MISSOURI CYCLONE
Hev. Burrus A. jenkins, Of Kansas
City, Tells OF Recent Attack
on Folkestone.
HIS FIRST TIME UNDER FIRE
People MaryclousIy Controlled az
Score OF Machines Energies, Look
Ing Like Bright Silver Insects Hoy
ering Against Blue OF the Sky,

Correspondence Of Associated Prcss.1
FOL K e r o N e. ENG, May 81
Among those who experienced the hor-
rors OF the recent German air raid on
Eoikestone. In which many persons
were Killed and injured. was the Rev
Burris A. Jenkins. of Kansas City, Mo-
In statement given the Associated
Press. Mr.. Jenkins graphically de-
scribcd this record breaking attack
and told Of his sensations during the
rain Of destruction from the sky
1T was our first time under fire. and
1t reminded me OF Missouri cyclone"
no said. The only drawback to this
comparison Is that the sun was shining
in clear. blue sky over placid sea-
AS the shells were crashing around
us, and houses were caving in before
7 knew It. was humming long
forgotten tune. doubtless subconsc!-
ously associated with those old days
Two other men in our party independ-
emily testified that they also began
singing softly.
Perhaps this tendency to sing or
whistle is a manifestation of nerves,
and explains why troops always do SO
when we see them cmbarking for
France; they know that next day they
Will be in the trenches-maybe over
the parapet. AT all events. we all con-
fcssed to nerves and fear.
Most people took to the cellars.
Had known there was cellar handy.
or that II is considered good form in
the circumstances, should have fol-
lowed: for soon ] found myself alone
on the leas overlooking. the sea. where
had gone at the first cry OF 'Zeps.'
When 1 rushed out OF our house by the
seaside / found crowds gazing onward
in the direction Of the sun. 1 could
see nothing for the glare; neither. APP
parently. could others.
FEW AT FIRST THOUGHT
SERIOUSLY OF DANGER
suddenly two little girls cried.
There they are" Their I saw them
two aeroplanes. not Zeppelins-emerE-
ing from the disc Of the sun almost
overhead. -Four more. or five in line.
and others, and others. all like bright
silver insects lowering against the blue
OF the sky. The heavens seemed full
OF them. There were about n score In
all. and VIC were charmed with the
beauty OF the sight. l am sure few
OF US thought seriousl:- of danger.
..Then the air was split by the
whistle and rush Of the first bomb
which sounded like the shrill siren
of a car This was followed at once
by defamation that shook the earth
! heard nobody shrek, weep or cry
aloud The people were marVelousiy
controlled.
ct glanced in the direction OF the
she'll burst 100 yards away and the
debris was still going up like column
OF smoke. Then came two more
strokes apparently in the same spot.
Then three other bombs fell. l after
ward found the missiles wrecked the
C Hotel and wounded our motor
driver.
..Thcn another bomb demolished the
Manor House by the sea. Two others
now fell in the water behind me, and
tho gravel and mud and water spoutcd
up in a geyser to the top OF the cliffs
where l stood. Later l learned that
one OF these shots tore off the legs OF
little boy playing with his sister.
Tho mother lay in n faint. and the
little sister, driven mad, rushed blindly
into the water. She was rescued by
wounded soldier.
"Other shots fell, but l could count
no further. They came thick and fast.
like cracking, rolling blasts of our
Western lightning and thunder. No
body has reported the number OF shells.
40 far as know. But there were
100 or more casualties. nearly 100
them fatalities.
"Antiaircraft shells were now burst
ing on the fringes OF the air fleet.
Then followed in the distance the purr
, Of the machine guns, and we knew
4 that our own planes were up in pur-
/ suit. We were later informed that
three of the hostile fleet were brought
down in the channel"