The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-06-30

distance TICK eQi4etss Oh STU Az M
3ub from q certain point which sres
gested gas bombs. There was some
thing IN those curious columns which
seemed different from the smoke from
wife, and We remembered how, in
the long ego, we had been warned to-
use gas masks. do not suppose ont
person in a thousand among the
crowds possessed such a thing. We
came little nearer to what seemed to
be the real danger spot, and whitfs
Of smoke noated by. but they gave
out no poisonous fumes, and there was
relief in our hearts as we realized our
mistake.
All along this eastward journey
bombs were falling and the guns were
making great noises. But l saw NO
quick searching for shelter, no taking
cover. If it had all been an exhibition
Of flying at Hendon the attitude OF the
people would not have ben very differ
emit. Except in the Immediately at.
fected streets men and women, and
office clerks, little more than chill
dren stood watching, vastly interest.
ed, little excited, but not in the least
frightened.
They were everywhere. Offices with
accessible roofs were besieged by en-
thusiasts who chose to forget official
advice as to the safety OF the basement.
1t was the tops of buses that the PEG.
pie sought rather than the refuge OF
underground railways. and fire es
capes AMI lamp.pcsts and bridges
were crowded.
Train Of AmbuIances.
After those few minutes Of tense
interest and deadening noise the sud.
den silence was very awful. The ces.
sntion Of gun fire told that the raiders
had been driven off, and, looking to
the sun, one could see that peace had
come once more to the air Watching
the light and movement in the sky
the drama Of 1t all had so fixed ones
attention as to eliminate even flash.
ing thought Of its meaning. But with
the silence came the swift running of
ambulance cars and their pealing bell
told Of the ugliness OF 1t all, and its
deep Significance.
And these ambulance cars darted
out from all sorts of little side streets,
joining together in one long stream
that flowed ca; Iward like rapid.
Special constables marched quickly
about their business. Fire engines
came from nowhere 1t seemed. Where
but a little while ago, there had been
stiffness in the streets and great
noises in the air there was now quiet
above and queer noises and move
ments below.
People gathered together in groups,
exchanging stories of their experience
es. Men and women rushed to tele-
phones boxes, and taxis were hailed
all over with orders to find the raid
ed Streets"
"They say there are hundreds kill
ed" someone whispered in shaken
voice. ooh, no." replied man who
overheard, 81 think very little damage
has been done" II saw six Zeppelins"
cried one woman whose nerves were
overweight. "And l saw one Of the
Taubes brought down." retorted her
neighbor.
And so they stood, telling little sto-
ries of what they had seen, and of
what they imagined they had seen,
finally making their way, many of
them, to spots where little tongues
of smoke told how firemen were fight
ing destruction in those places which
lad suffered from the aerial play OF
little silver gems.
1t had all happened in quarter of
an hour. All these things had been
done in IS minutes that seemed like
so. When the time had come and
gone people went back to their shops
and their offices and their homes to
carry on their normal way Of living.
They looked at their watches and
thought they hld stopped. When the
regular lunch hour arrived they pour.
ed out into the streets once more,
following the track of the raiders.
Good samaritans.
But it was not in a carefree spirit
of adventure. They went to see what
war had done, and they wtnt quietly
in order. Their hears sorrowed for
those of whom suffering had come.
They wanted to help rs there my.
thing 1 can do?" That was the spirit
of the Londoner. He wanted to help
rather than to see, to sympathize and
encourage rather than to obtain vicar
iously a new sensation. This attack
on the city that he loves in all the
deep places of his heart sent out his
sympathies in boundless measure to
the sorrowing; it brought recreated
demonstration of will to live SO that
our fighting men shall have the help
of all the civilians in their fight
against the perils Of the air, in their
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