Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-23
Subway Panic Due
to Fumes of Ether;
Sixty Lives Lost

Correspondence Associated Press.,l
Paris, March ls.-Fumes of bottle
Of ether used to revive a faintins
woman, mistaken for asphyXiating gas
! from bomb dropped by German air
raider, caused the panic at the Metro
politan subway station in which sixty
or more women and children were
rushed to death or smothered during
the Hun raid on the night OF March
II.
The crowd had remained outside the
subway station waiting to hear the
German bomb explode before taking
cover. A woman in the crowd feeling
ill her husband held flask of ether to
her nose
What smell" said someone. The
remark. overheard back in the crowd,
was taken to suggest gas. From that
step 70 'asphyxiatng gas" was easy.
In less time than it requires TO tell it
the report went thru the crowd that
the last bomb that exploded nearby
was a gas bomb. That caused a mad
rush. of the crowd down the stairs Of
the subway station against doors
opening outward. In the press the
doors couldn't be opened until score
of children and two score women
persisted
False lists OF places where bombs
fell were circulated, these presumably
by agents of the enemy9to work upon
the morale OF each different quarter
Fantastic stories Were spread about
the German aviators flying low
enough at certain points to fire with
their machine guns upon the fleeing
people. The fact is that not a single
German machine could be seen clearly
enough to identify it. yet the story
worked upon the minds of impress
sionable persons.
The conduct Of the audiences in the
different places OF amusement may be
taken as indicative Of the attitude Of
Paris towards the raiders. Few spec
tators left their seats when the last
raid was announced toward the middle
of the performance.
SYLVAN. playing the role OF the old
wine grower in the "Noces Cornith-
iennes." at the Coincide Franchise, in
terrupted himself long enough to say
simply, Il am told they are sounding
the alarm then went on with his
monologue. Between the acts the
spectators went to the cellar but re-
turned Immediately after inspecting
the fine collection Of busts that had
been taken there for safety.
At the FNolies Bergeres the orchestra
played a different one of the national
anthems Of the allies after the report
of each explosion and the audience
sang these they knew. At the Folies
Marigny on the Champs Eysees a
piece in which the atrocities of the
Huns is represented enthused the
crowd by reason Of the comparisons
| with the work of the raiders.
At the Vaudeville Galipaux the
"Merer' of "Chantecler" continued his
monoloeue after announcing the raid.
then passed the hat for the benefit OF
the victims.
Turnout the raid there were people
in the strcts in each quarter in Paris.
There were more than hundred on
tho Place de fCpera Just outside the
entrance to one Of the subway shelters
At every corner people caught away
from their homes. disdaining offered
shelters and cropping their way home
ward as we'll as they could. exchanged
information as to where they were,
unable to perceive anything in the
pitch darkness.
All persons abroad had the right to
enter the first building they came to
and doors were opened at the first
summons, but the wayfarer in most
cases simply wanted to know where
he was
Hundreds felt their way thru heaps
Of broken glass and climbed over
debris at points where bombs had just
fallen giving them the sensation OF
scrambling over battlefield. Paris
had become q part of .the 'front.'