Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1918-04-27
MISTAKE FUMES Of
ETHER FOR GAS AND
BIG PANIC ENSUES
PARISiANS IN SUBWAY SMELL
FUMES AND JUMP TO GAS
BOMB CONCLUSION.
CROWD BUSHES FOR EXIT,
DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED,
60 LOSE LIVES.
PARIS AS A WHOLE NoNcHAL.
ANTLY TAKES BOMBING
RAIDS AS INCIDENTS.

(Sy The Associated press.l
PARIS, April 24-lFMmes OF bot
tie OF ether used 10 revive a faint
ing woman, mistaken for asphyxiating
sas from bomb dropped by a Ger.
man air raider, caused the panic at
the Metropolitan Subway station in
which sixty or more women and chill
dren were crushed to death or smoth
cred durlng the Hun raid recently.
The crowd had waited outside the
subway station waiting to hear the
German bomb explode before taking
to cover A woman in the crowd
feeling ILL., her husband held flask
of ether TO her nose.
what a SMELL said someone.
The remark, overheard back in the
crowd. was taken to suggest gag
From that step to "astphyxiating
gas" was easy. In less time than 1t
requires to tell 1t the report went
through the crowd that the laat
gaa bomb That caused u mad rush
OF the crowd down the stairs OF the
subway station against doors opening
outward. In the press the doors
could not be opened until a score %
children and two score women per-
Iguad.
False lsta OF places where bombs
foil were circulated by agents OF the
enemy to work upon the morals of
each different quarter. Fantastic
stories were spread about the Ger
man aviators flying low enough at
cetr4in points to fire with their ma
chine guns upon the fleeing peopl5.
The fact Is that not single German
machine could be seen clearly
enough to identify 1t, yet the story
worked upon the minds OF impress
sionaIble people.
The conduct OF tine audiences In
the different PAGES OF amusement
may be taken as Indicative OF the at
titude of Paris toward the raiders.
Few spectators left their seats wrien
the last raid was announced toward
the middle OF the performance.
Sylyain. playing the role of the
old wine-grower in the "Noces CO.
rinthiennes' at the Coincide Fran
caise. interrupted himself long enough
TO say simply. ID ann told they are
sounding tho ALARM then went ON
with his monologue. Between the
acts the spectators went to the eel.
lar but returned Immediately after
speeding the fine collection OF
busts that had been taken there for
safety.
At the Fohes Bergere the orchestra
played a different one of the national
anthems OF the A.rnes AFTER tho r~-
potr OF each explosion and the audi
ence sang those they knew. AT the
Folies Martgny on the Champs niy-
secs a piece in which the ATROCITIES
OF the Huns enthused the crowd by
ora7on of the comparison with the
work of the raiders.
At the Vaudeville. Galdpaux. the
"Merle" of Chantecler, continued his
monologue after announcing the raid.
then passed the hat for the benefit
Of the victims.
Throughout the raid there were
people in the streets i'm every quar-
ter of Paris. There were more than
hundred on the Place de POpega
just outside the entrance TO one OF
the subway shelters. AT every cor.
ner people caught away from their
homes, disdainng offered shelters
and cropping their way homeward as
well as they could, exchanged In
formation as to wheer they Weer, UNI
slble to perceive anything in the
Pitch darkness.
All persons abroad had the right 10
enter the first building they came 10
ard doors we're opened at the firsr
summons but the wayfarer ID. most
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