Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-11
SEARCH CATHEDRAL RUINS
At RHEIMS FOR CUR|0s
American Writer Tells Graphic
Story OF the Destruction Wrought
by Shrapnel and Bomb.
FIND FIVE GLASSES OF WINE
Entire City Is Like Great Heap Of
Rubbish Which Has Been Showed
to One Side of the Road to Let
Troops Through.
BY DAMON RUNYoN.

AMID THE RUINS OF RHEIMS.
October 10.--Inside the shrapnel-bitten
walls Of the historical old cathedral
OF Rheims to-day several souvenir
hunters were already plying around
among the debris. seeking bits of blue
glass from the famous north window
Outside. tho battered streets echoed
70 the clump OF marching feet and
the grind Of wheels ns French infan-
try and artillery rolled steadily for
yard In the wake of the rctreating
Germans.
Months ago. when Rheims was still
soul apparently ordered up round of
far frcln tho cathedral.
peeled Off the front Of the cafe, leaving
the interior gaping wide open.
Five glasses of wine stood Oh the
big French soldier riding by on a jog
ginE wagon. munchins a hunk Of bread.
drank off two OF the glasses of wine
and then hurriedly regaincd his seat.
There is scarcely building in town.
hasn't been touched by the torrent of
shells which fell over Rheims through
The whole city Is like a great heap
of rubbish. which has been showed to
enc side Of the road to let the soldiers
through. Blocks of houses have been
furniture and the pictures on the walls
like stage setting. Big buildings
that once housed magnificent stores are
mere piles Of debris. white with the
was built centuries ago.
Up to n few months ago the town was
W loouos o. ausM ,ieIpuuo si,lu iGui
gas masks. Their school is now q
=! wreck.
Constantly throughout the war
hair "a N vol Inv
/ Finally the Germans moved so close
to the city that it was completely
evacuated, and until We entered 1t.
the converging drive of the Americans
and French, no civilian had been III the
place since May.
ONE OF MOST COMPLETE
JOBS OF DEvILISH RUIN
One Of the richest and most beautiful
cities OF all France, Rheims. was great
~ coveted by the Germans. but they
were never able to take it. They were
only able to ruin it. It is one OF the
in France.
Baltimore or San Francisco after
their great fires were only slightly
Here every roof and tree. every form
of habitation has been hattened or
punched through by giant shells until
struction.
lowering not far behind long line
OF soldiers and guns streaming through
the streets to-day are many civilians
who formerly lived in Rheims. They
are eagerly awaiting the chance to
rush back to what is left in the homes
and places of business.
They will not find much. Many left
the town without waiting to pack up
any any belongings Tables stand all set
for meals that were never eaten Big
shells have popped through open bed
rooms and scattered the clothes of men
and women and children far and wide
Rheims was badly damaged early in
the war, but 1t managed to retain some
semblance Of what 1t used to be until
lately. Now it is of piece with the
sad picture presented by Arras and
other small towns in Northern France.
WALLS AND TOWERS OF
CATHEDRAL S1ILL STANDING
The walls and towers OF the cathe-
oral are still standing. but the build
Ing iS hardly more than smoke
blackened skeleton. Many shells have
fallen on tho great vaulted roof All
glass has been smashed from the win
dows. Long ago the secret of making
this glass was lost. That Is why IL