Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26

They're coming up from the valley. They're
surrounding the house." answered Signalman.
Shoot to kill!'' came the consuls order.
The window was wide open in the bath room
where the men had been signaling, and it al
most seemed as If we were out of doors. we
seemed so unprotected. I heard the click of
rifles in the hall; bullets hit the windows the
doors.
They're coming up from the valley We
can't stand them of long," heard the consul
speaking as he came along the hall. I caught
a glimpse of his haggard face. I heard him
say, IT can do no more. They are going to
kill us all. Signal for help"
TN that minute gave up hope. have known
Mr.. Davis for many years, and knew he
a conservative man and his statements
were well founded. I remembered thinking
clearly: II don't seem to feel afraid to die, but
I've got tremendous regret at going" But
.mutilation and worse! That haunted me. My
husband came running along the hall and
looked in and actually smiled at me and said
'Hello!" then went on out to the porch to help
with the signaling. He was alive!
why don't the ships answer?" some one
asked.
I didn't know why, but thought we had
definitely put ourselves out of communication.
1.-THE rockets won't work." sailor called out.
Get the flags" Then a rocket went up.
I heard the signalman outside say "Pick of
that dirty Brighter down there. He'll get me-"
He was standing up in full view of the snipers
signaling with two huge flags.
why don't they answer"
I heard Mary. the consuls wife, say, Pray
Shannon. Pray God to save you," and little
Shanon's muffied voice from the floor at my
side where she lay, Il have, mother"
And her mother again: Pray some more"
our o S. They've answered. They're going
to fire.
mol Tell them to send landing party"
This was Consul Davis Perhaps we can get
out and not have to use Shells"
The firing outside was heavier now The
conSuls order was distinct: ASK for shell fire."
why don't they fire? Why don't they flre?"
It was kind of refrain all around me- Would
the soldiers get US first?
The heavens and the earth seemed split apart
with deafening crash right below us, almost
in the room. And then the whole house seemed
to go mad. Each according to his faith gave
thanks. Some were shouting, THANK God"
and some were swearing.
Another deafening roar! The house trembled
with the conclusion did not care If the shells
hit the house. felt absolute joy and no fear
whatsoever. To go like that, go out clean,
blown into atoms by shell after hours of fac
ing such horrible, unclean deaths! After hours
when was sure they'd murder our men and
we'd be left behind to be rhutilated in deathl
Oh, no! did not care if our own shells blew
us to bits. No! Let them blow us to bits al
together there in the house-npy husband and
going together to a clean death. Oh God!
The shells! The shelsl Let them come!
More of them! More of theml Let them blow
us to bits! The shells! was mad with relief
from the thought of that clean death.
But We were not done yet. Into the
pandemonium some shouted ITO the back
of the housed Keep down. Look out for the
SniperS!"
Half crawling, half running we got to the
back of the house. Somehow I got separated
from Mary and the children and found myself
crawling across the bedroom floor, the room
where had sat to hear about my husbands
death in the morning
OUCH pandemoniuml The floor was strewn
with bandoliers and cartridges and the