o, and Have, Linth, and Vieux Dieu had been
destroyed by shell fire. Mortsel was practically obliterated by
the Belgians clearing the range for the guns of the inner forts.
In the preparation for defense the Belgians destroyed upward of
ten thousand buildings within a radius of twenty miles.

The exodus of the civil population began in earnest on October
8, 1914. Some of the streets in the heart of the city were choked
with people, while other streets in the same vicinity were dead
and deserted. The withdrawal of the troops was well screened from
the German guns, but their retreat to the west had been cut off
to a great extent, and Holland was now the only refuge for many.
The Germans did not use their heaviest guns and high-explosive
shells in bombarding the city.

During this terrible time, in utter darkness and confusion, crowds
amounting to many thousands--men, and women with babies, and children
of all ages--streamed through the streets that led to the quays or
to the turnpike to Holland. All sorts of vehicles, from dogcarts
to motor trucks, the former drawn by dogs, men, and horses, carried
the belongings of the fugitives that could not be carried away in
person.

The bombardment continued with varying severity throughout October
8, 1914. As the Germans drew nearer to the city all the inner forts
on the south and east sides of the circle took part in replying
to the cannonade. Some of these forts--notably two, three, four,
and five--were badly battered. By afternoon the city seemed
deserted--nothing but debris of fallen buildings and wreckage met
the eyes, and a small remnant of the population was still struggling
for escape.

Along all the wayside immense crowds of men, women, and children
gathered. The railway stations were choked with struggling humanity.
Their condition was pitiable. These scenes continued all day and
throughout the entire night.

On the morning of October 9, 1914, the struggle to get away continued.
Long lines formed on the quay where it had been reported that two
boats would leave for Ostend by eleven o'clock, and all those that
could pay struggled to get their passage booked. There were between
35,000 and 40,000 people on the quays, every one buoyed up by the
hope that safety was in sight at last. But the boats failed to
sail and a murmur of disappointment rose from this vast multitude
of unfortunates.

However, there were other means of escape available, such as tugboats,
plying