Page:America Fallen!.djvu/128

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
116
America Fallen

harbinger of death and waited for his messengers.

Then they came. A roar as of an express train on the Elevated, and with a blast of air that swept down upon the victims, a 12-inch shell passed over the center of the span.

But before signaling to correct the range, the aviator planed down so as to obtain a closer view of the bridge. With amazement he saw that it was swarming from end to end with a helpless mass of humanity. The purpose of the bombardment was to damage—not destroy; and he realized that if the shells of the Koenig should cut the bridge cables, 50,000 souls would be hurled to their death in the river below!

Hastily he rose and signaled to the Koenig to cease fire.