The Exodus From London

           SoyouunderstandtheroaringwaveoffearthatsweptthroughthegreatestcityintheworldjustasMondaywasdawning—thestreamofflightrisingswiftlytoatorrent,lashinginafoamingtumultroundtherailwaystations,bankedupintoahorriblestruggleabouttheshippingintheThames,andhurryingbyeveryavailablechannelnorthwardandeastward. Byteno’clockthepoliceorganisation,andbymiddayeventherailwayorganisations,werelosingcoherency,losingshapeandefficiency,guttering,softening,runningatlastinthatswiftliquefactionofthesocialbody. 

           AlltherailwaylinesnorthoftheThamesandtheSouth-EasternpeopleatCannonStreethadbeenwarnedbymidnightonSunday,andtrainswerebeingfilled. Peoplewerefightingsavagelyforstanding-roominthecarriagesevenattwoo’clock. Bythree,peoplewerebeingtrampledandcrushedeveninBishopsgateStreet,acoupleofhundredyardsormorefromLiverpoolStreetstation; revolverswerefired,peoplestabbed,andthepolicemenwhohadbeensenttodirectthetraffic,exhaustedandinfuriated,werebreakingtheheadsofthepeopletheywerecalledouttoprotect. 

           AndasthedayadvancedandtheenginedriversandstokersrefusedtoreturntoLondon,thepressureoftheflightdrovethepeopleinanever-thickeningmultitudeawayfromthestationsandalongthenorthward-runningroads. BymiddayaMartianhadbeenseenatBarnes,andacloudofslowlysinkingblackvapourdrovealongtheThamesandacrosstheflatsofLambeth,cuttingoffallescapeoverthebridgesinitssluggishadvance. AnotherbankdroveoverEaling,andsurroundedalittleislandofsurvivorsonCastleHill,alive,butunabletoescape.