Four bombs fell upon the cathedral--one on the north
transept--doing but little damage, however.
On Sept. 14 and 15, after the Germans had evacuated the city and the
French had entered, the bombardment recommenced, but without touching
the cathedral. On Sept. 17 two bombs struck, one on the apse and the
other on the north transept.
On the 18th the cathedral was again hit on the southern flying
buttresses and on the roof, killing a gendarme and several German
wounded.
On Sept. 19 the cathedral was fairly riddled by bombs during the entire
day, and at about 3:45 the scaffolding surrounding the north tower
caught fire. This fire lasted about one hour, and during that time two
further bombs struck the roof, setting it also on fire. The cure claims
that one of these bombs must have been incendiary, otherwise it would be
impossible to explain the extraordinary quickness with which the fire
spread throughout the roof timbers.
The fire from the scaffolding descended until it reached the north door
of the main facade, which caught rapidly, burned through and
communicated to the straw with which the floor of the cathedral was
covered. This straw had been ordered on Sept. 12 by the German Commander
in order to prepare the cathedral to receive 3,000 German wounded but
the evacuation of the city by the Germans had prevented the cathedral
being used for that purpose.
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