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Death from above. Sunlight spills in through the roof of a building, the morning after the shelling.

On this day, in 1914, shells from the German cruiser Emden ripped apart the characteristic tranquility of the city.

The news itself and subsequent rumours triggered an exodus. About 20,000 people left the city everyday. A situation not unlike what the city witnessed this week.

The 3,600-ton ship struck at two oil tanks in the sea and then indulged in ‘fancy shooting' - a volley of shells right into the city.

The city was to remain wary of Emden and the devastation it could wreak for another month.

"The projectiles found many a billet in the buildings of Port Trust, Boat House of the Madras Sailing Club and facade of the new National Bank of India,” wrote. D. Scott, a contributor to The Indian Review

Lord Pentland, the Governor of Madras, would not visit the struck city until September 25. After a few official inquiries and assurances, he returned to Ooty a couple of days later.

The Hindu quoted a citizen as saying, “If Madras is safe why not His Excellency remain here?”

With the government likely having curtailed newspapers reporting on the incident for two days after the incident, fear spread fast.

On November 9, after a fierce battle with Sydney, an Australian cruiser, Emden was sunk.