John Hersey's report in The New Yorker, August 31, 1946, on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima

John Hersey's report in The New Yorker, August 31, 1946, on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The story of Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge, a German priest. August 7, the morning after the explosion:

“The morning was hot. Father Kleinsorge went to fetch water for the wounded. He had heard that fresh tap water was available outside of Asano Park. In the rock garden, he had to climb over the trunks of fallen pines, and he realized that he was very weak. There were many dead around. On a beautiful moon bridge he passed a naked woman; she was alive, but burned from head to toe and blushed all over. Father Kleinsorge found a working tap, filled the containers and went back. The woman at the bridge was dead.

Returning, he got lost, bending around a fallen tree, and while he was looking for a way, he heard a voice from behind the bushes: “Do you have a drink?”. A military uniform flashed. He approached. Having made his way through the bushes, he saw about 20 people - all in the same monstrous condition: their faces were completely burned, their eye sockets were empty, liquid from melted eyes flowed down their cheeks. They were probably facing upwards when the bomb exploded, perhaps they were anti-aircraft gunners. Their mouths were swollen, pus-covered sores that they could no longer drink from the kettle. Father Kleinsorge made a straw out of tall grass and gave everyone water to drink. One of them said, "I don't see anything." Father Kleinsorge answered encouragingly: "The doctor will come soon, and I hope he will cure your eyes."

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