THE INUNDATIONS IN FRANCE

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 410, 8 October 1856, Page 5

THE INUNDATIONS IN FRANCE

(From the Illustrated News, June 14th.) On Monday Morning last th.3 French Emperor again started on a long journey to inspect, the inundations.. It is said that when at Tours his Majesty desired to proceed further down the Loire., but was prevented by the flooded state of the roads. At all events, whether in pursuance of a previously formed intention, or in consequence of news received in the sconrse of the nijjht, his Majesty left the Palace of St. Cloud shortly after six on Monday morning for the Western Railway Station, whence, at seven, he started in a special train for Chartres and Le Mans, with the intention of going by that route to Anjrers. He arrived at Chartres at 8.00, at" Le Mans at 11.7, and at 11.40 left the latter place in a travelling carnage Avith post, horses for Ansyers. The alarming news relating to the latter town had probably a considerable effect upon his determination.

On the 6th instant at noon the Trelaze road w; s cut through by the waters, and the village and slate quarries surrounded. A telegraphic despatch, dated five in the afternoon, stated that the waters were already up to the first floor windows, and were rising wil.h incredible rapidity. Part of the slate quanies were by that time under water. It appears from later accounts that the workmen made immense efforts to save the quarries, which were the pride and glory ot •■ Black Anders," hut all without effect. Some of the principal ones are utterly destroyed. Local letters say that upwards of 10.000 men, women, and children are by this catastrophe thrown out of work, and not only so, but they su-<». without house or home, and too probably without bread. The Emperor reached Angers at half-past six, p.m., on Monday, and proceeded immediately to inspect the slate quarries of

| Trelaze. His reception,,both in town and faubourgs, is represented as having been most enthusiastic. It will be remembered that the local insurrection which led to tlie notorious tiials at Angers, emanated in a great measure from the slate quarries of Trelaze. The Journal dv Che of the sth contains affiictingaccounts of the disasters which have occurred by the inundations of the Cher, Allier, Yevre, and Aurore. A number of bridges have been carried away, and the railway has been intercepted at various points. The waters have, however, commenced declining, and the communications are re-established. A. temporary road has been constructed on piles between Bourgne and Vierzon, and it was hoped that corrmunications would soon be free between the former town and Orleans. St. Armand suffered severely, but the victims werereceived with warmth by both rich and poor. Count Jaubert has given shelter to many families in his chateau. The waters of the AlKer resembled a vast lake, and committed innumerable ravages, Lut no loss of life is mentioned in its neighbourhood, though many unfortunate persons were in great At a little village named Crevery, three families were surprised by the rise of the Allier, and were only saved at the last moment by the devotedness of some boatmen : a few instants after they had been taken from the roofs of the houses on which they had sought refuge the waters swept over them. Another narrow escape took place near Vichy, where two children were surprised by the rise while fishing on a little island in the Allier. They had only time to climb into a high tree when the island was covered. They remained in that terrible position from Thursday evening to Saturday morning, and the provisions they had taken with them were exhausted. No one dared to vender them assistance, as to approach the spot was to encounter almost certain death. Three sailors from the Crimea, however, placed themselves in a boat and. with the father of the children, set off for the isle, followed by the prayers of all the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. These intrepid men succeed in rescuing the two. children, and on returning to Vichy they were welcomed with enthusiasm. The " Courier de Lyons " contains the following :— Notwithstanding the torrents of rain which fell during the whole of Thursday, the Rhone has not sensibly risen, and all fears of further mischief are, for the present, r.t an end. The utmost activity prevails in the works necessary for removing the stagnant water which lays fiom the Tete dOr to the Vitriolerie. All the Grand Rue of the Guillotiere is |now free from the bridge of that name to the Place Saint Louis. This is the point which suffered most, and deep ravines are cut in many places by the torrent by which the houses were swept away. The house, two stories high and apparently built with great solidity, was thrown down", and six persons who were in it at the time,, perished. The Saone, which during the last day or two hud risen, appears now to have have reached its height, and, indeed, has slightly receded. In its present state, it would have covered the whole of the Quais St. Autoine and de Celestins, but for the embankments which were thrown up when the waters lately receded atthe lowest part of those quays. The wind, which for the last month has been blowiny horn the smith, lias i»o\v come round to the north, which will very mateiially tend to cause the rivers to empty themselves. The Lyons journal of" Saturday state that since the pre\ious evening rain has fallen heavily, bul the Saone hud nsit liseu, and that, the water continued to recede from the inundated parts, in consequence of the trenches which hud been cut by the water

company having beeu opened. A number of soldiers, provi<ied with pickaxes, have also been sent iuto the inundated quarters, in order.to cut deep channels to facilitate the escape of the water. The Rhone has comp ei,elv returued^o its bed,at least.in that part which parsed througii I^yons. The journals continue to nieniiod a number of incidents which occurred during this terrible visitation.