FRENCH DELUGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 806, 1 February 1910, Page 3

FRENCH DELUGE.

TKRRIBLE KXPK RIENCES

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

INVADKD

Paris, January 2S

The Seine to-day overflowed the parapets at the Quai de la Conference, invading the Champs Klysees. The Ksplanade des Invalides, on the left bank, was also under water. It is estimated that one hundred thousand persons have been thrown out of work-

The misery and desolation in the outlying quarters of the citv are pitiful. Violent rain and hail in F'rauce have caused the Seine to again rise 30 feet. The Corned ie Francaise (the chief home of the regular drama, subsidised by the State, and situated in the Place du Theatre Fraucais, Rue St. Honore, near the Palais Royal) and the historic Cathedral of Notre Dame (one of the finest specimens of Pointed architecture, dating from 1163) are threatened.

The Palace of the lilysee (the official residence of the President) and the Central Telegraph Office are flooded.

Means of communication between Paris and Loudon has been destroyed. The residents of some streets in Paris have been foodless since Wednesday. People are crying from the windows for bread. Alarming subsidences have occurred in many ot the streets through the water’s upward pressure and the collapsing of a network of sewers, water-mains, and hydraulic tubes. The roadway in the Avenue Alexander 111. collapsed. A chasm in the Avenue of the Champs Klysees eugulled a woman.

A starving and desperate crowd sacked some ot the food shops.

The flooded quarters are without gas, and therelore the prices of candles and oils, as well as food, are rising. The Trocadero (a music-hall with seats for 15,000 and a colossal organ) and the Champ de Mars (an open square in front of the Military School, with artificial embankments on each side, extending nearly to the Seine) are both completely submerged. A torrent thirty feet deep is racing through the underground railway station of Des Invalides and the adjoining tunnel, 20 feet below the roadway.

A flood is also roaring through the underground station at the Rue Dante, 550 yards from the Seine. It is feared that the section which passed under the Seine has fallen in.

Terrible fights are reported between rats and imprisoned residents.

At Voisiu’s mroplane works dozens of aeroplanes have been destroyed. The flood extends a mile north along the Seine to the St. Lazare Railway Station. It has swept away the barricades in the Boulevard Haussmau and the Place St. Michael.

A great dyke at Gleuuevilliers (2)2 miles outside the city wall, having numerous market gardens, irrigated by Paris sewage), burst, flooding a large area, and imprisoning 7000 people in their homes.

The Boucicaut Hospital was hastily evacuated. Engineers constructed a foot-bridge, and by this means the women patients were carried with difficulty across water 5 feet deep. Some of them are uot likely to survive the shock.

The northern and the eastern railway lines are open. The officials are appealing for every boat that can be sent to Paris.

For funerals, boats ate in requisiion instead of hearses.

The Bourse is agitated, and there has been a heavy fall in stock.

RET IFF FUND OPENED IN LONDON.

London, Jan. 2S. A relief fund has been opened at the Mansion House for the relief of sutTerersby the floods in France. President Taft lias cabled expressing the sympathy of the American people, and offering Red Cross aid. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM POPE AND TSAR. London, Jan. 29. The Tsar has given ,£IOOO and the Pope ,£I2OO towards the relief of distress. Pakis, Jan. 30. The Hydrometric Office states that the Seine is sinking slowly and steadily. Violent rain and hail fell at Paris on Saturday night. Some 7000 persons at Gennevilliers have been rescued from the flood waters,

Parisians are demanding the straightening of the Seine, at whatever cost, like Peter the Great’s Neva, which served as an outlet lor river Hood.

When the Seine quays were built, the riverbed was restiicted in order to deepen the stream. This has largely caused the present disaster.

M. Milletand, Minister for Public Works, estimates that 80,000 Parisians are homeless and foodless.

Direct telephonic communication with L,oudon has practically ceased.

London. Jan. 30,

King Edward has donated one thousand guineas, Queen Alexandra ami the Prince of Wales ,£SOO for the relief of sufferers.

The Loudon music halls are organising benefits and matinees.