Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-05
Fearful Scenes IN France.

L1VNOHSuS W lsivES LosT.--ts W. VIC" w.
ted that for q number Of days preceding the 10th
Of October, rain fell in torrents 10 many parts
Of France, ane particularly ia the valley Of the
Loire. On the afterooon Of that day. The rivse
and ito tributaries began 10 rise, and 10 the
course of few hours, the inundation was most
awful. Property TO the extent Of millions o.
franks was des,royed-ihoosands Of cattle per.
ished-snd hundreds Of human lives were lost.
Whole ha'nle,s were swept away, and several
villages were completely submerged. The
Paris correspondent Of the Boston Atlas says.
",hat the large cities of Nantes and Blois--of
Tours, Orleans and Nevers, were in many parts
OF them. under water, and such injury was done
to property. that millions Of dollars cannot ~.
pair il; and such loss of life was there that oil
the valley is in mourning. A diligence with Q.
leven passengers. ten men and one woman. left
Feurs on it's way to Paris. It was obliged to
cross the Loire. The people on the bridge.
who were watching the rapid rise of the river,
warned them not to proceed, as the causeway
beyond was already under water, but an ii,spec.
tor. one Of the passengers, said that be had come
over that very piece Of road two hours before
and it was perfectly safe-and he called on the
driver to proceed. They went on. and in thret
minutes the horses stood still, where they couit
neither turn nor 60 on. The passengers lashet
the diligence TO tree by a small rope, and wal
ted for help. Seven men in boat attempted
to reach them, but failed. and were obliged
iasten their boat to tree, and remain in her
all night Soon the lady in the coupee cries
out that she was drowning, and called upo
those on the top TO get her out. The conducto
! and driver let down rope, which a priest als
in the coupee, fastened around her body. Tn
attempt to hois, her up capsizsd the diligence
and broke TIE rope by which it was fastened I
! The tree. She, with the conductor and driver
was drowned. Before this, man had cut on
of the horses loose and got upon his back, wit
young man behind him, and attempted to reacI
the shore, but the horse fell and both the me
were thrown into the stresm-the younger wa
drowncd-,he elder seized the top Of tree,
which he established himself till mcrnin
Meanwhile the diligence broken from its moo
ings, began to drift down the stream. The prizes
who was in the coupee. now made an sttemp
to get on the top. and, at the same moment, wa
seized around the legs oy a young man VII
was overheard 1t was the work OF moment
Ia the struggle the young man lost his hold, mn
sunk. The carriage had now reached the ce,
tre Of the roaring and imp"tuous Lnire.snd Il
poor wretches who clung to it gave up the la
hope-bu just at that moment. and after th'
had Aoatei eight hundred yards down the Gu
rent, an eddy drew them out Of the main stream
and they soon lodged between two large tree,
They spent the night in that horrible position
and were rescued the mex, day. after losing si;
Of the thirteen who started from Feurs upon u
coach. In another instance, a diligence wa
milarly overtaken BY the waters, but the DR.
yer man,ged To swim ashore. went nil. sf,t
boat, in which he could get m one to vantnr
with him, and, returning alone, he saved III
whole company. as if by miracle.
Deeds Of wonderful courage and humans
were performed One man saved eighty pc
sons from drowning. but at last fell by accider
! from his boat. that hr had just filled from an
undated village, and though those whom he hi
saved made every possible eflor, 10 recover hi
he was swept away, and lost"