The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-09
nourisning district has beeL converted in a night
into a watery wilderness.
HELPING THE SUFFERERS.


ASSISTANCE
The fun details published in yesterdays
HERALD relative TO the widespread desolaton
caused by the recent foundations in The south
west OF France have awakened general feeling OF
sympathy for the sufferers throughout the city.
The brief cable dispatches gave "A heart-rendng
enough picture, bur the presentation OF the whole
story of woe and destruction must excite sent-
ments Of-the deepest compassion Floods are not
unusual in France. They occur periodically and
cause immense damage This was specially
the case in 1855. TO which reference is
made below, ana it has been often mat
ter Of wonder that in that country engineering
skill mas never been effectively employed to pre-
vent the havoc caused by great floods when the
rivers overflow their banks. The extent OF the
calamity that has fallen on the poor peasantry
and artisans in Brittany and TourraiGe can
scarcely be exaggerated. whole dlstrlcts ana
most important towns have been submerged. VII
lagos have literally melted away before the action
or the hoods. Manufactures have been annihl-
lated. There has been an awful sacrifice OF human
life ana Millions worth OF property has been de-
stroyed and all In the most distressing manner.
TAe Yretched husbandmen with their shivering
families, have been driven to the high grounds to
escape imminent death, and nothing Tor seventy
years has been known to devastate the country
10 such fearful extent The grief that must ex-
lst is sucn as must
TUG AT THE HEARTsTRINGs
OF strong and honest men, ana which all men with
human sympathies must desire to relieve. In the
city OF New YORK. always responsive 10 the cry of
suffering, nothing has been done as yet becoming
II 10 render assistance TO people additionally
our friends and who have lately been severely
scourged by disastrous war. NJ. Coudert, on be-
half the French Benevoient society. or which he
is President, has received some subscriptions; but
in this respect both New Orleans and San Fran
cisco are ahead OF the commercial metropolis OF
the nation. The Consul General Of France, in this
city, It will be seen. declines to make direct APP
peal for aid. He leaves Americans to take the
initiative in the matter, having 1ull faith in their
generosity and good Will.
THE FOUNDATIONS IN 1856.
To gather some idea Of the fearful desolaton
caused BY the present foods, reference to the In
undattons that occurred In June, 1856, IN Burgundy
and Provence, in the southern and central parts
OF France, Will not be out OF place on the present
occasion. The accounts on record are Of the most
narrowing nature The destltution and amictton
caused by them were most frightlul. Rain fell in
almost incessant torrents, laying whole depart
ments under water. The valleys OF the Loire, the
Rhone and their tributaries were completely over
40 we'd. From Paris to Lyons and onward o the
sea the streams, large and small overnowed
their banks The country around Cnalons, Tours
and Lyons looked like an inland sea. The lnunda-
lions spread out In vast sheets, dotted with the
roofs Of houses the bushy tops Of willows ana the
tall spires Of the poplar; in other places they
gathered all their strength and rushed along in
torrents, carrying all before them. Roads and
railways, as during last month, were rendered
impossible. Human bodies, cattle. furniture
agricultural productions and farm buildings were
borne along the floods. The streets of many towns
were only passabe In boats. The embanKments
Of the Rhone were broken down by the weight
and force OF the waters and all the lower quarters
OF Lyons were inundated. In other places people
surprised In their sleep hurried out nall dressed
and had 20 wade for shelter.
THE RISE OF THE LOIRE
followed that OF the rivers OF the SOUTH and at the
end OF week the Central and Western depart
ments were deluqed. As the waters drained
away numerous bodies were found in
state OF decomposition. In spite OF every
effort the loss OF lie was great and the
destruction OF properly incaculable. Scores
OF thousands Of people were made homeless, and
the immediate suffering was painful In the
extreme The distressing cries that arose could
hardly be described. Louis Napoleon at once
proceeded TO the scenes OF devastation. The
Prince Imperial was just born and the war with
Russia had been brought 10 q successful close.
among the sufferers. The Empress Eugenle
opene a subscrlpt ton for their relief At sitting
OF the Chambers 1000, 0oof were voted and
the Council OF Ministers applied q new credit
OF 10000, 000f 49, 900 000 for the same purpose.
The sum OF 100000 was raised in England and
sent to France. All these measures had the effect
OF mitigating the sufrerlngs OF the people, but the
present lnnundations bring vlvidly to mind the
appalling misery endured by considerable por-
ton OF the population nineteen years ago.
VIEWS OF THE FRENCH CONSUL GENERAL
reporter Of the HERALD VINO visited the ofnce
OF NJ. de la Forest, Consul General OF France, was
cour teousiy received by that gentleman. The OBJ
ject OF the call was to learn what progress had
been made In the way OF collecting subscriptions
In this city for the relief OF the sufferers by the
recent floods in Brittany and Tourraine. The Con-
sui General stated that he had not received any
instructions from his government TO make an ap-
peal the public for aid, and that the matter so
lar, had been in the hands OF private individuals
and societies. The French Benevolent Society he
said, neld meeting last week at which COM
mittee OF ten was appointed 10 solicit and receive
contributions and that, considering all the cir
cumstances. they had met with a fair snare OF
success. The Consuis in New Orleans and San
Francisco had called meetings OF their compa-
triots in these cities for the purpose Of raising
funds and there were quite liberal responses. The
reporter then asked-
IN. de Ia Forest, is 1t your intention to make
a direct appeal to the citizens OF New York for
AID for the unhappy sufferers by the recent fooos
in Brittany and Tourralne ?"
NJ. DE La FoREsr-Having no Instructions to
that erect do not propose doing SO. The
government OF Marshal MacMahon has acted
wisely and prudently, ana taken the most effective
measures to soften the consequences OF the great
calamity. The Assembly have by successive votes
applied 1000 o9oE for the alienation OF the
mseries that Providence has visited on our
couatrymen. The city OF Paris mas donated
q, oo0L, ana other municipalities have como
forward in IKE manner TO alleviate the suffer.
ines OF the afflicted departments. OF course. If
any appeal was to oe made In an oflcial form Tor
practical sympathy In foreign countries. the
United States would b. among the very nrst to