The New York herald., 1875-07-13
THE FLOODS IN FRANCE.
French Accounts Of the Calamity The
Peril Of Bordeaux.
APPEAL OF THE BISHOP OF ORLEANS.
rProm La Gironde.l

From La GirondeI
what widespread disastsrl What rich harVests
wspt away what host OF Victims! In such
prief space OF time we cannot get the exact num-
Der. But what Is conjectured Is horrible. The
water falls IN the high lands and rises in the
gronde; but this Il less alarming than In Agenals
aud Langnedoc- The country open in this dis
lricr the river banks low ana the eject OF the
aood, therefore, less destructive. Nevertheless,
Ireat havoc has been done here. The Bordelase
district does not appear TO have suffered although
Bordeaux was threatened for . short time yester-
aay. Gloomy reports were circulated IN the even
ing and gained credence with many. Merchants
from the Paludate and Brienne quarters, fearing
an inundation, cleared the quays or their 60 DDS.
Urowos blocked the banks OF the river as TAR as
the bridge. Tne nood was seen TO rise and in-
crease in strength. A large stone placed at the
edge OF the water was submerged In two minutes.
rhe crowd reconed before the food and hooked
again at the dread scene witn feeling OF I'm
pending disaster.
With the morning came relief II was discoV-
cred that Bordeaux would De spared, though the
destroyer be at her gates. All the Tver districts
are oVernowed as far as the Aroanats, extending
TO Portets where the river widens into vast
and profound lake. The sun Is orghti every spos
Is covered with a sheet OF water; an angie OF
house appears above the gl1tterlng s1riace; TUT
OF toliag ge indicates the position OF tree; lev
elled stake shows the destruction OF huge mass
d
disappeared. There is nougnt but desolation and
rain there. II ls very cinerent IRON the district
Dl the Gironde On the lelt OF the railroad from
Bordeaux, as far as Portets, al has been lald
waste, while on the right there IS pastoral happi-
ness ana enjoyment such Is ME- Joy
oISer. xs 6erons the train = STOPPED,
the track being impeded. Tne passengers were
awaited them. The railroad company have not
to-day sold tickets beyond Cerons. our ticket was
from Bordeaux TO saint Macaire. Wishing 80 avail
ourselves OF the return Train at Cerons we were
compelled TO stop here, where many SAD sight
was to be seen. The ntte town Of Cerons is SUD-
merged. In one part tue water reaches the first
story and the hood Is gong still higher. The mum
nation began last evening. At four O'Clock IL rose
eignt centimetres, at ten IL had gained twenty
nve. The peasants, who are either very conndent
no danger threatened, Notwithstanding every
warning. The 1ood soon dislodged them and put
them 70 niRht Taey could save nothing s nat their their
try inundated. The hood carried all before IL,
barrels. woooen pillars, haystacks and wagons,
trees furniture and boats Dead animals were
swept along at the mercy Of the current. Houses
noated by Occasionally.
metres OF water cover the principal roads. On
tne railroad the watericarried heaps OF rubbish.
Immense excavation full OF water. Desolaton
everywhere IN this district. Peasants cabins
carried away, trees bent together, emDankments
swept on, the harvest destroyed
AT Preignac the brick kiln OF M. Roland was
attacked by the mood and demolished, and the
Worknen had great trouble in escaping with their
lives We have been scarcely two hours on the
ROAD ana alreAdy PIECES bnaI were uncovered
have been submerged. DArbnvats, Beautrau
and nearly the whole district Is under water.
at the head OF the river. near Barsac, terrible
scenes are discovered. Several steamers OF the
eironde and Garonne Company have been sent to
tne rescue OF the unfortunates. This morning the
bodies OF two men drIfted ashore near the little
port OF Begies, one about forty ave years OF age,
The other sixteen or eighteen.
special despatch from Lanjou to-day says that
she suspension bridge near StIlacalre has given
way to tue nood.
Al Barsac the shock came suddenly that the
Inhabitants Oh the lower quarters could save
a0thlnR.
The iistle river Ciron lows into tie Garonne,
and thus carried away several houses.