The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-08
Tremendous Storms in the South
with Deluges of Rain.
FARMS AND COTTAGES SWEPT AWAY
Enormous Loss Of Life and Property
Awful Scenes Of Horror.
A PERIODICALLY RECURRING DISASTER.

PARIS, Sept q, 1875.
terrible series OF inundations have burst over
France carrying with them indescribabc misery and
ruin The disaster Toulouse arose from the sudden
melting ofhe The later floods have been brought
about by OF the most tremendous and awful
storms which have been heard the European Con-
tlncnt within living memory. For eight nights and
days deiugc OF rain poured increasingly down upon
the South OF France, and IL s continues, partially
in many places, accompanied by thunder and lightning
Day after day, night after night tho storm ragged on
with astonishing fury and seemed to lash the earth in
its wrath The rivers, swollen beyond all precedent
by the tempest oyerowed thor banks suddenly in all
directions and the valley Of the AlIicr drowned
by the waters. Wherever there hillock
slight descent the of waters roared and surged
down with the mpeuosity Of cataract The streets
Of villages and small towns filled with rapid and
uncomfortable currents dragging strong men and cat
tie, houses and goods away in their whrlpools and
cddies
IMMENSE DESTRUCTION or PROPERTY.
Small rivers, which might have been spanned by
stones throw from child suddenly increased to mile
in width covering the cottages and farms upon their
banks with water, and sappng their foundations and
whirling them away in fragments. The destruction Of
property enormous it is estimated At 5000 ooof for
the valley of the Allier alone; % 600 0oof, or
So 900 600 for Heraut the Gard and the Lozere and
the number of houses alone thrown down by the floods
already mounts up to 400
No less than 100 lives have been lost up the latest
reports and seventyour persons we're drowned at St.
Gilman. The damage done to the magnificent Abbey
OF Fontfroid will require $4,000 TO repair IT. The
flood burst suddenly upon the monks at prayer, and
scene Of frghtful horror ensued. Father Francois,
OF the community had his skull fractured and was
killed on the spot Another monk had OF his eyes
put out The Fathers might have saved themselves by
taking refuge the high altar, but they would have
preferred to die rather than to commit sacrlege
greater part of the harvest of the rich south lands
has been spoiled and lies rottng beneath the
waters which are with tall trees rooted up by
the storm and pieces Of furniture oated away from
ruined homcsteads All the hamlet Of ST. German des
Posses has disappeared beneath tho food The districts
of vesses Scharmeil and Hoterive have shared the
same fate Between Cairmont and Brioud railway COM
muncation has interrupted at several points and
many bridges have been carried away notably that be-
tween Lembron and Breul and that of Brassac spec
tator caught in the Storm who found refuge up high
tree counted the number OF the wooden beams OF
houses borne past him in the angry rush of the waters
Of the Aier There 203 and many Of them struck
the which he chung with the force Of baterng
rams During eleven long hours the poor fellow, whose
name Argcret held fast to the branches Of the tree;
then struck by lightning, but he fortunately, re-
NAMED uninured and contrived to float away land
on part Of the split trunk
Near Brassac, also peasant named Tarbe was saved
by his COW. He mounted upon her back and she swan
to land with HIM.
COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED
For several days there has been communication
between Cairmont and Brioud and goods train stands
in the middle Of the plain OF Lavaur unable to proceed
AT ssoire the market place was suddenly drowned by
innumerable torrents descending upon ii. The flood
rushed down with such violence and precipitation that
il struck suddenly down in their ordinary occupa
tlons and hurled them into eternity. Thus grazier
was counting ten notes of 000f each which he had
just received for his sheep and oxen when the waters
smote him from behind, dashed the money from bis
grasp and bore HIM hercey away. In the mountains OF
the department of Puy Dome great numbers Of cat
tie have been drowned, and the bodies OF oxen and
horses were dashed about like balls by the furious
water Day and night boats out trying the
unfortunate.
The foundations have been most terrible in the very
heart Of the South country, hitherto only remarkable
for it's delightful climate; and the departments OF the
Aude and the Tarn have suffered greatly. The acts Of
heroism and courage have been numerous as might
have been expected from the chivarous character of
the French, and many brave men-themsovcs in ez-
IRENE danger-have done all that devoted vaor could
do TO save the lives Of others, too often in vain
MONTPELIER
The trim, pretty town OF Montpelier hitherto known
MS the healthes place in France has escaped 1t
was the night Of Monday last that the rain began to
fall there with such persistence that seemed as though
there was one mass Of water between the sky the
earth. All the drains were burst in few moments
and the water, rushing through the pipes, Slapped the
foundations Of houses and threw them down But here
tho loss OF property has been chiefly confined to the
lower part OF the town. and only one death reported
Palavas, village situate near Montpelier, on the
banks of the Lea WIS, for thrty-six hears In stu
alton Of terrible danger and the villagers suddenly
found themselves island, cut OF from help pro-
visions and like to unless the waters had abated
AT last brave fellow conrved TO reach the church
steepc and sounded the tocsn Justify that succor
reached them from the neighborhood 1t not
easy however, to release them, because, when the
waters partially retired, all the fields around had been
converted into 4 OF mud, which could neither DO
passed In safety by man or beast
At Pezenas the lightning did great mischief and a
hunderbolt struck house where eight people were
assembled praying their lives were all saved, but one
OF them has lost his reason and became hopeless idiot
DROWNED
Tho plain Of Lezignan Cebc and Castclnau, with its
rich vineyards aud orchards Is all under water. On
the other side OF the Hcrau in the canton Of Forcn-
sac the better Tho overflow OF the Orb has
occasi0ncd shocking disasters aud presumably much
loss Of life. Not only the peasaniry who may have
beon unable 70 find refuge have suffered but rich men,
with all the appliances or wealth al their Disposition
have been caught IN the storm and drowned. Among
them Is mentioned the Baron de ScgouZay
an opucnt land owner, residing Tou-
louise At Boilers and Narbonne the light
ming has also wrought fearful devastation, and
poor man named ponteyoy was literally drowned in
The rain While trying 20 save himself by flight tree
fell upon him and broke his leg. In his agony and
despair he tried 10 wrench himself away from tho
crushed limb, but probably tainted from tho
pain and then fell with his face downward, when
the waters stlaed and covered HIM. At Saint
pons and Agde the foods have also done
great damage aud tho valley OF the Jaur with corn
lands and vineyards, lies beneath yard OF mud with
corpses buried in It, The railway In this neighborhood
has also been destroyed IN several places. The pretty
little Of Cette has been almost destroyed Its cas-