The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-09
THE FLOODS IN FRANCE.
Awful Destruction Of Life
and Property.
WHOLE VILLAGES SWEPT AWAY.
Twenty Thousand People
Homeless.
THE DEAD COUNTED BY HUNDREDS.
HA1oOio Ho~ Of fh
WHOLE VILLAGES SWEPT AWAY.
Thousand People
Homeless.
THE DEAD COUNTED BY HUNDREDS.
Heroic Conduct of the
Army.

| The full extent OF the terrible disaster which
has overwhelmed several OF the Southern depart
ments OF France Is only now beginning 10 be fully
realized. The whole wide basin Of the Garonne Is
submerged ana the smiling valley turned into
| vast sheet of water. Towns and villages have
| been swept away, while the destruction OF human
life mas been something appalling. so sudden
! and unexpectedly old this deluge burst upon the
| doomed districts that hundreds met their death
at their own nresides BY the sudden inroad OF the
destroying torrents. Some 10000 people nave
been made homeless by these hoods, which IN
their extent and the amount OF damage done are
| without example III tue history OF France. Whole
villages have been swept away or lie buriel be-
meath the water, tho iarm houses have dis
appeared and the crops been swept from the
| face or the country Where few weeks ago all
was sminng VITA premise Of plenty is now sad
waste or understanding waters. Nor do the
Hoods promise soon TO su0sde. On the contrary
the waters appear 10 be rising, and snow and rain
ial In the desolated district If TO complete the
| scenes OF horror that have been there enacted.
| Hot even the terrible devastations caused by the
| foods In 1885 can be compared IN the suffering
and loss they occasoned with the plague OF waters
that Unexpectedly has fallen upon France in this
| present year. The material losses are immense.
| With praise worthy promptness the French Assem-
bly, voted 100, Ooo ior the immediate relief oil the
| the French people answered with Characters
tic generosity. Still these outside aids can
but soften the force OF The crushing disaster
| tnat has fallen on the peop.e OF the inundated
districts. They are completely ruined and when
| the waters have subsidized must proceed to Duild
up their fortunes best they can. One quarter
Of the town OF Toulouse was almost completely
destroyed. over 900 houses or the Faubourg st.
Cyprien were swept away. as were the manufac-
mad fha rfu 80 hau Eva nj ha
bridges were carried OF and the railway lines
completely Intercepted. TIE most narrowing
scenes were presented In the quarter inhabited
by the working men, More than 800 corpses had
been discovered in the inundated quarters and
hundreds were wounded by the crumbling build
ings. In many cases the soldiers met their death
while endeavoring TO succor tie people. But, great
&c the loss OF life Is known TO have been, those
supposed to be buried beneath the ruins OF the
fallen houses viii, it s feared, vastly outnumber
the corpses ALREADY discovered. Until the water
subsidies 1t will be impossible fully to estimate the
loss OF life that mas occurred There GOOD reason
TO believe that 1t has been terrible. Three villages
are known to have been completely destroyed
with their Inhabitants Tney were swept abso-
lutely away, and nothing remains to mark that
they had ever existed. Under these distressing
conditions the authorities, civil and military, dis
play most praiseworthy energy and devotion, but
than partial relief
In order TO understand the extent Of the
disaster It Is necessary to be acquainted some
what with the geography OF Toulouse and its
vicinity. The town, placed In the midst OF
the PyIenean Istamus, Is built on both
lnuks OF the River Garonne, which, leaving
the lower slopes Of the mountain, falls very
rapidly. The river divides and nov into several
channels but reunites above st. Michel Only the
hale raA hNr~I.r
At the Montin-du- BaZaele there is q considerable
rall OF water formed by the whole body OF the
river. The town proper IS built on the right bank
OF the river, which is much more elevated than
the left bank, except at the south, and Is there
fore sheltered from all inundations. The FaubourR
St. Cyprien, situated on the bank OF the river, Is
In reality, q separate town. ana 10 The depot for
the trade between Gascony and the Pyrenees,
Before this disaster the population was estimated
az $4,000. st. Cypren was connected with the
town OF Toulouse by three bridges-St Michel
Pont-Neuf and St Pierre. 1t was Inhabited almost
exclusively BY the working classes. One OF the
most thrilling scenes was the removal OF the sick
II ON the hotel Dieu, which Is situated
in the inundated district. The Hotel Dieu Saint
Jacques is situated the left bank OF the river,
amid beautiful gardens and at the entrance to the
Pont-Neuf. When the work OF removing the sick
and helpless was begun the night had begun to
fall. The water had already invaded the gardens,
nlled the cellars ana was rapidly rising. Boats
approached the hospital with some difficulty. and
before the work haa well begun night fell 1t was
necessary to procure torches and by their sinister
hrht boats could be discovered moving over the
vast sheet OF water on their errand OF mercy.
while this work proceeded the cries OF terror and
distress sent up by some six hundred helpless In
valids stricken with tear made the night hdeous.
la their efforts to save their Fellow beings
many OF the soldiers lost their lives. One
OF the line Officers while trying to save an
old workwomau at the entrance TO the
Fauoourg 81 Cyprien was carried away
by the dood and drowned. His name has
not yet been discovered. The prospect on the Ca
rome IL very sad. Pieces OF household furniture
! and boats or all kinda noat about, showing how
complete and extensive the Work OF destrue ton
! has been. In the environs Of Toulouse the damage
has not been less severe. Monaghan, Miramont,
| Cazeres and Muerel have oil suffered. At Busseus
| the villagers we're compelled TO take refuge on
| the roofs OF the houses, where they invoked nelp
with cries OF despair Both Monirejean and SC.
Csudeus are under water. and in the communs
| OF Fsnouillet, out Of 400 houses, only the church
\ ana ave others are LEFT standing. The whole
valley Of tAe GarUnne has been converted into an
| immense lake, ana the silence OF death reigns
over the district
One OF the touching incidents OF this
terrible drama occurred outside OF Tou-
| louise. In small village all the IL.
nabitants save the occupants OF detached house
had been warned OF the approaching danger and
were enabled TO seek q place OF safety. The un-
! fortunate farmer and his family were awake ned
by the water nowng into their house. Half naked.
they TOOK refuge on tho roof or the house. The
mother, numbed with cold tied herself to the
chimney. holding her infant In her arms. Tine
father vita his two daughters, maintained HIM
! sell on projection OF the roof Tue unfortunates
remained for long while Ia this POSITION when
two courageous soldiers, learning their danger.
put OF in a small boat to their rescue. Directed
by the cries OF the unfortunates Jhey arrived az
the farm house. When their rescue seemed Ger.
tam the walls Of ths house suddenly gave way
ana all were preclpitated into the hood The Iall
~ tha nouaa creatin0 N ind Of wbirluoOl tho tw q