Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-23
MONTREAL UNDER WATER,
SUBMERGENCE OF A GOOD PART OF
THE BUSINESS PORTION.
Losses Estimated from $4,000. 900 to so,
OoO,OOO-Newspaper Offices Flooded
Nuns Confined in Their Convent
Roasting or Drowning.

MONTREAL, April 19.-Merchants are
counting their losses by the flood and do
not yet know the end. Three to six mil
lions are the figures estimated. The water
rose rapidly curing Saturday night and
again yesterday morning, and is now five
feet seven inches higher than the great
food of 1851. The Witness Post, Gazette,
Star and Herald offices are flooded and the
presses are useless. The Young Mems
Christian association building, the ST.
Lawrence Hall, Albion Hotel, Exchange
Hotel and score of other smaller houses
and all the wholesale furriers and dry
goods houses have from 2 to 10 feet of
water in them. The level country oppo-
site Montreal, southwark toward the
United States border, is flooded 20 square
miles. Cattle by the hundred are re-
ported to have persisted. There are
alarming reports of loss of life, but no
confederation is possible. The Nuns are
confined in their island convent at the
foot of Lachne rapids and can not be
reached.
Yesterday morning all the principal
business streets of the city were under
water. Commissioner, st. Paul, St
Francois Xavier, Common and st. Peter
streets, with all connecting thoroughtares,
were overlooked. Craig and st: James
streets and Victoria square are all under
rushing torrent. The Grand Trunk de
pot in st. James street, west, is almost
completely under water. which has
here attained IA height of seven feet.
Fire broke out in the flooded districts on
Saturday evening, and in Duke street
over twenty people lad Il choice of drown
ing or roasting. a the critical moment
Joe Vincent, the life saving hero of the
St. Lawrence, arrived ana managed TO re-
move every soul. When the last had been
81
thousands perChed upon their house-tops
at safe distances. The buildings burned
to the waters edge the tiremen being
powerless Thieves are said to be pillag-
ing unprotected houses.
The sisters in "A Trap.
The nuns on st. Paul island, opposite
this city, are in a very precariOus condi-
ton, being obliged to flee to the attic of
the building. \ blockade of ice renders
access to them impossible. This island
belongs to the ladies of the congregation
De Notre Dame Vile Marie. Here the
sister who are fatigued go to seek repose.
No one is allowed to land without special
permission. 1t is situated in the most ro-
mantle spot in Montreal. An enormous
sum was offered for it for park, but the
nuns refused it. They hold it by grant
from the king of France when Canada was
French colony.
The Flood Abating Very SIowly-Two VII
lagos Drowned.
MONTREAL, April 19.-The flood appears
re be abating but very slowly. St Lam
bert and La Prairie are submerged. Every
street in the lower part of the city
is q canal. The river is clear of ice from
short distance above the bridge, west to
the rapids, but from the bridge east till
the river is lost sight of there is com
plete block of ice. Only the two upper
stories of the nuns convent and the tops
of trees can be seen above the water.