The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-28
FRENCH DYKE BURSTS
FLOODS SEVERAL VILLAGES AND
DRoWNs MANY PEOPLE.
Large body of Water Rushes Through
Valley Leaving Death and Des-
oIation In Its Wake.

EPINAL, France, April 27-The great
Bouseey dyke of the Epinal district of the
Vosgess burst at o'clock this morning.
The cubic area of the dyke is S,0O0 600 me-
tres. A great rush of waters and much
loss of life followed. 1t Is impossible at
this hour to get correct estimate of the
damage done or the number of lives lost,
but from the number of bodies already
found the indications are that the loss of
life will be heavy. Enormous damage has
been done in the surrounding country. The
railways in all directions are interrupted
and a large number of villages flooded. In
some places the force of the torrent let
loose by the break in the dyke was so great
that entire houses were swept away and
large trees were torn up by the roots The
reservoir was situated close to the village
of Bouseey, and was connected with the
canal De rEst. The breach caused by the
rush of water is over one hundred metres
broad The authorities are doing every
thing possible to rescue imperiled persons.
Many families are still in danger. The au-
thorities are also taking steps to provide
relief for the homeless. Assistance and
supplies will also be sent from the nearest
point. The villages which have suffered
most are Bousent Les Forges, Budgeny
and, Domevres. Many houses have COM
pletely disappeared.
Later-It now seems the disaster caused
by the bursting of the dyke at Bouzey is
more serious than at first supposed. In
single commune. that of Egney. seven kilo-
metres from the scene of the disaster
proper, twenty-three persons were drowned.
At Nomexy eight bodies have been found.
Wherever the water flowed it destroyed
everything in its path. The village of
Bouzey with it's extensive piscicuture es-
Establishments. has disappeared. At Darn
ieulles all the houses We're destroyed, and
few were spared at Aux Forges. Hundreds
of families have been rendered homeless.
and many who were asleep at the time lost
even their clothes. The bursted reservoir,
which supplies the canal, il situated at
Bouzey, and was formed by dyke five
hundred metres long. 1t was built during
the years from 1879 to 1884, and was
strengthened in 1888 and 1889. 1t consists of
a wall of masonry twenty metres high and
twenty metres thick at its base The
foundation was nine metres deep. The bed
Of the reservoir is of natural rock. The
dyke was regularly Inspected. and no signs
of weakness had been detected since 1880.
The damage done by the flood is immense,
and it is believed will amount to S10O00,000.
The whble Aviere valley is scene of ruin
and desolation. The roads are strewn with
the debris from the houses, the barns and
the fences of the peasants. Many dead cat
tie and horses have been found along the
route taken by the flood of water. At Do
mevre seventeen houses were destroyed and
twenty-five of the Inhabitants were
drowned. At Oncougt three houses collapsed,
but only one person Is known to have been
drowned. Seventeen persons are missing at
Uxegny where sixteen houses are in ruins.
1t is believed a total OF seventy-six lives
were lost as a result of the giving way of
the dyke. Word has been received from
President Faure that he will visit the scene
of the disaster at once.