The Daily Missoulian., 1910-01-28

Paris, Jan. 21-.another day has
passed. but the waters of the Seine
creep slowly higher. each inch wide
ly extending the area of destruction,
desnlation and ruin. Although the
barometer is rising rapidly and bright
sunshine today succeeded the raging
storms, a feeling af CONSERVATION.
bordering on panic. prevailed tonight
when the authorities who yesterday
said the maximum of the flood would
come today announced that this would
not be reached until tomorrow. Of
ficial figures Of the stage of the wa
ter are difficult to obtain. and the
city council. at stormy session to-
night. charged NJ. Lepine. prefect of
Paris. with conceaiing the gravity of
the situation. The prefect defended
his attitude ny saying that he was
governed by the necessity Of not un-
duly alarming the people.
In the meantime. what il happen
ing is enough to strike terror 10 the
hearts of all. The crust of the city
seems likely to sink into the flooded
subterranean labyrinth beneath. Ev-
cry hour drains are bursting IN new
localities. causing. subsistence of the
streets or bulging them up several feet.
while the overflow of surface water
from the river is Transforming the in
undated districts into formidable lakes
and the streets into canals.
Six Fee. Deep.
In the Rercy quarter the water IL
six feet deep in the streets and the
entire left bank nf the Seine from
above the Islands to Au.enli. e"mpris-
ionabie Saint Germain district. the for
eign office. the chamber OF deputies
and the Champs de Mars. Is submerged
under from one To ten feet of water
Some deputies left the Palais Bourbon
tonight in rowboats. others on the
backs Of their attendants.
Walls of the lnvalides station are
crnmbling. and that structure and the
wing of the foreign office opposite
are in danger of collapse. Navarthe-
less. Nine Pfnchan. wife Of the for
eign minister. held her regular re-
ceptien tonight. oil lamps and crate
fires being employed in the absence
of steam heat and electricity. Streets
surrounding the Saint Lazare sta
tion have sunk three feets and the sit
nation there is regarded as desperate
Ii is also feared that the foundations
af the two big neishhorins department
stores are being undermined.
Menace Health.
The overflow Of the broken sewers
into the flooded Easements menace the
health of the occupants. and the smell
of sewerage Is already permeatjng the
buildings. Notwithstanding this. the
police tonight notified householders.
especially those of the weaithier class.
who are using automobile engines for
pumping purposes, that they must ex-
ercise the greatest care, as the removal
of the water pressure would likely
cause the foundations 10 sink or col
lapse.
Soldiers are working desperately by
the aid Of torches 10 disentangle drift
waad above the Solferno and Henry
~. bridges. while large forces of men
are still engaged in constructing dams
1a divert the course of the
swiftly moving currents. There
was further shutdown of
electric light plants tonight Re-
lief work is proceeding brasely. none
being refused food or shelter Arch
bishop Amietto has ordered public
prayers in the churches and IA eo,lee-
tian for The victims.
Plenty Of Water.
In spite of the crippled water sup
ply. authorities say that the reservoirs
arc intact. and that three is no danper
Of a famine if the water is husbanded
carefully and confined strictly tc
drinking purposes. At the same time
a warning is again issued that the wa
ter should be boiled. The situation
below Paris is becommins appreciabiy
worse. The stretch OF water that en-
CULTS Boulogne. Neuilly. Puteaux. Sew
res. Asnieres. Maiseas- La Fitte Lapeea
and Paisss. is widening rapidly. while
further below the swollen Disc is
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